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.
5. Eddie Betts (2014-2019)ย
4 x leading goalkicker (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
3 x All-Australian (2015, 2016 and 2017)
132 games, 310 goals, 2.3 goals per game
While drafted by the Blues before rounding out his glittering career at Princes Park, Betts' peak as a forward came during his six seasons as a Crow.
Again, like Dangerfield, had Betts worn the tri-colours for longer, his name would have sat higher on this list.
However, Eddie will always have his pocket at the Adelaide Oval.