With the names of our offensive and defensive trios already on the whiteboard, it is now time to list the men that link the two together โ the midfielders.
Due to their aerobic and ball winning capacities, modern midfielders receive plaudits and pay packets far beyond their part-time predecessors.
These players at the coalface are regularly seen as their club's blue-chip talent, with their output integral to securing victory.
Like the previous pair of catalogues, the same four rules for selection apply for our third and final list:
1. Three players must be selected from each club.
2. Even if they have played for multiple clubs, no player can be selected on the list of two teams.
3. All players must have played at least a portion of their careers from 1990 onwards.
4. Most importantly, no player can have played an in-season match with any of their colleagues during their time at their selected club.
To up the ante, we have also added a fifth point of criteria: aย ruckman must also be selected for each team.
For example, should Brodie Grundy be selected for Collingwood, then all of his midfield mates between 2013 and the present day become ineligible.
With all this in mind, here is our best stab.
Let us know how we have gone and which clubs you feel have fared best.
Richmond
Matthew Knights โ 1988-2002 (279 games)
In an era when the Richmond Football Club was more acquainted with the cellar rather than Everest's peak, Matthew Knights, along with Matthew Richardson, was a rare bright light.
Recruited from the Tiger's Sunraysia recruiting zone in the late 80s, Knights really hit the ground running once the 90s came around.
Across his 279 games for the club, Knights won a two best and fairests, a pair of state jumpers, All-Australian honours in 1998 and was named in Richmond's stacked Team of the Century.
Adam Pattison โ 2005-2009 (61 games)
Most of you may not remember him, but it is worth bearing in mind, folks, we need to include a ruckman.
The โpinnacle' of Adam Pattison's time at Tigerland came during the 2007 season when he recorded a mean of less than 10 hitouts per game.
Just remember, he is only here to fit in the next name.
Dustin Martin - 2010-Present (244 games)
You can make any case for any other player you like, but after his performance in last year's Grand Final, it is undeniable, Dustin Martin is the greatest player still currently lacing their boots.
With four All-Australians, three Premiership medallions, three Norm Smiths, three Gary Ayres awards, a pair of best and fairests, a league MVP and the 2017 Brownlow, good luck stating your case for his superior.
