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.
However, for the league's young expansion clubs, the chance to sit down and select their finest sides has not yet arisen.
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:
Next up, we head to Carrara to run the rule of the best Gold Coast Suns to have shone since inception.
PREVIOUS TOP TENS: CROWS, LIONS, BLUES, PIES, BOMBERS, DOCKERS, CATS
103 games, 19.3 disposals per game
While injuries and form woes would hurt Hall during his early days as a Sun, by his latter on the Gold Coast, the Tasmanian had hit his straps, averaging 26.7 touches during the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
Still, like many of his former teammates, Hall would only find his true peak after departing Carrara, with North Melbourne reaping the rewards.
123 games
A dual All-Australian and a premiership player, just not as a Sun. Throughout the course of his career, May has evolved into one of the more reliable defenders in the competition, a reputation he first began forging during his days as a Sun.
While the former captain would depart at the end of 2018, May is unlikely to forget his first lessons at league level that were forged under fire.
1 x best and fairest (2018)
192 games, 19.5 disposals per game, 3.35 rebound 50s per game
There from day dot but a man of few words, there have been no quieter achievers than Harbrow throughout the course of the Suns' brief history.
After cutting his teeth as a Bulldog, the Cairns native made the shift home to Queensland in 2011 and stayed on for a further decade and change.
Reliable all the time and damaging on his day, teammates knew what they would get from Harbrow each and every week.
2x leading goalkicker (2018 and 2019)
166 games, 162 goals, 0.98 goals per game
Though still on the Suns' list, Sexton, a two-time leading goalkicker, is already a Gold Coast life member.
Although unable to boast a goal-per-game average across the course of his 12 seasons in the league, the Queensland transplant can lay claim to having booted four or more goals on six occasions throughout his career.
1 x best and fairest (2014)
220 games, 20.5 disposals per game
Opening draft pick, inaugural Sun, former captain, games record-holder, any way you look at it, David Swallow will feature heavily when scribes sit down to pen the early days of Gold Coast's history.
Although the Western Australian may not have hit the heights that many expected of him, few, if any, can complain about what Swallow has given to the Suns for season upon season on end.
1 x best and fairest (2019)
125 games
The Suns' co-captain has been a consistent cog in the middle of the field since making the move north from Collingwood at the end of 2016.
While not an All-Australia, Witts was part of the initial squad in 2022, and took out his maiden Club Champion gong three years prior.
2 x best and fairest (2015 and 2016)
4 x leading goalkicker (2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017)
1 x All-Australian (2016)
131 games, 254 goals, 1.9 goals per game
Brought north with a blue-chip draft pick, Lynch quickly re-paid the Suns' faith, bagging goals for fun and emerging as a leader before too long.
But while the spearhead would eventually become the first Sun not named Ablett to earn an All-Australian blazer, and eventually take over the captaincy, he too would make tracks from Carrara eventually, with Richmond solidifying their tiny premiership odds ahead of the 2019 season by bringing the big man back to Victoria.
2 x best and fairest (2021 and 2022)
2 x All-Australian (2021 and 2022)
173 games, 23.2 disposals per game, 61 Brownlow votes, 0.35 votes per game
With two best and fairests, a pair of All-Australian blazers and an AFLCA Champion Player of the Year Award to his name, Miller is the man at Carrara these days.
Across the past three seasons, the socks-up operator has put his best foot forward, averaging 28.9 disposals each week.
With a maiden September berth in his sights, the current co-captain will be hoping the next generation can continue to run with him in 2024.
1 x Brownlow Medal (2013)
2 x Leigh Matthews Trophy (2012 and 2013)
4 x best and fairest (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2017)
2 x leading goalkicker (2012 and 2013)
4 x All-Australian (2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014)
Who else was it going to be, really?
While Ablett only spent seven seasons on the Gold Coast, with several of his latter campaigns curbed by injury, the son of man came, saw and conquered on a personal level, adding a swathe of awards to his already stacked mantel.
Although Ablett couldn't drag the Suns into the September action, his name will feature heavily in their history books for many, many years to come.