As St Kilda coach Grant Thomas noted, it's tough to match the occasion when you've just broken the games record for your AFL club.

Just ask Saints star Robert Harvey, who fizzed in his record-breaking game in round seven, which ended in a St Kilda loss to Geelong.

Little wonder Thomas was prepared to "dip our lid" to Melbourne captain David Neitz, whose eight goals in game No.273 was the stand-out performance in the Demons' 15.13 (103) to 13.12 (90) win at the MCG.

Neitz, who overtook club legend Robert Flower, fired his side with his side's first three goals, six before halftime and some inspiring kicking throughout, as four of his majors came from 50 metres or beyond.

The 31-year-old full-forward, who has also booted the most goals (558) for the Dees and led the side more than anyone else (142), humbly played down the achievement by saying it was more important the side won.

But after he was chaired off by teammates and presented with a club book signed by all his teammates, he said he hoped to push on next season to an unfamiliar milestone for any Melbourne player past or present.

"Hopefully I can really push on towards 300," he said.

"It's a bit of a travesty that the oldest club in the competition has never had a 300-game player and I'd love to be the first person to do that."

As modest as he is strong, Neitz said he held the games record in higher regard than any of the other milestones.

"When you think about the names of the Melbourne Football Club, Robbie Flower is one of the great icons of this club," he said.

"It's a little bit daunting to take that mantle, but at the same time it's something I'm really proud of and I'm really happy with my achievements."

Before the game Neitz was lauded as a "giant of the club" by chairman Paul Gardner, who said the skipper had delivered on giving fans a modern-day champion to celebrate.

"How fitting it would be if the Melbourne Football Club could give David something," Gardner said.

"The one remaining honour he deserves, (would be to) have him join the likes of (Ron) Barassi, (John) Beckwith, (Noel) McMahen and (Don) Cordner and hold aloft another Demons premiership trophy."

Neitz is the only other player besides Essendon legend Dick Reynolds to have held the games, goals and captaincy record of an AFL club at the same time.

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