ASK any Aussie to sit down and list their top 10 sporting moments of the past decade and there's a few almost certainties: Cathy Freeman's gold in 2000, John Aloisi's goal that put the Socceroos into the World Cup, Makybe Diva's third Melbourne Cup win, Leo Barry's mark in the 2005 AFL grand final, etc.
If we weren't watching it live on TV, we've no doubt seen the highlights a thousand times, or read about how the nation stood still for the extraordinary moment, and so on.
But what about those other incredible sporting moments of 2000-2009 that don't make so many of those lists? What about the moments that made us smile, gasp or shake our heads in wonder, but which aren't quite as widely recalled?
In tribute to those, here is an alternative list of eight moments that helped make the decade, including some beauties that might be slipping through the cracks of memory.
1. The crazy run chase
DIDN'T we all crack up at hearing about the two blokes who bet $20,000 at the odds of just $1.01 for Australia to defend its monstrous innings of 4-434 against South Africa, only for the Proteas to then come out and belt 438 and win.
Until that day in Johannesburg, no team had passed the magical 400-run mark, so when Ricky Ponting (164 off 105 balls) blasted Australia well beyond that, the luckless punters, who stood to win just $200 each, were in good company in thinking the Aussies were untouchable.
Enter Herschelle Gibbs, whose amazing 175 off 111 balls, combined with an unbeaten half century from Mark Boucher made the impossible come true.
Ponting declined to accept a joint man-of-the-match honour, insisting Gibbs stood alone.
''We had no defence mechanisms whatsoever against the way they were hitting,'' Ponting said.
South African captain Graeme Smith, who hit 90 from 55, said the win was beyond belief.
''Chasing 434 is a bit sick really, unbelievable. The pitch was great but you can't sit down and plan to chase 434,'' Smith said.
The match is now widely known as the greatest one-dayer.
2. Gutsiest comeback
KANGAROOS forward Jason McCartney was almost the 89th Australian victim of the Bali bombings, coming close to dying as a result of his burns suffered in the explosion on October 12, 2002.
Only six months later, still wearing bandages on his arms, a long-sleeve jersey and special gloves to protect his hands, McCartney made an utterly inspirational return to AFL against Richmond at the MCG. He wore on his jersey the numbers 88 representing the number of Australians killed and 202 for the total number of deaths.
After leading the team out, every time McCartney touched the ball the massive crowd erupted. When he kicked a goal to keep the Roos in touch in the final quarter the noise soared to a new level.
Then, with the Kangas behind and less than two minutes to go, he took the ball in the Tigers 50m, dribbled a kick into the square where Leigh Harding scooped to give the Kangaroos one of their most wonderful victories.
It was a fairytale comeback and as it turned out a fairytale ending.
Minutes after the final siren he declared himself ''spent''.
''I think I've used up every inch of my determination, my fitness and my mental effort and I find it fitting now that I'll hang the boots up as of tonight and go out on a great note, because I'm spent.''
McCartney is now honoured with a medal in his name going to the player judged most courageous on field in matches between Collingwood and North Melbourne.
3. Lion tamers
THE British and Irish Lions had never been beaten on their rare ventures to Australia. Hardly surprising given for much of Wallabies' history we've struggled to match any one of the home nations, let alone the combined power of all four. But in 2001, the Wallabies, reigning world champions, were in the sort of state where they were given a good shot, even against a Lions team centred around the then formidable English. That Aussie optimism seemed to evaporate in the opening match at the Gabba in Brisbane, when the huge Lions supporters roared their team home to a 29-13 win. After the ARU decked out the Aussie crowd in free gold gear, the Wallabies rebounded to win the second game in Melbourne 35-14. And so it came down to Sydney and a decider watched by 84,000. Through a torrid and tight encounter, the Wallabies kept England at bay, helped by to two tries from Dan Herbert. With only seconds left on the clock Australia led 29-23, but England had an attacking lineout only 5m out, with every chance of bullying their way over to snatch the series. They didn't count on the intervention of rookie Aussie lock Justin Harrison, labelled a ''plod'' and a ''plank'' by Lions winger Austin Healy after the Brumbies v Lions clash. In one of the most important lineout steals in Wallabies history a comparable feat to Leo Barry's mark in the 2005 AFL semi-final Harrison soared and snatched, robbing the Lions of their final shot at victory. The Lions went home dejected, the Wallabies celebrated another trophy and Harrison's Test career was launched.
4. Opals go gold
LAUREN Jackson looked almost sick at the sight of her third Olympic silver medal at last year's Olympics. The reason she and her team had been so strong in their belief that they could finally end the US stranglehold at the Games came from their incredible world championship performance in Brazil in 2006. As always the US were the hot favourites and they got through the pool stages with little fuss, before a shock loss to Russia in the semi-final. Australia got past the host Brazil to face Russia for gold. The match turned into a rout for Australia, whose big names Penny Taylor and Jackson played all over their opponents. Taylor's 28 points in the final helped earn her the tournament MVP award. The Opals' win made them the first Australian male or female team to win a major championship gold.
5. Rout in the old dart
IT WAS a friendly match with no real impact on international soccer. But try tell that to the Aussies in London or the many thousands watching on TV as the Socceroos gave it to Sven Goran Erickson's side in February 2003. This was a time when it didn't seem to matter what sport, Australia would crush England. But soccer was, we all thought, a different matter. They had David Beckham and countless other multi-millionaires to more than see and raise our Harry Kewell. But the Poms seemed to take Australia too lightly and were soon 2-0 down. Then, in a real show of distain, English coach Erickson decided to substitute his star players for the second half. Frank Farina's team didn't let up though, securing the 3-1 win with a Brett Emerton strike 10 minutes from time. One of the most enjoyable things for Aussie fans was seeing the English press hammer their team. Headlines included ''ROO-BISH'' and ''Shockeroos'' as the Poms were ridiculed for being ''outclassed by a second-rate nation playing their first game together in 15 months''. Backhanded compliment certainly, but for our pre-World Cup qualifying Socceroos it was praise to make an underdog stand tall.
6. Oliver's tribute
IT'S almost unimaginable for an Australian jockey on winning the Melbourne Cup to say the trophy ''doesn't mean anything to me any more''. But for Damien Oliver, his victory in the 2002 race aboard Media Puzzle was loaded with so much more meaning and a sense of the bittersweet than any other race before it or since. Only a week earlier Oliver's brother Jason, also a jockey, died in a training fall. Their father, Ray, had also died in a racing accident 27 years earlier. Despite his grief, Oliver decided to fulfil his obligation to trainer Dermot Weld, hopping aboard Media Puzzle wearing Jason's riding trousers. The horse rounded the final bend behind only Vinnie Roe and the two were neck and neck until 350m out, when Media Puzzle kicked clear. As he crossed the line, Oliver blew a kiss to the sky and said to his brother ''my boy'', the familiar title they used to give each other. As he came back to the mounting yard, a tearful Oliver thanked Jason, his inspiration that day. ''I know you're up there mate and I couldn't have done it without you, buddy. So this one's for you.''
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