Check out 50 of the greatest marks in past 50 years — in no particular order — and let us know which is your favourite.

Alex Jesaulenko in the 1970 Grand Final

Jezza’s grab over Graeme “Jerker Jenkin is the ultimate iconic mark, combining contest (a close Grand Final), pure spectacle and the famous “Jesaulenko, you beauty” call from broadcaster Mike Williamson.

Leo Barry in the 2005 Grand Final

The clock is ticking (32:37 in the last quarter), the Swans are four points up, and the pack is nine-deep. Then Barry hurtles across the screen to pluck the ball from the sky, his dramatic intervention shaking the thunder from the sky.

Gary Ablett Sr over Gary Pert in 1994

Did he mark it? Did he not? It doesn’t matter because once the whistle blew to confirm Ablett’s mark it confirmed an outlandish feat of acrobatics as Ablett toppled over Pert’s shoulders for one of footy’s most freakish marks.

Phil Baker v Hawthorn in the 1978 Grand Final

An iconic image as Baker perches regally over a pair of Hawks including Kelvin Moore as he tries to lift North Melbourne.

Chris Tarrant v Geelong in 2003

The sometimes wayward Magpie forward had a perfect sit over Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett deep in the pocket.

Did your to pick miss our top 10? Leave a comment below and explain why it deserved to make it — we’ll publish the best.

Nathan Thompson v Western Bulldogs in 2002

The charging Hawk showed his aerial ascendancy by leaping over John Barker and Bulldog Steven Kretiuk.

Gary Moorcroft over Brad Johnson in 2001

Moorcroft climbed high to pluck a rare Scott Lucas right-foot snap at the top of the goalsquare, and dismounted with such force it caused the hip injury that would ultimately end his career. But that ride of a lifetime was still worth what many believe was the mark of the century.

Michael Roach v Hawthorn in 1979

Roach perches over the pack so high it is as if he is in the clouds, grasping the Sherrin as Kevin Bartlett sprints by in the foreground for the handball that never comes.

Jonathan Brown v Hawthorn in 2002

Brown doesn’t just go back with the flight in a feat of superhuman bravery, he annihilates the pack of Lions and Hawks that includes Jade Rawlings and Alastair Lynch. Teammate Daniel Bradshaw spontaneously starts clapping, such is his awe.

Jeremy Howe v Melbourne in 2017

Howe’s Queens Birthday speccy has it all — the outlandish leap over Tom McDonald, the perch on his shoulders, the second rise after McDonald that pushes him higher, then the dismount as he kicks up his heels on the way down.

Winston Abraham v Port Adelaide in 1998

This Mark of the Year winner sees Abraham flashing in from screen right to intercept Wayne Carey’s thumping kick to the goalsquare at Manuka Oval. Brave, brilliant and exactly what we came to expect from the human highlight reel.

Ash Sampi v Melbourne in 2004

It beat Nick Riewoldt’s SCG grab for Mark of the Year which raised eyebrows, but as a pure spectacle it’s hard to beat, Sampi’s pure jump helped by that extra boost of Melbourne’s Paul Wheatley on a glorious MCG day.

Brendon Goddard v Collingwood in the 2010 Grand Final

It could have been the drought-breaking moment St Kilda fans will never forget, as Goddard climbs high over Heritier Lumumba to surge St Kilda ahead with 7min16sec on the clock. The game finished in an agonising draw but it is still a stunning moment when everything is on the line.

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Jimmy Bartel v Western Bulldogs in 2012

One of footy’s most underappreciated marks, as Bartel surges 30m from the centre square to track Luke Darcy’s right-foot clearance before hurtling into space to mark in front of a pack of four players including Cam Mooney and Matthew Scarlett.

Ken Hunter v Richmond in 1983

The moustachioed Hunter could have half a dozen nominations, but we’ll go with this 1983 Mark of the Year winner as he surges back where angels fear to tread to take the ball with his particular brand of reckless courage.

Shaun Smith v Brisbane Bears, 1995

The spring-heeled Smith hardly takes a run-up than rockets over Nathan Chapman and Garry Lyon, his mark captured for eternity by a perfectly-timed camera flash in the crowd.

Warwick Capper v Hawthorn in 1987

It had to be the Wiz, flying like Superman over the Hawks defender in the qualifying final at Waverley then somehow managing to stay on his shoulders as he gets horizontal with gripping the ball in his right hand. The man himself calls this grab the “mark of the universe”.

Stephen Silvagni v Collingwood in 1988

As is so often the case it’s all about the dismount, Silvagni climbing high over Craig Starcevic with a genuinely eye-catching chest grab before toppling to the ground.

Nicky Winmar v Essendon in 1992

With long galloping strides Winmar closes in with the ball over his shoulder before perching on Todd Ridley’s shoulders to haul in this skyscraper mark.

Nick Riewoldt v Sydney in 2004

From Rob Harvey’s errant kick Riewoldt sprints back so hard to chase Robert Harvey’s shanked pass he surely has a death wish, as he clutches the ball and spins in the air over Stephen Milne and Jared Crouch.

Tony Modra v North Melbourne in 1993

Pick any of a dozen if you want but this Mark of the Year sees “Godra” climb over Ian Fairley’s shoulders in the goalsquare with the North Melbourne defenders, bracing himself as Archer fails to spoil and topples down with him.

Brad Ottens v Sydney in 2006

The perfect sit, the perfect camera angle, the perfect “Will he ever come down?” commentary from Anthony Hudson as Ottens rides high over Darren Jolly on the SCG wing.

Matthew Lloyd v Melbourne in 2008

Lloyd, or “Lloyyddddd”, as the commentators scream, is still going up as he marks Damien Peverill’s long bomb over a trio of Dons and Andrew McPhee then gently falls to ground, buffered by their falling bodies.

