David Neitz – 631
Having kicked the most ever, played the most ever, and led for the longest ever, 2002 Coleman Medallist David Neitz has a huge range of scores and stories to choose from, saying, ‘There are a few goals that I like to reminisce on, and a few missed ones that still annoy me no end! But I'd have to say that I always had a bit of extra confidence kicking to the city end  from the MCC members boundary…they always seemed to curl in for me from about 50 metres out – actually, as I get a bit older, my recollection is telling me that it was probably 55-60 metres out!’


 

Norm Smith – 546
Having held the Club’s goal kicking record across nearly eight decades, Smith remains a formidable figure on every front as part of the Club’s story.  Leading goal kicker from 1938 to 1941 –three of these being premiership years - he gained the admiration of all for his skill and inspiration.  As teammate Jim Abernethy said, ‘This man isn’t a tradesman, he’s a designer.’ 



Russell Robertson – 428
An electric and exciting performer, Robertson wore his heart on his sleeve with every goal, and retains the emotion to this day, recalling, ‘To have my name among the gentlemen on this list is one of the great honours. David Neitz, Norm Smith and Garry Lyon… there aren’t enough superlatives to describe the talent, leadership and respect felt by myself and all those who call the MFC their club. I will cherish every goal I kicked for the Demons and I wish I could do it all again.’



Garry Lyon – 426
A formidable leader and a fierce competitor, Lyon was at his best against the odds and when the big occasions called, such as the 1994 semi final against Footscray when he kicked 10.4 – and could probably have scored a few more, given half a chance. This haul remains the most ever kicked by any Melbourne player in a final.  The Club’s leading goal kicker in 1994 and 1995, Lyon’s return diminished as he battled injury, but remained at 40 in 1998 – his second last season.



Fred Fanning – 411
Fearsome and forceful, Fanning bullocked his way to records that stand to this day.  No player has ever surpassed the 18.1 he kicked against St Kilda in the last game of the 1947 season, and he has come the closest yet of any Melbourne player to kicking 100 goals in a season with his 97 in 1947.  The VFL leader on four occasions – 1943, 1944, 1945 and 1947 – Fanning also kicked six bags of ten or more throughout his career, etching his name large in the competition.



Jack Mueller – 378
While the imposing Jack Mueller considered himself a better player in the centre than at full forward, his statistics put paid to this theory.  To this day, Mueller holds the record for having kicked the most goals in finals of any Melbourne player ever – 62 - with Norm Smith’s 36 in second place.  He was the Club’s leading goal kicker in his first year at the Club – 1934 – and in following seasons even managed to break Fred Fanning’s leading score run with his own haul of 58 in 1946.



Brad Green – 350
From the beginning, Green’s goal kicking endeavours were characterised by steady accumulation with sparks of excitement.  Most memorably in his first year – 2000 - Green delivered in the second qualifying final against Carlton, when his nine kicks for four goals return helped to deliver a nine point win to the Demons.  While Green’s haul dipped in later seasons, in 2010 he had a resurgence to lead the way with 55 goals.



Beames – 323
The very template of the ‘quicksilver rover’, Beames shares fifth place with David Neitz – 27 -  where goals kicked in finals are concerned.  A gifted sportsman who represented Victoria in both cricket and football, Beames was tough and persistent, named best on ground in Melbourne’s wartime hattrick of flags in 1939, 1940 and 1941.  A constant in red and blue for nearly a decade and a half,  his goal kicking feats remain a special feature of his contribution.



Flower – 315
Flower magic – the memories of Robert Flower spinning his way down the MCG wing in the 1970s and 1980s are immortal.  The goals were a bonus.  Flower himself says of these, ‘Being one of the Club’s leading goal kickers was not an aspiration when I started, but hopefully those I did kick helped the team strive for victory.’  Asked which were the most memorable, Flower chose well – ‘Two goals stand out for me - of course, the first goal I ever kicked, in my first game against Geelong at the MCG in 1973, and...the last goal I kicked, against Footscray in the final game of 1987.’



Ron Baggott – 308
Working in tandem with Norm Smith during the 1930s and 1940s, Baggott’s passing skills and marking ability labelled him as a diverse package, set off by his remarkable goal kicking ability.  The Club’s leader with 57 goals in 1937, Baggott kicked 23 goals in finals, and reached the mid-30s to high 40s across the Club’s triple triumph of premierships in 1939, 1940 and 1941.