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.
- All statistics and awards must have been accrued while playing for the club in question.
- 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 down the highway to run a rule over the cream of the Cats' crop.
PREVIOUS TOP TENS:ย CROWS,ย LIONS,ย BLUES,ย PIES,ย BOMBERS, DOCKERS
8. Tom Stewart (2017-present)
2 x best and fairest (2021 and 2023)
5 x All-Australian (2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 and 2023)
1 x premiership player (2022)
148 games, 21. 1 disposals per game, 7 marks per game
Despite going undrafted, Stewart eventually made the short journey from South Barwon to Kardinia Park after the Cats were coaxed to take a punt on the tattooed stopper by Matthew Scarlett.
And what a punt it has proven to be, with the Geelong Falcons product having earned All-Australian honours in five of his seven seasons at AFL level. With time on his side, expect to see Stewart creep further up this list in the seasons to come.
