THERE'S perhaps no greater compliment for a footballer than being hailed a big-game player.

This prized trait has been known to run in families, with the most recent example being Western Bulldogs premiership hero Liam Picken and his father Billy. 

Billy Picken was winless in five grand finals with Collingwood, but it wasn't his fault – the high-flying centre half-back claimed the Pies' best finals player award four times.

The apple didn't fall far from the tree, given the Bulldogs officially recognised his son Liam as their best finals performer as they won their first premiership in 62 years. 

In the last month of the 2016 season, the onetime mature-age rookie and longtime tagger transformed into a genuine matchwinner. 

Picken was among the Dogs' best players in each of their four finals – and perhaps the best in a couple of them – and averaged 23 possessions (11 contested) and six marks (1.25 contested), while tallying eight goals. (He'd kicked 55 goals in his previous 172 games.)

So how does the Pickens' finals pedigree stack up against other father-son combinations?

Courtesy of the AFL's statistical department, we've compiled a list headlined by legendary names such as Ablett, Silvagni and Kennedy.

The quality of the field is highlighted by the fact the following were, for various reasons, overlooked – Peter and Paul Hudson, Dustin and Ken Fletcher, David and Travis Cloke, Jack and John Cassin, Geoff and Jack Moriarty, Leo and Michael Turner, Steve and Ted Leehane, John and Matthew Scarlett, Jack and Tom Hawkins, and Rod and Ricky McLean.

Let the debate begin. 

THE ABLETTS

Gary Ablett snr (Geelong – 16 finals) and Gary jnr (Geelong – 17 finals).

This extraordinary duo enhanced their standing with their September heroics. Gary snr lost four Grand Finals but he claimed a Norm Smith Medal after bagging nine goals in a losing Grand Final in 1989, which capped a record 27-goal finals series, and then there was the 'Hand of God' mark and goal that put the Cats into the 1994 premiership decider. Dual premiership star Gary jnr finished second in the Norm Smith Medal voting in 2008, also after a loss, and amassed 40 touches in the 2010 preliminary final defeat to Collingwood. 

Gary Ablett snr after the 1989 Grand Final loss. Picture: AFL Photos

THE BROWNS

Ted Brown (Carlton – 12 finals) and Vin (Carlton – 8 finals).

Wingman/defender Ted controlled play in his vicinity to be key to Carlton's 1914-15 flags. Pacy full-back Vin, a Stawell Gift finallist, also played in two premierships for the Blues, being best-afield in the 'Bloodbath' Grand Final of 1945 and limiting the influence of Essendon superstar Dick Reynolds in the 1947 decider. 

THE COLLINSES

Jack Collins (Melbourne – 7 finals) and Geoff (Melbourne – 8 finals)

1926 premiership wingman Jack Collins made a habit of starring in finals, while his son Geoff was a tough half-back flanker, who starred in the 1948 Grand Final draw. Geoff missed the 1953 season while performing heroic deeds as a RAAF fighter pilot in the Korean War, but returned to captain Melbourne and fought hard against the odds in the 1954 Grand Final loss to Footscray.

THE DAVISES

Craig Davis (Carlton/North Melbourne/Collingwood – 18 finals) and Nick (Collingwood/Sydney – 14 finals).

Tasmanian Craig, an undersized full-forward, played some very good finals for Carlton, North Melbourne and Collingwood, despite being part of the Pies' Grand Final losses of 1979, '80 and '81. However, Nick broke the curse and will forever be remembered for eliminating Geelong in a pulsating 2005 semi-final with four last-quarter goals – including the match-winner with just three seconds left – en route to a drought-breaking premiership. 

Nick Davis celebrates his last-quarter heroics in the 2005 semi-final. Picture: AFL Photos

THE HOWELLS

Jack Howell snr (South Melbourne – 3 finals) and Jack jnr (Carlton – 6 finals).

Jack snr, nicknamed 'Chooka', was a ruckman who starred in his three finals, and was pivotal to South's 1918 flag, being named its best player in both finals. Fellow ruckman Jack jnr, who inherited his father's moniker, also performed strongly in each of his finals and was a key member of Carlton's 1947 premiership side. When Jack jnr's son Scott played in Carlton's 1981 flag, the Howells became the only three-generation combination to play in Grand Finals. 

THE JOHNSONS

Bob Johnson snr (Melbourne – 5 finals) and Bob jnr (Melbourne – 18 finals).

Bob snr capped a terrific debut season in 1926 by bagging six goals in a near best-afield effort in a Grand Final win over Collingwood. In his only two finals thereafter he contributed half of his team's goals with respective hauls of four and five. His son, Hall of Famer 'Big Bob' – a 198cm, left-footed forward/ruckman – was a unique component in Melbourne's golden era of 1955-60. 

THE KENNEDYS

John Kennedy jnr (Hawthorn – 20 finals) and Josh (Sydney – 19 finals).

