Opinion Greatest Single Game.

[Senatorguesty]

Hey all.
I was chatting with a mate of mine (non-cat supporter) and we started talking about the Greatest games we had seen by a player. He used Buddys 13 as an example and we both agreed on a few Ablett Snr games as right up there but then I went with what I considered number 1, Steve Johnson vs Melb in 2011.
He thought I was smoking some serious drugs until I showed him the stats/highlights of the game and by the end I had him convinced that SJs game was the best we had seen.
For those who cant remember his stats were: 34 touches, 7 goals and something like 21 score involvements and 11 direct score assists. For me it was the best because not only was he scoring goals but his disposals were polished and brought other players into the game, it had the freaky plays, it had the great marks, it had the harder stuff like tackles and I doubt any of his 34 touches were wasted. Quite simply the best game I've seen just edging out a few others.

Anyone else have any examples?

Edit: For those wanting a better example, here is a fantastic youtube vid.

 

[barmy44]

whats going on with the point of the game the youtube video is displaying before it gets played?

there are about 40 players in the 50, 5 umpires, a centre square in the right forward pocket

 

[Senatorguesty]

whats going on with the point of the game the youtube video is displaying before it gets played?

there are about 40 players in the 50, 5 umpires, a centre square in the right forward pocket

Bit weird isnt it, seems 2 scenes merged into one.

I remember Hird playing some freaking phenomenal ones, Jnr has to be right there, that game against the Roos where it was joked not to even try tackling him as it's a lost cause was brilliant.
They couldn't even lay a tackle and he looked to be playing on a completely different level to most.
Also played a blinder against Adelaide in 2009.

Dunstall's 17 goals against Richmond?
Gotta be up there while Snr throughout that 1989 season, played some of the most brilliant footy anyone has ever witnessed.
I think he's on record as stating he was at his most physical best so a shame there is such little footage on any Geelong games that particular year (apart from the final series).

That Jnr game (and others like it) I didnt rate as much as others, I felt he played a selfish game and so many of his touches were dinky handballs to a team-mate less than 2 metres away (what was it, 46 touches and 32 handballs or something?), whereas I feel SJs game was a more complete and damaging game and he brought others into the game over doing something selfish.
Dunstalls 17 goals I didnt see so I cant comment on that and Snrs 1989 year was amazing but I cant think of 1 single game that really stood out (besides the GF of course, and maybe the 14 goal game vs Richmond).

 

[Cursed Cat]

spectacular games against weak opposition never impress me as much as big games against strong opposition; therefore I don't rate SJ's game against a pathetic Melbourne in 2011 all that highly - reflecting personally for a moment, I was an average footballer as a junior, I'd pick up votes against the shite teams but when it came to playing the better sides I often struggled. So perhaps that clouds my judgement; the blokes that can flourish in pressure games against top-notch opponents are the ones that should be lauded imo.

with that in mind, there have been sooo many big games in the history of the AFL where blokes have stepped up to the plate that it is difficult to narrow it down.

Ablett snr's '89 finals series is definitely up there - *everyone* in the football world knew he was the man to stop if you wanted to knock over Geelong, and every Geelong fan prayed for big performances from him on the finals stage - in 1989 he delivered under the glare of the spotlight; in fact he often made it look fun.

 

[footscore]

Bit weird isnt it, seems 2 scenes merged into one.



That Jnr game (and others like it) I didnt rate as much as others, I felt he played a selfish game and so many of his touches were dinky handballs to a team-mate less than 2 metres away (what was it, 46 touches and 32 handballs or something?), whereas I feel SJs game was a more complete and damaging game and he brought others into the game over doing something selfish.
Dunstalls 17 goals I didnt see so I cant comment on that and Snrs 1989 year was amazing but I cant think of 1 single game that really stood out (besides the GF of course, and maybe the 14 goal game vs Richmond).

yep fair call on Jnr mate, still wish had him running around in the hoops though

As for Snr's 89, to put it onto perspective, his preliminary final performance of 23 disposals - 22 kicks, 10 marks, 1 handball and 8.5 goals is widely regarded as one of the finest performances in recent decades.
He literally setup at least 3 or 4 other goals too.
But look at the rd10 match against Collingwood and he gathered 28 disposals - 25 kicks, 13 marks, 3 handballs and 7.4 goals, way back in 85 against Melbourne where he booted 9.6 and gathered 25 disposals and kicked 9.6.
Buddy's 13 goal performance was sensational but it was hardly one of the best performances I think I have ever seen.
I'd put Jeffrey Framer's 10 goals after halftime way back in the late 90's ahead of Buddy's for example as he took screamers and literally had 2 or 3 different opponents while North Melbourne basically kept the same defender assigned to Buddy the whole game.

