Throughout the final years of the 1990s,ย AFLย 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 west to decide which Dockers can be counted as the ten best of this century.

PREVIOUS TOP TENS:ย CROWS,ย LIONS,ย BLUES,ย PIES, BOMBERS

8. Luke McPharlin (2002-2015)

1 x All-Australian (2012)
244 games

The oft-forgotten steak knives in the trade that saw Luke Hodge become a Hawk, McPharlin, like Johnson, became a defensive pillar, season after season, but only after shaking off early injury woes.

While never the flashiest Docker on the park, the East Fremantle product flew high in 2005, hauling in the Mark of the Year.

PERTH, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Luke McPharlin of the Dockers spoils a mark for Lance Franklin of the Swans during the round four AFL match between the Fremantle Dockers and the Sydney Swans at Domain Stadium on April 25, 2015 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)