Kevin Bartlett was easily one of the best finals players at Richmond while Mick Malthouse was at the club as he continued to defy critics who said he was too old.
The champion Tiger played in 27 finals during his 19-year career and was astonishingly named in the official best players 24 times.
“It’s hard to go past Richmond’s Kevin Bartlett,” said Malthouse on SEN radio.
“Like supposedly when you get to 30 and you make a fumble everyone says ‘he’s finished’.
“Well you know what he fumbled twice and seven years later I think he broke the record, but he kicked multiple goals through the three finals we played.
“They couldn’t stop him because of his pace, ability to read the play.”
Mick only gives one second-chance in finals
“One of the great things about sport is to be able to perform on the big stage and I loved to go into a season after a finals series and know that my players stood up in the finals,” said Malthouse.
“Those that didn’t have got one more chance, only one more chance because you can’t muck around in finals.
“You can’t give a third and fourth chance… if you don’t perform then that’s curtains because it’s so hard to get there.”
Top three Magpies in finals under Malthouse
“Collingwood it is Licuria, Rocca and probably Swan or Pendlebury,” said the former Pies coach.
“Oh yes Buckley played very well but I thought the heart and soul of our football club was Anthony Rocca.
“Played centre-half forward and took control of the game, we needed him to play well to wins games of football.”