EASTER isn't just for church, egg hunting and gorging chocolate.
It's also proven a great platform for some of the AFL's biggest stars to put on a show.
AFL.com.au has gone back two decades to find the 10 best individual performers on Easter Sunday (with apologies to North Melbourne, which cops it four times).
>> Vote on which performance you think is best in the poll below
MARK RICCIUTO (Adelaide)
Round 7, 2000: Adelaide 14.14 (98) d Port Adelaide 13.13 (91)
By the numbers: 41 disposals (12 contested), four goals, 11 clearances, five inside 50s
The Crows champion's performance on this day is hailed as arguably the greatest in all the Showdowns between the South Australian clubs. Then-coach Gary Ayres called it "first class". Ricciuto was one of Adelaide's few contributors as it fell 42 points behind early in the second half before he inspired his team to a much-needed victory. It was the first and only time in his 312-game career that he won more than 40 possessions. Ricciuto was the deserved recipient of the first Showdown Medal.
TROY WILSON (West Coast)
Round 3, 2001: St Kilda 16.11 (107) lost to West Coast 19.11 (125)
By the numbers: 20 disposals (11 contested), 15 marks (11 inside 50), seven goals, five behinds
Wilson was drafted at age 28 and this game was just his third at AFL level. He stood only 189cm but was a physically imposing player and he enjoyed a day out against the Saints at what's now called Marvel Stadium. Wilson kicked three of his career-high seven majors by quarter-time, had five by the main break and slotted one in each of the final two terms. Wilson won the Eagles' goalkicking award that year with 40 in 18 games.
PETER BELL (Fremantle)
Round 4, 2003: Fremantle 25.17 (167) d North Melbourne 19.8 (122)
By the numbers: 31 disposals (15 contested), three goals, eight clearances, six inside 50s
The diminutive Docker is the club's football boss these days but was a mighty player in his own right across 286 matches for Fremantle and the Kangaroos. Bell's old side felt his wrath in this clash, as the Dockers retained possession a whopping 87 per cent of the time he disposed of the Sherrin. His scoreboard impact ensured he was the best player afield. Bell was an Easter specialist, gathering 39 possessions in 2002 and 35 in 2001 in the corresponding fixtures. Between those three games he amassed seven Brownlow Medal votes.
SAM MITCHELL (Hawthorn)
Round 3, 2009: North Melbourne 10.9 (69) lost to Hawthorn 19.9 (123)
By the numbers: 37 disposals (15 contested), one goal, nine clearances, 11 score involvements
The man known as 'the Extractor' or 'Diesel 2.0' turned in one of his numerous star showings against the Kangas. He operated at a lethal 92 per cent efficiency and was the chief reason Jarryd Roughead (five) and Lance Franklin (four) combined for nine goals in a comfortable, go-to-whoa win. Mitchell, who was a co-winner of the 2012 Brownlow Medal with Richmond's Trent Cotchin, accumulated 30 or more possessions in nine of his 23 meetings with North Melbourne in his 329-game career.
DUSTIN MARTIN (Richmond)
Round 5, 2011: North Melbourne 14.19 (103) lost to Richmond 17.10 (112)
By the numbers: 33 disposals (12 contested), four goals, four clearances, 14 score involvements
Was a star born in this twilight encounter? We all had a pretty good idea that 'Dusty' was going to be special in his debut season a year earlier but this was the first time he surpassed 30 possessions, then he backed up a week later with 35 more at Brisbane's expense. At 19, he was already imposing himself physically, albeit having greater impact to this stage as a forward with midfield bursts. Martin remains a dual threat but now has two premierships, two Norm Smith medals and a Brownlow – among other accolades – on his resume.
GARY ABLETT (Gold Coast)
Round 2, 2012: St Kilda 21.13 (139) d Gold Coast 7.5 (47)
By the numbers: 40 disposals (20 contested), two goals, eight clearances, eight inside 50s, eight score involvements
Has anyone ever polled maximum Brownlow Medal votes in a 92-point defeat? Ablett's solo effort was incredibly the second of three straight games with 40-plus touches and two goals to start the season. He had nine Brownlow votes by the end of round three but the Suns lost all three contests. As if the above statistics weren't impressive enough, Ablett also racked up 614m gained and laid four tackles. The Little Master somehow enhanced his legendary status with little support during his time at Gold Coast.
PATRICK DANGERFIELD (Adelaide)
Round 5, 2014: Adelaide 21.11 (137) d Greater Western Sydney 10.12 (72)
By the numbers: 33 disposals (18 contested), five goals, nine clearances, 13 score involvements
The names in the Giants' line-up that day – Coniglio, Greene, Treloar, Haynes, Kelly – look great now but they were still finding their way when Danger went through them six years ago. This was an obscene game but Dangerfield is such a special footballer that it was just one of five times he's racked up at least 30 possessions and kicked four-plus goals. Like Dustin Martin, the 2016 Brownlow medallist could make a living as a standalone forward or midfielder but is used in both roles where necessary.
TAYLOR WALKER (Adelaide)
Round 1, 2015: Adelaide 21.14 (140) d North Melbourne 9.9 (63)
By the numbers: 22 disposals (six contested), 15 marks (nine inside 50), six goals, five behinds, 14 score involvements
Walker ensured the Phil Walsh coaching era got off to a flying start with a herculean performance against an outmatched Roos defence. Neither Scott Thompson nor Joel Tippett could stop him. The Crows' new captain had 10 of his 15 marks by the eight-minute mark of the second quarter and booted three goals in each half to see off North's challenge. Walker went on to kick 59 majors that season – the second biggest haul of his career – to establish himself as one of the best key forwards in the game.
JOSH KENNEDY (West Coast)
Round 1, 2016: West Coast 26.10 (166) d Brisbane 15.12 (102)
By the numbers: 25 disposals (eight contested), 16 marks (10 inside 50), eight goals, 19 score involvements
It takes a special footballer to make a club feel OK about trading Chris Judd. Kennedy is that player. The Lions were just the latest to cop the full brunt of the gun Eagle's goalkicking ability. He's a premiership player, dual Coleman medallist, a triple All-Australian and has kicked seven or more goals on 12 occasions, including double digits three times. Kennedy looked ominous right from the start against Brisbane: he slotted three goals in the opening quarter, another in the second term, before he banged through the last four in the final quarter.
OLLIE WINES (Port Adelaide)
Round 2, 2018: Sydney 10.11 (71) lost to Port Adelaide 14.10 (94)
By the numbers: 35 disposals (19 contested), 12 clearances, one goal, six tackles
Wines was a goliath against a Swans midfield spearheaded by Josh Kennedy and Luke Parker, rallying the Power from a 14-point half-time deficit to an impressive victory at the SCG. The Echuca product – the No.7 pick in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft – has won at least 19 contested possessions in a match six times, with a career high of 23 against the Western Bulldogs in 2015. Wines has averaged more than 24 disposals and 10 contested possessions in six of his seven seasons at AFL level.
