Gary Ablett’s 10 greatest SuperCoach performances

ALL hail the GOAT. In the lead-up to Gary Ablett’s 300th game, we revisit the little master’s top 10 games — at an average of 203 SuperCoach points.

Gary Ablett leaves the Kangaroos in his wake. Picture: George Salpigtidis

ALL hail the GOAT.

Footy pundits will debate forever the identity of the best player of all time, and which Gary Ablett was better — Senior or Junior. They could be the same question.

But when it comes to SuperCoach, there is no question.

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Unfortunately, we’ll never know how Gary Sr would have scored since he retired in 1996, a decade before fantasy sports took off (he would have been a handy captaincy choice when he kicked 14.7 from 25 disposals — all kicks — against the Bombers in 1993).

But we do have numbers for Gary Jr, and they are off the charts.

Gary Ablett torches the Kangaroos in Round 6 this year. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Since 2007 he has topped the magical 200-point barrier five times. Only three others have done it more than once (Luke Hodge, Dean Cox and Adam Goodes) and they have done it twice.

Ablett’s most recent epic was in Round 6 this year — in his 16th season.

Since his well documented one-game form slump in Round 2, he has averaged 117 points a game. Over his entire 299-game career he averages 116 SuperCoach points a match. Insane.

Ablett is perfectly suited to the SuperCoach scoring system that rewards players who win their own footy and impact the scoreboard.

In the lead-up to his 300th AFL game on Sunday, here are the little master’s top 10 SuperCoach performances. They netted a total of 2031 points — 4062 if you had the C on him.

1. ROUND 5, 2008 v SYDNEY

SuperCoach score: 251

Yes, that’s correct. A whopping 251 SuperCoach points as an Ablett-led Cats cleared out in the final term against the Swans. Ablett booted all three of his goals in an eight-goal final term for Geelong, the majors adding extra cream on top of a vintage 35-disposal game.

2. ROUND 6, 2017 v NORTH MELBOURNE

SuperCoach score: 210

His most recent SuperCoach clinic. North went into the Round 6 clash hopeful of claiming its first win and it did so — but not before Gazza nearly stole the show. He may not have seemed the same player to many post his serious shoulder injuries but 45 possessions (27 contested), nine tackles and a goal suggested he’s still very much at the top of his game.

3. ROUND 13, 2009 v PORT ADELAIDE

SuperCoach score: 207

Round 13 and the little champ nabbed his sixth BOG in his maiden Brownlow Medal-winning season with a dominant display against Port at Kardinia Park. Had 36 disposals, kicked 2.3 and pumped the footy inside 50 seven times as a Power team boasting one of the game’s best stoppers (Kane Cornes) couldn’t contain the champ.

4. ROUND 8, 2011 v ADELAIDE

SuperCoach score: 204

The Crows pumped the Suns by 10 goals but it didn’t prevent the maestro from nabbing three Brownlow votes. Gathered a staggering 41 disposals, kicked 4.1 and laid eight tackles. A bloke named Patrick Dangerfield earned the two votes from the whistleblowers for his 23-disposal, six-goal game.

Gary Ablett was unstoppable against the Giants in 2012.

In his Geelong days Ablett reserved his best games for when the Swans visited the Cattery.

5. ROUND 7, 2010 v SYDNEY

SuperCoach score: 202

With speculation mounting over his future, Gazza didn’t let that affect his form on the paddock. And he loved dining out against Sydney. Had 38 touches, two goals, seven tackles, 10 clearances and eight I50s as the visiting Swans could only watch another Ablett masterclass.

6. ROUND 4, 2009 v ADELAIDE

SuperCoach score: 196

His father once celebrated his 150th with a BOG display from the midfield and, like father, like son. Gazza had 46 disposals but the Crows didn’t let him kick much. Had 13 disposals by foot but three goals — including a superb left-foot snap from right in the pocket and a long-range bomb from outside 50, ensured the Cats for home.

7. ROUND 17, 2004 v CARLTON

SuperCoach score: 192

Remember this was Gary Ablett the permanent small forward, not the midfield champ we’ve become accustomed to see dominate matches. At Etihad Stadium on a Sunday afternoon he proved too much for the Blues’ defence, the mop-haired 20-year-old booting three goals from 23 touches to help the emerging Cats kick away and record a big win over the Blues.

Gary Ablett gets a handball away against Carlton in 2004.

8. ROUND 15, 2011 v FREMANTLE

SuperCoach score: 190

Heading into Round 15 the young Suns had only won two matches. And despite G Ablett’s on-field heroics it stayed that way. The captain’s 34-disposal game, in which he booted 3.2, was enough for three votes but not four points. Had a whopping 14 tackles, eight clearances and 16 of his possessions he had to earn the hard way.

9. ROUND 16, 2015 v GWS

SuperCoach score: 190

Coming off that serious shoulder injury (the first time around), Ablett only played six matches in 2015. One of them was a loss to the Giants, but the skipper did his part with 30 touches (25 kicks) which included three goals. Also laid a career-high 17 tackles. GWS won by a couple of kicks, with four-goal star Devon Smith earning the three votes.

10. ROUND 12, 2012 v NORTH MELBOURNE

SuperCoach score: 189

Another domination, but another loss for little Gazza. He almost single-handedly took the Suns to the brink of victory with 42 disposals and four goals. 18 of his possessions were contested and he laid 10 tackles. But the Kangas (who booted 11.21 to 12.8) probably deserved the win.

THE 200-POINT SUPERCOACH CLUB

5: Gary Ablett

2: Luke Hodge, Dean Cox, Adam Goodes

1: Dean Kerr, Mark LeCras, Bryce Gibbs, Fraser Gehrig, Ryan O’Keefe, Corey Jones, Lance Franklin, Joel Bowden, Lindsay Thomas, James Clement, Patrick Dangerfield, Tom Rockliff, Todd Goldstein, Jack Riewoldt, Kane Cornes, Josh Drummond, Heath Shaw.