Fremantle Dockers great Matthew Pavlich inducted into Australian Football Hall of Fame

Matthew Pavlich, the greatest player in Fremantle’s AFL history, was always going to be an automatic Hall Of Fame addition.

The former Dockers captain was the first of eight former players inducted to the AFL Hall Of Fame at Tuesday night’s function in Melbourne.

Another current member also is being elevated this year to official Legend status.

Pavlich is one of two modern greats who are being inducted in their first year of eligibility, having retired at the end of the 2016 season.

He outshines even two-time Brownlow Medallist Nat Fyfe as the Dockers’ greatest player, with 353 games and 700 goals.

Apart from his outstanding playing ability, a quote from Pavlich has entered club folklore.

He was miked up before a 2009 game when Pavlich exhorted his teammates: “Put on your superman capes, it’s wharfie time”.

The key forward, who captained Fremantle from 2007-15, was taken with pick No.4 in the 1999 national draft.

Another Dockers great, Paul Hasleby, was recruited two picks before Pavlich in the same draft.

Recruited from SANFL side Woodville-West Torrens - his father Steve was a West Torrens star - Pavlich made an immediate impact with 18 games in his debut 2000 season.

Pavlich had amazing resilience, playing at least 18 games in all but one of his 17 AFL seasons.

He captained Fremantle from 2007-15, including their one grand final so far in 2013 when they lost to Hawthorn.

Pavlich was a six-time club best and fairest winner and a six-time All-Australian.

He was Fremantle’s leading goalkicker eight times, with 69 his best haul in 2012.