On each weekday of the 2011 Toyota AFL Finals Series, Leigh Matthews will count down his 20 Moments of Greatness from the finals. Today: moment No. 5 when Michael Long ran through the Carlton defence to kick a wonderful goal in the opening quarter of the 1993 Grand Final.

ESSENDON led Carlton by eight points 10 minutes into the first quarter of the 1993 Grand Final. Dustin Fletcher took a kick-out and booted long towards the centre, where Sean Denham roved from a marking contest and sent a long handball to Michael Long on the wing.

Long, sprinting away from Carlton opponents, took a bounce then another bounce. Then another bounce followed by a baulk. He surged into the clear and took another bounce to bring him within 30 metres of goal.

He took a few steps to slow down and line up and then, fatigued, kicked a low, floating mongrel that just got over the outstretched arms of Stephen Silvagni.

Silvagni vociferously claimed to the goal umpire that he had touched the ball and threw his head down in frustration when the goal umpire ignored his plea. It was a memorable goal.

Long's feat was important on three levels.

First, it was a cracking goal, showcasing one man's speed, skill and determination.

It also signified that the Baby Bombers, a team considered too young to take the flag, would take some beating on the biggest stage of all.

And in the year of Nicky Winmar's hoisting of his jumper at Victoria Park, the year when the AFL decided to tackle the issue of racism, it heralded the oncoming of a wave of indigenous talent.

"He had the world on his shoulders," said Leigh Matthews. "To take the ball out of the centre, take a few bounces and kick the goal was truly a moment of Grand Final greatness."