If you need convincing that finals is a very different game of footy, looking at the great goal kickers and their records in those games is a great way to prove it.
When you look at the blokes who have slotted 1000 goals over their careers, Lockett, Coventry, Dunstall, Ablett, Wade, and Franklin, not one of them ever managed to kick double figures in September.
Plugger went close, snagging nine in an Elimination Final, but this isa case where near enough is just not good enough.
The feat has been completed six times, and even then, only four men have managed to have 10+ goals to their name in a final in the history of the V/AFL.
Who are they?
Carlton’s Harry Vallence snagged 11 twice. The first one came against Collingwood in the 1931 Semi-Final, and he repeated the dose approximately 12 months later, when he booted another 11 against the Pies in the 1932 Preliminary Final.
Not to be outdone, Collingwood’s Ron Todd has two bags of 11, as well. His hauls came in 1938, when he dominated the Preliminary Final against the Cats, and he backed it up as well, by kicking another 11 the following season against St Kilda in the 1939 Prelim.
One more man has 11 to his name. That man is George Goninon, of the Geelong Football Club, who did so against Collingwood in the 1951 Semi-Final.
And then there is an unlikely one, from where I sit, anyway.
After a drought of 43 years, it took a ten-goal blast from Garry Lyon to despatch the Dogs in 1994. This was not only a rare achievement in terms of finals goals, but also the only time Lyon ever reached double figures in his career.
So, where are the Dunstalls, the Abletts, the Wades?
Let’s have a look at the top goal scorer in an individual finals game for each of the clubs.
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