Was no doubt a brilliant performance though.

 

[Senatorguesty]

yep fair call on Jnr mate, still wish had him running around in the hoops though

As for Snr's 89, to put it onto perspective, his preliminary final performance of 23 disposals - 22 kicks, 10 marks, 1 handball and 8.5 goals is widely regarded as one of the finest performances in recent decades.
He literally setup at least 3 or 4 other goals too.
But look at the rd10 match against Collingwood and he gathered 28 disposals - 25 kicks, 13 marks, 3 handballs and 7.4 goals, way back in 85 against Melbourne where he booted 9.6 and gathered 25 disposals and kicked 9.6.
Buddy's 13 goal performance was sensational but it was hardly one of the best performances I think I have ever seen.
I'd put Jeffrey Framer's 10 goals after halftime way back in the late 90's ahead of Buddy's for example as he took screamers and literally had 2 or 3 different opponents while North Melbourne basically kept the same defender assigned to Buddy the whole game.

Was no doubt a brilliant performance though.

Abletts 89 was probably the best year I've ever seen, followed closely by his 1993.
I agree with all you said and I thought my mates allegiance was obvious when I said he rated Buddys 13 as up there

 

[BotsMaster]

Denzel vs Collingwood Rd 24 2011 - 17 disposals 5 goals 2 behinds 2 tackles.
Ablett jnr vs Collingwood Rd 10 2012 - 53 disposals 6 tackles.
Hawkins vs Hawthorn Rd 19 2012 - 13 disposals 6 goals 2 behinds.

 

[Senatorguesty]

Denzel vs Collingwood Rd 24 2011 - 17 disposals 5 goals 2 behinds 2 tackles.
Ablett jnr vs Collingwood Rd 10 2012 - 53 disposals 6 tackles.
Hawkins vs Hawthorn Rd 19 2012 - 13 disposals 6 goals 2 behinds.

THE most over hyped game I've ever seen.
I watch the game and he had so little impact on the game considering the amount of ball he got, it was a weird game.

 

[Seeds]

yep fair call on Jnr mate, still wish had him running around in the hoops though

As for Snr's 89, to put it onto perspective, his preliminary final performance of 23 disposals - 22 kicks, 10 marks, 1 handball and 8.5 goals is widely regarded as one of the finest performances in recent decades.
He literally setup at least 3 or 4 other goals too.
But look at the rd10 match against Collingwood and he gathered 28 disposals - 25 kicks, 13 marks, 3 handballs and 7.4 goals, way back in 85 against Melbourne where he booted 9.6 and gathered 25 disposals and kicked 9.6.
Buddy's 13 goal performance was sensational but it was hardly one of the best performances I think I have ever seen.
I'd put Jeffrey Framer's 10 goals after halftime way back in the late 90's ahead of Buddy's for example as he took screamers and literally had 2 or 3 different opponents while North Melbourne basically kept the same defender assigned to Buddy the whole game.

Was no doubt a brilliant performance though.

Was at both the prelim and the 89 game against Collingwood. They were very special games that will live with me forever. The 93 game against Essendon would be the other one. That game was phenomenal considering Essendon were all over us that day. I was also at the Richmond 89 game, although can remember very little from it. Really wish that game was on video.

 

[Copernicus]

THE most over hyped game I've ever seen.
I watch the game and he had so little impact on the game considering the amount of ball he got, it was a weird game.

Bit hard to influence a game of 1 vs 22, really.

 

[Goggin Our Best]

Bartletts 1980 final series for Richmond -including 8 goals against us in the 2nd Semi out at Waverly .

