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're crossing over to Olympic Park to catalogue the cream of Collingwood's crop of champions.
PREVIOUS TOP TENS: CROWS, LIONS, BLUES
4. Steele Sidebottom (2009-present)
2 x best and fairest (2017 and 2018)
1 x All-Australian (2018)
2 x premiership player (2010 and 2023)
309 games, 23.6 disposals per game, 101 Brownlow votes, 0.3 votes per game
Steele by name and steeled by nature, Sidebottom has been like Greenwich Mean Time for the Pies across the past decade and change, turning defence into attack on his wing, time and time again.
While missing a few feathers these days, the man affectionately known as 'Rusty' has long been a fan favourite, and will no doubt remain so throughout the twilight of his days in black and white.
