Aussie rules is a tough sport, with the game asking a lot of its players.
The dream to walk onto the MCG is the first step to stardom, but we know the work doesn't end there, as to become the best requires much more than just training.
The ironman footballer has the uncanny ability to perform at the highest level for an unfathomable amount of time, with club best-and-fairests, All-Australians and goals kicked a means for measure.
To name a couple, Lance Franklin and Scott Pendlebury are current examples of those who's consistency supersedes all by the Flemington straight, which is why they're often included in the GOAT conversation.
Having turned 35 (Franklin) and 34-years-old (Pendlebury) earlier in the year respectively, there is no doubt that the pair can still contribute to their sides heavily, both on and off the field.
With the upcoming 350th game of the Collingwood immortal Pendlebury, it has inspired us to see who else fits in the category along the incredible duo.
To weed out the very good from the great, we've set out a criteria. You must have two of the following:
- Be a current AFL player
- Won their club's best-and-fairest count at least three times or;
- Kicked 60 goals or more in a season five times or;
- Received All-Australian honours at least four times
THE AFL's IRONMEN
| Club | Name | BnF | 60+ goals | AA honours |
| Hawthorn/Sydney | Lance Franklin | Y | Y | |
| Adelaide/Geelong | Patrick Dangerfield | Y | Y | |
| Collingwood | Scott Pendlebury | Y | Y | |
| Geelong | Joel Selwood | Y | Y | |
| Western Bulldogs | Marcus Bontempelli | Y | Y | |
| Richmond | Jack Riewoldt | Y | ||
| West Coast | Josh Kennedy | Y | ||
| Carlton | Patrick Cripps | Y | ||
| Brisbane | Dayne Zorko | Y | ||
| Essendon | Zach Merrett | Y | ||
| Fremantle | Nathan Fyfe | Y | ||
| Hawthorn | Tom Mitchell | Y | ||
| Melbourne | Clayton Oliver | Y | ||
| Port Adelaide | Robbie Gray | Y | ||
| Richmond | Trent Cotchin | Y | ||
| Sydney | Josh Kennedy | Y | ||
| Sydney | Luke Parker | Y | ||
| Fremantle/Brisbane | Lachie Neale | Y | ||
| Geelong | Tom Hawkins | Y | ||
| Melbourne | Max Gawn | Y | ||
| Richmond | Dustin Martin | Y | ||
| West Coast | Jeremy McGovern | Y |
Can you think of anyone else that should be on this list?
More: Want more AFL? Watch Warriors On The Field celebrating Aboriginal Australia and its long history and association with the AFL. Streaming on AMAZON PRIME VIDEO