The 17 best individual AFL games of the past 17 years

LANCE Franklin’s “THIRTEEN!” goal game is only the sixth best performance of the century, our experts say. Find out who Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane rated higher.

OVER the next seven days Herald Sun footy writers Jon Ralph and Glenn McFarlane will celebrate the highlights, lowlights and unforgettable moments since 2000.

From Buddy’s “thirteeeeeeeen” to Hirdy’s hug and a matchwinning performance by a full-back, here are the 17 best individual games of the past 17 years.

FOOTY SPECIAL: THE BEST COACHES OF THE CENTURY

1. NICK DAVIS (2005 semi-final v Geelong)

Magpies cast-off Nick Davis effectively won Sydney the 2005 flag, kicking their last four goals of the 2005 semi-final after they fell 23 points down to Geelong.

Told by Brett Kirk he owed the Swans after an earlier clanger, he responded with a 137 SuperCoach-point final term.

His game had the moment (his bobbling, juggling snap with 10 seconds left), the context (they went on to win the big one) and the call (Anthony Hudson: “I see it, but I don’t believe it!”).

In short, it had everything.

Nick Davis kicks the winning goal with seconds left in the 2005 second semi-final.

Simon Black adds some more silverware to his trophy cabinet in the 2003 Grand Final.

2. SIMON BLACK (2003 Grand Final)

The consummate Grand Final performance, Black’s 39-possession masterclass putt the Pies to the sword and was calculated by Champion Data at 220 SuperCoach points in the pre-SuperCoach era.

One of only two unanimous Norm Smith voting performances this century.

3. LUKE HODGE (2008 Grand Final)

Playing with busted ribs and injured again during the contest, Hodge won his first Normie bending but not breaking as the Hawks absorbed 62 inside-50s to shock the Cats.

His 26-possession, nine-mark performance is the only other unanimous Norm Smith voting performance since 2000.

Chris Judd torches the Lions in 2006.

4. CHRIS JUDD (Round 5, 2006 v Brisbane)

Most will remember Judd’s breakout five-goal performance in 2003 — also against the Lions — yet this 262 SuperCoach point performance had it all: 39 possessions (28 contested), 10 clearances, eight tackles and four classy goals.

Paul Licuria inspired Collingwood to an against-the-odds preliminary final win.

5. PAUL LICURIA (2003 qualifying final v Port Adelaide)

With no Nathan Buckley and seemingly no chance, Licuria’s heroic 40-possession contest gave Collingwood the rails run into the Grand Final.

This was a game the Pies were never going to win, but no one told Paul Licuria.

Lance Franklin kicks his 13th goal in Hobart.

6. LANCE FRANKLIN (Round 10, 2012 v North Melbourne)

Franklin’s 13 goals were the most by any player this century and many of them were kicked on Scott Thompson — the next year’s All-Australian full-back.

Anthony Hudson’s commentary cemented it as a historical moment — “Thirteeen, Thirteeeeeeen” — in what was a throwback to the big bags of yesteryear.

7. JAMES HIRD (Round 3, 2004 v West Coast)

The hug to a fan capped the perfect match after his $20,000 AFL fine for labelling umpires “disgraceful” and singling out Scott McLaren.

Hird caught fire in the final term and finished with 34 touches, eight clearances, seven inside-50s, three goals, the matchwinner and the uncharacteristic celebration.

James Hird celebrates his winning goal with fan Drew Wilson.

Gary Ablett made a habit of playing blinders against the Swans at the Cattery.

8. GARY ABLETT (Round 5, 2008 v Sydney)

His 2007 prelim final wasn’t bad either (that around-the-corner sealer) but this had 35 possessions and three goals as he blew away the Swans after scores were level at three-quarter time.

9. JASON AKERMANIS (Round 13, 2005 v Geelong)

It had the stats — 35 touches, give goals, nine clearances, nine tackles — and the perfect celebration as Aker’s boundary line ripper saw him turning to the crowd in faux shock at his brilliance.

10. SAM MITCHELL (2013 preliminary final v Geelong)

Down by 20 points at quarter time, the Hawks overran Geelong with Mitchell’s 38 touches the main reason why as Travis Varcoe missed at the death.

Helped start the Hawks 2013-15 three-peat.

11. JONATHAN BROWN (Round 6, 2007 v Hawthorn)

A record 281 SuperCoach-point feast as Brown helped himself to 25 disposals, 16 marks and 8.4 as one of the great centre half-forwards of the generation flexed his muscles.

12. MATTHEW RICHARDSON (Round 21, 2006 v Essendon)

Everything the Tigers cult hero touched turned to gold in a 263 SuperCoach-point haul that included 24 disposals, nine contested marks and 9.5 in a 16-point victory.

Patrick Dangerfield’s monster game against the Bulldogs was the pick of many Danger nominations. Picture: Michael Klein.

13. PATRICK DANGERFIELD (Round 9, 2017 v Western Bulldogs)

The perfect game. 36 touches and four goals, 12 tackles and 10 clearances, a long bomb and a scene-setting tackle on The Bont to get the season back on track. Awesome.

14. ALEX RANCE (Round 23, 2014 v Sydney)

Rance single-handedly held back the dam as the Tigers held on for grim death to win a ninth-straight game to qualify for an incredible finals appearance. Rance’s 16-possession, seven-mark game was one of the great defensive efforts.

15. MATTHEW PAVLICH (Round 19, 2012 v West Coast)

There had to be a Pavlich game in here, with his eight-goal Derby performance the best of a brilliant career against the old enemy.

Mark LeCras was unstoppable against the Bombers in 2010.

Stephen Milne celebrates one of his 13 goals against the Lions in 2005.

16. MARK LECRAS (Round 16, 2010 v Essendon)

The Frenchman’s jaw-dropping 12-goal haul in 2012 included plenty on Dons legend Dustin Fletcher.

17. STEPHEN MILNE (Round 22, 2005 v Brisbane)

Everything Milney touched turned to gold with 11 straight goals against the hapless Lions in a 139-point annihilation.