It was 15 years ago today, July 6, 2001, that Gary Moorcroft took one of the greatest marks in the history of Australian rules football.
With three minutes remaining in the first half against the Bulldogs, the diminutive forward was on top of the world after kicking five first half goals.
Moments later, he was even higher.
After a quick clearance from the Essendon midfield and Bulldogs spoil at centre half back, champion forward Scott Lucas roved the ball and snapped what was surely an unmarkable, mongrel-punt towards the goal square.
Moorcroft lept into the air and just didn’t stop until he pulled down the 2001 Mark of the Year, over the unfortunate step ladder, Bulldogs legend Brad Johnson.
The mark is even more remarkable when you consider that the he stood just 173cm tall – which would make him the 6th shortest player in the league in 2016.
It wasn’t all celebrations for the 98-gamer, he would later learn that he had a hairline crack in his hip socket from the impact of the fall. This injury would ultimately shorten his career.
Nevertheless, Gary Moorcroft’s mark against the Bulldogs lives on as one of the great moments in the game’s history a decade and a half later.
