FREMANTLE great Matthew Pavlich is the most unique footballer of the modern era.

Barring injury, Pavlich plays his 300th game against Geelong at home on Saturday as a six-time All-Australian.

He won Australian selection as full-back 12 years ago as well as a half-forward and full-forward three other times and twice as an interchange player.

It was a slap in the face when Pavlich was overlooked as at least a bench-starter in Australian teams for 2010 — when he booted 61 goals and averaged 19 disposals across 21 qualifying games — again two years later when he bagged 69 majors and 17 possessions an outing.

He is the most flexible and athletic all-rounder of the modern game as he has held down key positions as well as on ball roles.

Despite such heavily weighted time running on the ball through much of his career, Pavlich has booted almost 600 goals and even more than eminent Hawthorn and now Sydney boom recruit Lance Franklin who has kicked 592 majors from his 188 outings as a premier forward.

Pavlich, 32, has no peer.

He has spent 60.4 per cent of his career on the ball, 28.8 up forward and 10.8 per cent of his time in defence, mostly in his opening two seasons under then head coach Chris Connolly back in 2002-03.

The South Australian import is the first player to reach 300 AFL games based in Western Australia, with big Eagles ruck force Dean Cox on Pavlich’s tail to equal the astonishing feat but will have to play into next year for his triple ton personal tally.

Pavlich has averaged an impressive 18 disposals, two goals, six marks and a couple of tackles across 299 outings since his Dockers debut against Melbourne at the WACA Ground on Saturday night of April 8, in Round 5 back in 2000.

media_camera North Melbourne footballer Ross Glendinning.

Modern day candidates to even rival the brilliance and astonishing diversity of Pavlich, will include former North Melbourne and West Coast champion Ross Glendinning and at a pinch, possibly Eagles great Glen Jakovich as well as Carlton big man Jon Dorotich.

They could all pinch-hit with cameos at either end of the ground in critical key position attacking or defensive duties, but none have the same degree of dominance on the ball as Pavlich.

Revered veteran broadcaster Dennis Cometti is convinced Pavlich should have been hailed as a great well before recent seasons.

Pavlich is conspicuously into the twilight of his highly distinguished career and yet to make any decision on whether to play on next year.

comment

Yet, Cometti declares the most versatile big forward in the business a genuine match-winner in Fremantle’s unbending quest to win a premiership before Pavlich hangs up his giant boots.

“I find it amazing that after 300 games and at least 150 flights interstate that he’s still a potential match-winner every time he goes out to play,” Cometti said.

comment

“I think it took a while for a few critics in Melbourne to give him due.

“After all he was a South Australian playing for a West Australian club.

“Hardly a combination guaranteed to make you a media darling on the east coast.”

Other former West Aussie greats with flexibility to switch-hit into defensive or attacking roles similar to Pavlich might include East Perth Sandover medallist Ian Miller, Subiaco ace Laurie Kettlewell, Swan Districts all-rounder Ken Bagley and Fred Buttsworth from West Perth who preferred playing in the centre.

Perth hard nut Mal Atwell could be another with some flexibility to be considered in a utility capacity.

Virtually no past or present-day player can add the athletic prowess of Pavlich to run on the ball through the midfield with such productivity and in the highly demanding styles of today’s game.

Originally published as Pavlich the best all-rounder ever