Van_Dyke
Moderator
- Moderator
- #1
As we all know, our champion, our legend, Matthew Pavlich plays his 350 game this week against the Swans, 1:20pm WST on Sunday.
Words can't describe just how much Pav has meant to this football club in my opinion. He has been here from the days where we weren't taken seriously as a football club. But over the last 16 years, Matthew Pavlich has put in more than just about anyone else involved in the purple and is a key reason why we are treated seriously today.
He could have been lost to us on many occasions. If a side had taken a chance on a then 16 year old Pavlich in the 1998 draft. If Collingwood hadn't traded away their 3rd pick in the 99 draft. If Richmond hadn't selected Fiora over him. That's before the offers from home came in.
Just about every time he came out of contract, there was the speculation about whether he would go back home, something he nearly did in 2001. The big money that was offered by Port and the Crows, for a South Australian boy would have been tempting, along with the big money being offered by the Suns and the Blues on other occasions.
Just a few of Pav's highlights
In those early years, he was a consistent performer, playing where ever it was deemed by Cuddles to play him, such as his All Australian winning full back year, the 2003 AA selection when he was more of a midfielder. He kept on going from strength to strength, always being consistent, a constant, which is something the side lacked at times. In 2006 he was a key for our finals run, standing up in September, including 4 in that Prelim loss.
After that loss he became our captain and he continued to lead from the front. He came a close 2nd in the Coleman Medal in 2007 and had a strong year in 2008, kicking 67 in all of 19 games. He had his moments of heart break in 2008, hitting the post late in games at times, for goals that would have seen the Dockers take the lead.
As the side continued to improve, Pavlich kept up his performances. The 2nd half of 2012 by Pav was superb. The game where he outscored the Eagles for example. He was in the form of his life and this coincided with our run into the finals, which was halted by a loss to Adelaide.
2013 was frustrating for Pav, as he had injury issues and suspension issues. He was fully fit for finals and he lead the club to uncharted waters, as the side pulled up short by 15 points to the Hawks.
2014 and 2015, while Pavlich wasn't at his best, he still contributed for the side. In 2014 the side went wrong at stages it couldn't on the field and as injuries mounted, the sides bounced out in straight sets, a frustrating end to a year in which there was so much hope, while Pavlich was still averaging 2 goals a game and having some superb performances.
In 2015, his last season as captain, Pavlich had his moments, both good and bad. A stretch of games without a goal could have suggested that the time was nigh, but he clicked and averaged nearly 2 goals a game. As the side progressed towards their first ever minor premiership, it wasn't clear if he was going to hang up the boots, but he kept on going, after the side fell short in the Prelim against the Hawks.
As we have had our fall from grace this year, and had our tough times on the field, it isn't the way it was hoped Pav would bow out, which in an ideal world, would have been with a flag, something he deserves. He even offered to retire early, which shows the sort of person he is towards our football club. He kept on, providing leadership to the younger boys and even had some textbook Pav moments.
As our champion has his 350th game, and bows out soon after as the season finishes, all I can say, is thank you Matthew Pavlich. You are a true champion of this football club. The way you have shown loyalty to a club that has been struggling on many occasions when you could have left, but you stayed on at the Dockers. You are without question the greatest Docker of all time, and I can't see this changing for sometime. All I can say, is thank you. Thanks for everything Pav. Enjoy the finish to your career.
Words can't describe just how much Pav has meant to this football club in my opinion. He has been here from the days where we weren't taken seriously as a football club. But over the last 16 years, Matthew Pavlich has put in more than just about anyone else involved in the purple and is a key reason why we are treated seriously today.
He could have been lost to us on many occasions. If a side had taken a chance on a then 16 year old Pavlich in the 1998 draft. If Collingwood hadn't traded away their 3rd pick in the 99 draft. If Richmond hadn't selected Fiora over him. That's before the offers from home came in.
Just about every time he came out of contract, there was the speculation about whether he would go back home, something he nearly did in 2001. The big money that was offered by Port and the Crows, for a South Australian boy would have been tempting, along with the big money being offered by the Suns and the Blues on other occasions.
Just a few of Pav's highlights
- 6 All Australians, from the backline, to a HFF, to full forward
- 6 time Doig Medalist
- 8 time Leading Goal scorer (Including 6 in a row)
- Ross Glendinning Medallist on three occasions
- Club Captain from 2007-2015 including the first captain in a Grand Final
In those early years, he was a consistent performer, playing where ever it was deemed by Cuddles to play him, such as his All Australian winning full back year, the 2003 AA selection when he was more of a midfielder. He kept on going from strength to strength, always being consistent, a constant, which is something the side lacked at times. In 2006 he was a key for our finals run, standing up in September, including 4 in that Prelim loss.
After that loss he became our captain and he continued to lead from the front. He came a close 2nd in the Coleman Medal in 2007 and had a strong year in 2008, kicking 67 in all of 19 games. He had his moments of heart break in 2008, hitting the post late in games at times, for goals that would have seen the Dockers take the lead.
As the side continued to improve, Pavlich kept up his performances. The 2nd half of 2012 by Pav was superb. The game where he outscored the Eagles for example. He was in the form of his life and this coincided with our run into the finals, which was halted by a loss to Adelaide.
2013 was frustrating for Pav, as he had injury issues and suspension issues. He was fully fit for finals and he lead the club to uncharted waters, as the side pulled up short by 15 points to the Hawks.
2014 and 2015, while Pavlich wasn't at his best, he still contributed for the side. In 2014 the side went wrong at stages it couldn't on the field and as injuries mounted, the sides bounced out in straight sets, a frustrating end to a year in which there was so much hope, while Pavlich was still averaging 2 goals a game and having some superb performances.
In 2015, his last season as captain, Pavlich had his moments, both good and bad. A stretch of games without a goal could have suggested that the time was nigh, but he clicked and averaged nearly 2 goals a game. As the side progressed towards their first ever minor premiership, it wasn't clear if he was going to hang up the boots, but he kept on going, after the side fell short in the Prelim against the Hawks.
As we have had our fall from grace this year, and had our tough times on the field, it isn't the way it was hoped Pav would bow out, which in an ideal world, would have been with a flag, something he deserves. He even offered to retire early, which shows the sort of person he is towards our football club. He kept on, providing leadership to the younger boys and even had some textbook Pav moments.
As our champion has his 350th game, and bows out soon after as the season finishes, all I can say, is thank you Matthew Pavlich. You are a true champion of this football club. The way you have shown loyalty to a club that has been struggling on many occasions when you could have left, but you stayed on at the Dockers. You are without question the greatest Docker of all time, and I can't see this changing for sometime. All I can say, is thank you. Thanks for everything Pav. Enjoy the finish to your career.