Brett Burton v Carlton in 2009

Do yourself a favour and assess his entire highlights reel, but Burton crashes the pack so hard a trio of Carlton opponents go down like nine pins after her perches on their shoulders.

Jeremy Howe v Sydney in 2012

It’s all about hang time for Howe, who leaps on Grundy’s shoulders in his Demon days as Anthony Hudson asks, “How(e) did he do that?”. Disgraceful selflessness as he plays on quickly instead of basking in the limelight.

Denis Banks v Footscray in 1984

Banks leaps across the pack and gets lift-off as he gets vertical after the pack flips him through the year. The same day Gubby kicks across the pack.

Jeff Farmer v Richmond in 1998

Poor Garry Lyon, as Farmer hurtles toward a jostling Lyon and Scotty Turner then acrobatically springs on to their shoulders then somehow keeps his feet, with the ball hugged to his chest. The Melbourne final-round smashing condemned the Tigers to another ninth-placed finish.

Matthew Lappin v Essendon in 2002

“Skinny” Lappin soars over a disgusted Dean Wallis, then topples to the ground deep in the pocket to add to the level of theatre.

Billy Picken v Geelong in 1974

In the John Greening comeback game Billy soared above the pack for a spinning hanger with huge height. The ultimate screamer, as the human highlights reel climbs across the front of a pack, legs akimbo, before landing facing the pack after plucking it from their grasp.

Tony Modra v North Melbourne in 1997

Martyn looks set to explode after Modra takes the perfect hanger over him in the goalsquare in 1997, seemingly perching on his shoulders forever.

Trevor Barker v Essendon in 1979

One of footy’s frequent flyers, there are dozens of contenders, but Barker’s stunning soar over Denis Scanlon as he contorts his body then comes crashing to ground might just be the best. Gets a nomination for sheer weight of numbers.

Chris Tarrant v Melbourne in 2001

Huge leap on Queen’s Birthday was a certainty for Mark of the Year — until Gary Moorcroft jumped on top of Brad Johnson a few weeks later.

Peter Knights v Carlton in 1975

High over a pack of Blues players including Percy Jones, Knights climbs high but it’s all about the dismount. A full 360-degree pirouette but he still controls the ball to ground. Has another 20 that are nearly as good.

Ross “Twiggy” Dunne v North Melbourne in the 1977 Grand Final

Billy Picken sends it deep with the Pies trailing by six points and only seconds to go, and Dunne somehow emerges from a massive pack with a one-grab mark. Then he drills the goal to force a replay.

Warwick Capper v North Melbourne in 1987

Again, there are plenty of Capper candidates, but this pluck over Mick Martin stands out as he trampolines off the Kangas full-back and then takes the ball in mid-air.

Andrew Krakouer v Adelaide in 2011

A perfect sit and poetic ride to the ground in 2011 that won Mark of the Year over Andrew Walker — to the fury of many.

Gary Ablett v North Melbourne in 1985

The image is spectacular, as Ablett soars above the pack as if on another plane in yet another reminder of his stunning deeds.

Jeremy Howe v Port Adelaide in 2012

Howe’s third entry is his leap over Alipate Carlisle in Darwin with his hands high above his head. Howe has seldom got higher than this, rating it his second-best mark at Melbourne.

Simon Madden v Fitzroy in 1982

The Bomber legend flies as high as any ruckman has ever flown to pull down this Windy Hill hanger.

Liam Jurrah v Port Adelaide in 2010

A magnificent leap for the 2010 Mark of the Year over Jack Watts and Port Adelaide’s Nick Salter.

Nic Naitanui v Geelong in 2015

Naitanui doesn’t just mark Josh Kennedy’s long bomb, he soars above the pack, hovers, then crumples to the ground — to quote Fox Footy caller Anthony Hudson: “He took his armchair and sat up on top!”. Could have easily also included Nic Nat’s 2011 mark against Carlton when he poses perfectly in mid-flight.

Alastair Lynch v North Melbourne in 1989

Lynch was in just his second season at Fitzroy when he took this massive grab.

Alex Jesaulenko v Richmond in 1970

Jezza again, this time versus the Tigers. Big pack, ride and slowly topples to the ground over the pack.

Luke McPharlin v West Coast in 2005

As with many on this list, the timing adds to the package as McPharlin saves the game for the Dockers in a massive pack, toppling forward with the sky-high chest mark.

Andrew Walker v Essendon in 2011

Poor old stepladder Jake Carlisle. Walker’s acrobatically perch on the Essendon defender’s shoulders is capped by his athletic dismount, with his heavily bandaged head adding to the flair.

Peter Bosustow v Geelong in 1981

Bosustow is so high he almost seems surprised to clutch the ball over the heads of Geelong rivals and his teammates. Mark Maclure is so thrilled he holds the footy aloft when it spills in sheer adulation.

Isaac Heeney v Melbourne in 2018

Heeney almost slingshots himself over Jesse Hogan as he launches into space then smashes to the ground. This grab won Mark of the Year.

Liam Ryan v Carlton in 2019

A player once mocked for his lack of physicality surges back with the pack and doesn’t flinch as he hauls the ball in. His cracker against Max Gawn earlier in the year was pretty flash too.

Brett Allison v Collingwood in 1991

This leap was almost balletic as the North Melbourne high-flyer perches on Gavin Crosisca with legs parallel.

Jamie Elliott v Port Adelaide 2013

Then in his prime jumping form, Elliott launches on unsuspecting Power midfielder Brad Ebert among a huge pack of players and gracefully descends to the ground as the crowd goes wild.