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
6. Jimmy Bartel (2002-2016)
1 x Brownlow Medal (2007)
1 x Norm Smith Medal (2011)
2 x All-Australian (2007 and 2009)
3 x premiership player (2007, 2009 and 2011)
305 games, 22.81 disposals per game, 116 Brownlow votes, 0.4 votes per game
One of only five players to have won a Brownlow, a Norm Smith and a premiership medallion, few Cats of this era have a more stacked mantle than Jimmy Bartel.
However, unlike many around him, Bartel would never salute on best and fairest night, not even in his Brownlow year of 2007.
Yet, for those that pray at blue and white alters, there are few more favourite feline disciples than this local lad made good.
