Throughout the final years of the 1990s, 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 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.

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

2. James Hird (2000-2007)

1 x Norm Smith Medal (2000)
2 x best and fairest (2003 and 2007)
3 x All-Australian (2000, 2001 and 2003)
1 x premiership player (2000)
143 games, 20.6 disposals per game, 78 Brownlow votes, 0.5 votes per game

We're sure that many would have Hird sitting atop their respective lists, however, like Nathan Buckley over at Collingwood, the Bombers' golden boy has seen a slide due to splitting his peak across centuries. Still, by becoming just the second skipper to claim a Norm Smith Medal in a grand final win, Hird was never going to collect anything less than silver here.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Kevin Sheedy coach of the Bombers and James Hird captain and Anzac Day Medallist hold the Anzac Day Cup after winning the round five AFL Anzac Day match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Essendon Bombers at the Melbourne Cricket Ground April 25 2004 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)