Throughout the final years of the 1990s, AFL clubs across the land looked backwards rather than forward, with selectors, historians and superstars converging to name their Teams of the 20th Century.

So, as we near the quarter-time mark of the 21st century, what better time to run the rule on which players are likely to feature when the selectors of tomorrow get together in several decades' time?

While every club has an array of deadset legends that can be called on, we here at Zero Hanger have employed the following rules of selection:

  • Only statistics recorded and achievements accrued since the start of the 2000 AFL season will be acknowledged.
  • Any player selected must have played at least 100 senior games for their respective club since the start of the 2000 AFL season.

First up, we head to West Lakes to catalogue the crรจme de la crรจme of the Adelaide Football Club.

Next

1. Mark Ricciuto (2000-2007)

1 x Brownlow Medal (2003)
2 x best and fairest (2003 and 2004)
5 x All-Australian (2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005)
163 games, 21.2 disposals per game, 96 Brownlow votes, 0.6 votes per game

While Ricciuto called West Lakes home for the vast majority of the 1990s, it was after the turn of the millennium that the steely midfielder's star rose to its highest point.

A quintet of All-Australian blazers, a pair of Malcolm Blight Medals and the only Brownlow in club history proved enough to put 'Roo' atop this chart of Crows.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 09: Former footballer Mark Ricciuto looks on before the round 20 AFL match between the Port Adelaide Power and the Sydney Swans at Adelaide Oval on August 9, 2014 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Morne de Klerk/Getty Images)
Next