It might have taken him 28 matches, but Mitch Golby finally hit the scoreboard last Saturday against West Coast with his first ever goal in senior AFL football.
He must have enjoyed the experience too, because he followed it soon after with a second.
Before the game, Mitch Golby had the dubious honour of being the most experienced player among the current Lions group to have never kicked a goal.
And his teammates certainly let him know about it.
“A lot of the boys used to get into me a bit because I’d had seven or eight shots, but hadn’t scored,” Golby told Dom Fay and Michael Whiting on this week’s Fancast.
“So being able to slot one was a bit of a relief.”
Elliot Yeo now holds the title as having played the most senior games without a goal – but he is just 19 years-old and has played only 14 matches.
Collingwood’s Ted Potter still holds the AFL/VFL record for the most career games without scoring a goal. Potter went goalless in 182 matches from 1963-72.
Fitzroy’s Jim Atkinson holds the all-time Club record with 112 games.
In his defence, Golby hasn’t had a lot of opportunities in front of goal considering he’s played the majority of his young career in defence.
The Kilcunda-Bass product said he is still learning the ropes in his role as an attacking defender.
“It can be tough at times depending on who you’re playing on,” Golby said.
“Some guys push high up the field so it’s a bit easier to get on the counter-attack, while others blokes stay more at home.”
“Trying to find that balance is pretty tough at times.”
“It’s really important for myself, Jed Adcock, Elliot Yeo and Ash McGrath to find that balance.”
Golby ends goal drought
Mitch Golby was relieved to kick his first AFL goal against West Coast