Tall flanker John jnr was a solid contributor to four premierships and was particularly good during the Hawks' 1983 triumph when he gathered 30 touches and a goal. Swans midfielder Josh continues to enhance the family legacy (which was started by his legendary grandfather John Kennedy snr) and, remarkably, has been named in the Swans' best half-dozen in all but one of his 19 finals, including three Grand Finals (for one win and two losses). Josh was this year the inaugural winner of the Gary Ayres Award as the player of the finals. 

Josh Kennedy was the Swans' best in this year's Grand Final loss. Picture: AFL Photos

THE MAYS

Charlie May (Essendon – 10 finals) and Wally (Essendon – 12 finals).

A star centreman, Charlie was and part of Essendon's famed 'Mosquito Fleet', which powered the club to the 1923-24 premiership sides. Charlie was particularly damaging in the 1923 Grand Final. Wally, nicknamed 'Chooka' like his father, was a fearsome backman/onballer who was a standout in the 1949-50 flags. 

THE NASHES

Bob Nash (Collingwood – 6 finals) and Laurie (South Melbourne – 11 finals).

Bob was a fine high mark who performed well for Collingwood in several finals, including the 1905 Grand Final loss while playing as a key forward. His son Laurie – perhaps the greatest swingman to play the game – proved his greatness with a best-afield 29-kick, 13-mark effort at centre half-back in South's 1933 premiership, and was always dangerous in the 1934 and 1936 Grand Finals at centre half-forward. 

THE PANNAMS

Charlie Pannam snr (Collingwood – 14 finals) and sons Charlie jnr (Collingwood – 13 finals) and Alby C. (Collingwood – 10 finals).

Greek-born Charlie H. Pannamopoulos (later anglicised to Pannam) was the first of a line of feisty Pies little men that included grandsons Ron and Lou Richards, and was one of the best-afield in the 1902-03 flag sides. His son Alby was a brilliant rover/forward who produced one of the great Grand Final performances in the 1936 conquest when he amassed 32 kicks and slotted five of his team's 11 goals. Alby's older brother Charlie, a centreman/wingman, starred in numerous finals. All three were dual premiership stars. 

THE RANKINS

Teddy Rankin (Geelong – 5 finals) and Cliff (Geelong – 5 finals).

A pacy rover who later moved to defence, Teddy was deemed Geelong's best player in three of his five finals, which he played from 1897-1903. Cliff captain-coached the club to its first premiership in 1925, kicking five of his team's 10 goals. A fortnight earlier he'd slotted four majors in the second semi-final.

THE SHAWS

Ray Shaw (Collingwood – 20 finals) and sons Rhyce (Collingwood/Sydney – 18 finals) and Heath (Collingwood/GWS – 20 finals).

Clever rover Ray played in five Grand Finals without a win, and was captain in the 1979-80 defeats, but still enjoyed some prolific ball-winning, goalkicking finals. His sons had better luck, with Heath producing his self-proclaimed 'smother of the century' on St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 Pies' success, and Rhyce becoming a consistent performer in big games with the Swans, winning a flag in 2012.

Heath Shaw's 'smother of the century' in the 2010 Grand Final replay. Picture: AFL Photos

THE SILVAGNIS

Sergio Silvagni (Carlton – 15 finals) and Stephen (Carlton – 26 finals).

Dual premiership player Serg won many admirers as a socks-down, never-say-die ruck-rover who thrived under September heat in the 1960s/70s. Current Blues list manager Stephen was nicknamed 'SOS' (Son of Serg) and in 1996 was selected at full-back in the AFL Team of the Century after a brilliant 1995 finals campaign in which he comprehensively beat superstars Gary Ablett snr and Wayne Carey. Carlton fans hope Stephen's son Jack will add another layer to this history.

THE THOMASES

Bill Thomas (South Melbourne/Richmond – 10 finals) and Len (South Melbourne – 9 finals)

Centre half-back Bill snr was recognised as one of his team's best players in each of his 10 finals (nine with South and one with Richmond) and was almost best on ground in South's 1909 triumph. His son Len was a superb centreman who accumulated 32 kicks and 10 marks in the 1933 Grand Final. They are the only father-son pair to play in South Melbourne/Swans premiership sides.

THE TWOMEYS

Bill Twomey snr (Collingwood – 11 finals) and Bill jnr (Collingwood – 17 finals), Pat (Collingwood – 6 finals) and Mick (Collingwood – 15 finals).

Bill snr, a member of the Magpies' 1919 premiership team, was a classy wingman who was regularly among his side's top-three players in finals. Bill jnr was a mercurial centreman who could be devastating when he pushed forward, the greatest example of this being his eight-goal haul in the 1948 first semi-final. In 1953, with younger siblings Pat and Mick, they became the only set of three brothers to play together in a premiership side.