A DEEP dive through the football archives is arguably the best way for an AFL fan to spend isolation.
Whether that be reviewing old highlights, scrolling though photo galleries or discovering obscure statistics, there are endless ways to get your footy fix while the 2020 season is on hold.
Courtesy of AFL Tables, we take a look at some of Melbourne’s best individual goal kicking records from seasons gone by.
Most goals in a game
Fred Fanning’s record of 18 goals against St Kilda in Round 19, 1947, not only stands as the greatest effort by a Demon, but it’s the highest tally by any player ever.
Most scoring shots in a game
In Round 20, 1991, Allen Jakovich couldn’t be stopped, hitting the scoreboard on 19 occasions (11.8) against North Melbourne (seventh most ever).
Highest percentage of team’s goals in a game (minimum eight team goals)
While the Demons went down by 57 points, Ray Carr’s seven-goal haul against North Melbourne in 1970 made the record books, kicking 87.50 percent of his side’s majors for the day (fourth highest ever).
Highest average goals per game (minimum 50 games)
Fanning averaged 3.95 goals per game (411 goals from 104 games) – more than any other Demon to play on more than 50 occasions (11th highest ever).
But Jakovich is worth a mention for his 201 majors from 47 appearances (at an average of 4.27) before making the move to Footscray.
Least games to 50 goals
Jakovich started his career on fire, flying to 50 goals in his first nine games – quicker than anyone else in the league’s history.
Least games to 100 goals
Jakovich’s next 50 goals took 12 games, making him the equal-fastest man to reach 100 majors, alongside Bomber John Coleman.
Most games without a goal
This isn’t a record any player wants next to their name, but Jamie Shanahan, a former Saint who finished his career with 37 games in the red and blue (1998 and 1999), played 162 matches without kicking a goal (fourth most ever).
Most games before first goal
Out of all current players in the competition, Oscar McDonald took the longest amount of time to kick his first career goal, doing so against the Magpies last year in his 73rd outing.
Ironically, his brother Tom McDonald, who has now kicked 104 majors, is second on that list after going goalless in his first 59 games.
Most finals goals
Jack Mueller, who was a star for the Demons from 1934 to 1950, kicked 62 goals in finals footy – the 10th highest tally in the league.
Most consecutive games kicking a goal
From his debut with the Dees to his third-last match with Geelong, Mark Jackson kicked a goal in every single game.
His feat of 79 straight matches (across three different clubs), is the seventh highest streak recorded.
Jackson played 41 of his 82 career games with Melbourne and booted a total of 308 goals at the level.
Coleman Medal winners
The Coleman Medal (league’s leading goal kicker) has been handed out since 1955, with former Dees skipper David Neitz being the only Melbourne recipient (75 goals in 2002).
Prior to this award’s creation, Fanning (1944, 1945, 1947), Harry Brereton (1911, 1912), Vince Coutie (1904) and Jack Leith (1897) all led the league for goals in their respective years of dominance.
Goal of the Year
Since the conception of the Goal of the Year Award in 1976, Melbourne has had just one winner: Jeff Farmer.
The crafty small forward was recognised in 1998, and you can vote for him to take out Melbourne’s greatest goal of the past 30 years in the competition below.
