Throughout the final years of the 1990s,ย AFL clubs across the land looked backward 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 2000ย AFLย season will be acknowledged.
  • Any player selected must have played at least 100 senior games for their respective club since the start of the 2000ย AFLย season.

Next up, we head to Princes Park to catalogue the crรจme de la crรจme of the Carlton Football Club.

SEE ALSO: BEST CROWS SINCE 2000, BEST LIONS SINCE 2000ย 

7. Kade Simpson (2003-2020)

1 x best and fairest (2013)
342 games

For a club with 16 flags to its name, Carlton acts as a home for many, many decorated stars of the past.

However, as a club that has claimed five wooden spoons this century, there are plenty of new Blues who never once saluted on the final Saturday in September.

Though Simpson hung up the boots after tasting defeat more than any V/AFL footballer in history, there is no ignominy in the title, not if you battled like the gun half-back did to avoid it in the first place.

'Simmo' might not have any premiership medallions or All-Australian blazers, but he is undoubtedly the people's champion at Princes Park.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 30: Kade Simpson of the Blues walks to the coin toss ahead of his 300th match during the 2018 AFL round 15 match between the Carlton Blues and the Port Adelaide Power at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 30, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)