‘The greatest of all time’ has become a throwaway line in the sporting vernacular.
But for St Kilda’s goal-kicking phenomenon Tony Lockett, it was fact.
He was, and still remains, the single greatest goal-kicker the game has ever seen.
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And it was 25 years ago today when he single-handedly dismantled the Sydney Swans in one of the most extraordinary solo performances ever witnessed in red, white and black.
The infamous game encapsulated the very best and worst of the man they called ‘Plugger’.
Midway through the first term, Sydney’s Peter Caven sprinted back to intercept in front of the oncoming steam train in Lockett, whose raised forearm saw the shell-shocked Swan sidelined for 12 weeks.
It was a sickening hit, and the Saints’ No. 4 would later be served an eight-week ban.
A chorus of venomous boos consequently followed the bullish full-forward all afternoon, but Lockett would enjoy the last laugh.
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Staring down the barrel of a 41-point deficit with under nine minutes remaining, the Saints needed a hero.
And they found one in the unassuming boy from Ballarat.
The Saints piled on five goals, and with the margin reduced to under three straight kicks, ‘Plugger’ got to work.
Lockett’s dead-eye accuracy became the arrow through Swans hearts, nailing three majors in the final three minutes of the game to steal an iconic one-point win.
'Plugger' is reported after his hit on Peter Caven.
And despite kicking a now almost inconceivable 11 goals that day, the fiery forward is remembered just as much for his conduct after the final siren.
Overcome by pure elation at the miraculous comeback win, Lockett turned to the Swans cheer squad and told them where to go in no uncertain terms.
The famous victory and celebrations are of course lined with a hint of irony, in that arguably the best Saint ever to play the game would call Sydney home the following season.
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In one of the most remarkable careers in league history, Lockett retired in 2002 after 281 games for St Kilda and Sydney with 1360 goals; still more than any other man in 122 years of VFL/AFL football.
Lockett’s list of accolades is befitting for such a once-in-a-lifetime player.
A Brownlow Medal, Leigh Matthews Trophy, four Coleman Medals, five All Australian selections, two Trevor Barker Awards, Team of the Century honours for both St Kilda and Sydney, and ‘Legend’ status in both St Kilda and the AFL’s Halls of Fame.
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8 May, 1994 was the perfect microcosm of the marvel that was Tony Lockett.
Equal parts brilliant and mind-boggling, Anthony ‘Plugger’ Lockett was and still is adored by every Saints fan lucky enough to have seen his spectacle.
He was the greatest showman.
And there can be no dispute, he is the greatest of all time.
