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.

7. Scott Thompson (2005-2017)ย 

2 x best and fairest (2011 and 2012)
1 x All-Australian (2012)
269 games, 25.1 disposals per game, 152 Brownlow votes, 0.6 votes per game

Despite starting his career as a Demon, Thompson flourished upon returning home to South Australia, melding brawn with a brilliant skillset.

While the Crows never saluted during Thompson's time at the club, fans and teammates alike could always rely on the midfielder who ran like Greenwich Mean Time.

ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - JULY 07: Scott Thompson of the Crows looks upfield during the round 16 AFL match between the Adelaide Crows and the Western Bulldogs at Adelaide Oval on July 7, 2017 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)