It’s every AFL-loving kid’s dream to have the ball in their hands as the siren sounds.
A tense crowd, brimming with excitement and noise, the butterflies in the stomach as they slowly walk in, concentrating on the kick that could shroud them in glory.
For these ten players, most lived out the dream in remarkable fashion.
From memorable goals to win hectic finals, wayward behinds that did the trick just fine and even moments that didn't quite follow the script, here are our top 10 kicks after the siren.
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10. The infamous ‘Sirengate’ (2006)
There have been some peculiar and confusing moments throughout the game's history, but none have been quite as bizarre as 'Sirengate'.
With Fremantle up by a point over a fast-finishing St Kilda in the dying seconds, Aurora Stadium's faint final siren appeared to have signalled a narrow victory to the Purple Army.
But the umpires failed to hear it, and as half the Dockers celebrated and the other half protested, the extra 10 seconds of play saw Steven Baker sneak through a behind to level the scores before the siren sounded a second time.
Cue utter chaos.
Players and umpires were left baffled and Fremantle coach Chris Connolly stormed the field in rage in what was a turbulent few minutes before, incredibly, the original behind was cancelled and Baker awarded another shot on goal.
His consecutive miss at the big sticks put the result as a draw into the record books the result was overturned by the AFL Commission and the win awarded to the Dockers four days later.
DID YOU KNOW... this was only the second time a V/AFL match’s outcome had been overturned, with the first occurring in 1900 between St Kilda and Melbourne!
9. There’s something about that Kennett Curse (2009-2013, 2016)
If Jeff Kennett had his time again, he may have kept his mouth shut after the 2008 Grand Final.
Crowing about after his Hawks upset the all-conquering Cats in the decider, Kennett’s words would fuel Geelong on to eleven straight wins from 2008-2013, including two memorable after the siren scores from Jimmy Bartel and Tom Hawkins.
Bartel's behind in 2009 ended like a Hollywood script, giving Geelong sweet revenge for the 2008 heartbreak.
And if Bartel’s point wasn’t enough to sink the Hawks, then the classic 2012 encounter would be the killing blow, with Hawkin’s roost from outside 50 keeping the cat on Hawthorn’s back.
The 2013 Preliminary Final saw Hawthorn finally shed the curse and go on to win a flag.
Kennett’s Curse was briefly revived in the 2016 Preliminary Final through Isaac Smith, who missed the perfect opportunity to inflict some pain of his own after his after-the-siren shot shied away to the right.
DID YOU KNOW... the 11 games Geelong won during the Kennett Curse had a combined margin of just 96 points, with Geelong winning eight of these games by under 10 points.
8. Karmichael enters folklore (2012)
Occurring in a time where Richmond were perennially ninth, Karmichael Hunt's match-winning goal gave Gold Coast a stirring – and long-awaited – second-season win.
In a tight encounter up in Cairns, a cheeky pass in the final seconds from Brandon Matera landed with the controversial code-convert.
30m out on a slight angle, the high-profile Sun had the chance to silence the Tiger Army and his critics in one foul swoop.
While Hunt was ridiculed for his decision to pick up AFL, he was gifted the last laugh as his drop punt sailed through the big sticks.
DID YOU KNOW... Karmichael Hunt’s AFL highlights reel is relatively empty after this point.
7. Sticks misses everything (1993)
1993 was a simple time for Carlton and Essendon.
No matter who rose up, the two powerhouse clubs would ultimately find the talent to fight for the flag. This year was no different. With the scores all locked up at the final siren, Carlton's Stephen 'Sticks' Kernahan had the final say on the pulsating Round 2 contest.
As the star goal-kicker lumbered in from just inside 50 on a tough angle, his booming kick looked to be good off the boot… only to swing violently out of bounds.
A second of silence rang out before disbelieving Essendon fans cheered; they’d somehow managed to slide through for a draw.
For the Bombers, they’d gotten off the hook. For the Blues, a golden opportunity for a win against the arch-rivals had gone begging.
DID YOU KNOW... This game still holds the record as the highest scoring draw in VFL/AFL history at 20.12 (132) to 19.18 (132).
6. Stynes oversteps, Buckenara books a Grand Final spot (1987)
This goal is barely remembered as Gary Buckenara’s - instead, it’s known for Jim Stynes running across the mark, and ending the Grand Final hopes of his luckless Dees.