To go from a great rover -moved to a half forward flank in his 30s-and basically tear opposition backlines apart.

Quick -clever -every time he touched the ball -you knew there was trouble

 

[BotsMaster]

THE most over hyped game I've ever seen.
I watch the game and he had so little impact on the game considering the amount of ball he got, it was a weird game.

Or what about this:
Dane Swan vs Hawthorn rd 17 2012 - 49 disposals 2 goals 2 tackles.

 

[Senatorguesty]

Or what about this:
Dane Swan vs Hawthorn rd 17 2012 - 49 disposals 2 goals 2 tackles.

Stat breakdown?
Still seems like alot of selfish disposals as a "numbers hunter" and very little to actually help the team.
Thats why I always hated Abletts "amazing" games of 42 touches, 30 handballs, 3 tackles and 2 clearances. Hardly a "great" game IMO.
Now his game vs Brisbane in the wet at KP (think was Lions? That amazing goal on the boundary) WAS a GREAT game.

 

[Senatorguesty]

Bit hard to influence a game of 1 vs 22, really.

True but you would think 53 touches would net something more impressive than zero goals and 4 clearances (not counting the fact that Thomas was his opponent and IMO was BOG).

 

[BotsMaster]

I was an average footballer as a junior, I'd pick up votes against the shite teams but when it came to playing the better sides I often struggled.

Is that what they call a downhill skier?

 

[Cursed Cat]

Is that what they call a downhill skier?

I've been called worse things !

 

[Goggin Our Best]

If there was one Geelong game i could watch -which i have never seen -would be the 2nd half -in particular the 3rd qtr of the 1967 Preliminary Final against Carlton . Five goals down at half time -8 goal to 1 3rd qtr -Sharrock runs riot .

That would be exciting watching that

 

[terry_bright]

For me the best game I've seen by a Geelong player is Gary Ablett snr game vs Essendon in the 1989 Prelim Final at Waverley.
The most complete and simply breathtaking performance I've seen by any footballer at the highest level.

 

[Gaz_Brownlow]

For me the best game I've seen by a Geelong player is Gary Ablett snr game vs Essendon in the 1989 Prelim Final at Waverley.
The most complete and simply breathtaking performance I've seen by any footballer at the highest level.

Yeah, would agree and further that by saying the entire 89 finals series is the greatest example of individual brilliance witnessed on the greatest stage. Breathtaking footy.

 

[Catsace]

From a pure football exhibition, the 11-goal clinic Geelong (and Gaz Sr with his 30-possession 5 goal game) against the Weagles in Perth Rd 4 1992.

That second quarter was football artistry, the Eagles who lost only 5 times in 1991 and beat Geelong three times that year were being taken apart by our Cats.

Probably level pegging with that would have to be the 2nd quarter of Geelong Vs Collingwood, Rd 24 in 2011. Same sort of dominance, and the same artistry.

When you think about it, as a long time Cat fan we've been treated to some of the most beautiful exhibitions of footy one could ever see, even if it's only in the last several years flags have been rewarded for it.

 

[MC Extra Dollop]

It would be an interesting exercise to identify the best game played by every player we've got (who's had meaningful AFL experience), as well as some of the big names of the past.

 

[footscore]

Really wish that game was on video.

it's out there somewhere mate, many of his games in 89 and earlier are sitting in an attic gathering dust as people use to record games and just throw the VHS tape amongst the pile.

Remarkable how many traders I have come across recently who have fairly rare stuff and didn't know it.

 

[Vdubs]

Barry Stoneham played one of the all time great Mr FIXIT games ever seen v Dogs, 1992 finals.
Played FF, CHF, Ruck, CHB, FB, just anywhere needed, and got us up nearly single-handedly.

Does anybody else recall this or have any vision?

 

[winty]

Selwood's game against Fremantle on Anzac Day in 2008 would be right up there. He single-handedly dragged us back into that game with some of his clearance work in the middle. Was awesome stuff considering he was only 19 at the time.

 

[SJ]

It would be an interesting exercise to identify the best game played by every player we've got (who's had meaningful AFL experience), as well as some of the big names of the past.

Start it off.