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 heading to the Hangar to rate which Bombers have flown higher than the rest.

PREVIOUS TOP TENS: CROWS, LIONS, BLUES, PIES

8. Michael Hurley (2009-2022)

2 x All-Australian (2015 and 2017)
194 games

Another heart and soul player, Hurley stood tall for the Dons down back, both in the good times and the bad. Adept at going forward as well, the former first-round selection became a fan favourite early on and remained so for his entire career in red and black.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 25: Josh Green, Jobe Watson,Michael Hurley, Brent Stanton and Dyson Heppell of the Bombers sing the club song after winning during the round one AFL match between the Essendon Bombers and the Hawthorn Hawks at Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 25, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)