The 1987 Preliminary Final between Hawthorn and Melbourne went down to the wire, with a late end-to-end play saw Hawks star Gary Buckenara tripped and given a free kick from outside the 50m arc.
A long way out, the Hawks star would need a miracle – almost Malcolm Blight-like – to send his side back to the big dance.
Fortunately, the fickle Footy Gods were listening and seconds later, the young and inexperienced Stynes trod across the mark to give the umpire no choice but to award a 15-metre penalty.
It was enough to get Buckenara in range, and the Hawk slotted the goal to break Melbourne hearts and continue its long-suffering Premiership drought.
5. Freo fans long for Longmuir (2005)
Justin Longmuir didn’t need to win over the hearts of the Freo faithful after assuming the coaching reins this season, because he’d already done so some 15 years prior.
The Purple Army have the image of Longmuir taking to the skies burned into their minds, with his grab and goal in the dying seconds of the Round 21 clash with the Saints part of Fremantle folklore.
The ice-cool forward waltzed in to seal the deal - despite some bizarre handstands from the Saints to put him off – and keep the Dockers’ finals hopes alive.
What makes this moment truly special though is the iconic celebration.
The Freo faithful in an unparalleled frenzy, Longmuir and the Dockers leaping into crowd, and the warm embrace of the cacophonous crowd immortalising the moment.
Absolute scenes.
DID YOU KNOW... Longmuir's goal was rated the third most memorable moment of Domain Stadium’s history.
4. Billy’s big day (1994)
If you’ve seen The Footy Show, then you’ve seen this moment.
Often lost in the spotlight of Gary Ablett Snr, Billy Brownless had his day in the sun in the 1994 Qualifying Final.
Only seconds were left on the clock when Big Billy burst off his man to take a trademark grab – the final siren sounding mere moments later.
With his trademark calmness and self-assuredness, the Geelong hero slotted the major and ran off in jubilation as the Cats’ Preliminary Final spot was confirmed.
What could make the goal that sent Geelong into another Preliminary Final any better?
The legendary call of “Billy, you are King of Geelong”.
3. The only Lockett point we’ll ever remember (1996)
Having kicked many goals (just a casual 1123 at this point in time) across his decorated career, it was time for Tony Lockett to slot one of his most famous scores of all: a behind.
With scores level against the Bombers in the 1996 Preliminary Final, the Sherrin was greeted by one of Plugger’s freight train-like leads right on the paint of the 50.
As the siren sounded, the reality of the situation began to sink in: any score would send the Swans to its first Grand Final since 1945, anything else, heartbreak.
As the crowd held its breath, Lockett steamed in to kick one of the most famous behinds in the competition’s history, sending Sydney to that last week in September.
DID YOU KNOW... that in 2013, Sydney officially added Plugger's Point into their Heritage List.
2. McGrath’s miracle on grass (2013)
Brisbane appeared to be no hope once they fell 52 points behind to a star-studded 2013 Geelong outfit.
Having won multiple Premierships and featuring in all the recent finals campaigns, there was no way Brisbane could unsettle the experienced side.
But by some miracle, a seven-goal final term had seen the Lions drag themselves back to within a kick.
With the result in hanging in the balance in the last 10 seconds, the unlikely hero Ash McGrath was the lucky Lion who ended up with the pill outside 50 at the last possible moment.
Needing a big strike to have any chance of a miracle triumph, McGrath sunk his boot through it and – to the disbelief of footy fans all over the country – gifted Brisbane their eighth of the quarter and the most incredible of victories.
A remarkable comeback completed by the milestone man in his 200th – what more could you ask for?
1. Blight’s mighty spiral into the history books (1976)
Malcolm Blight is a footy legend. But perhaps nothing beats his ridiculous torpedo goal in 1976.
Trailing to Carlton by just under a kick, Blight decided to have a crack and send a torp towards goal after the siren rang with him positioned well out on the wing.
But this was no hopeful shot.
As fans started filing out of the ground to what they thought was a Blues win, Blight bombed the Sherrin at least 80 metres – through the big sticks and well over the height of the posts – to produce arguably the wildest piece of post-siren football ever witnessed.
It’s a moment synonymous with the great Blight, the magical torpedo kick and after-the-siren magic, and rightfully, top billing in this week’s countdown.
DID YOU KNOW... after Brisbane's Daniel Bradshaw produced a spectacular torpedo goal in 2010, Malcolm Blight measured the kick and said it still fell short of his own, which he measured to be 83 metres.
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