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 to Punt Road to run a rule over the top ten Tigers of the century.
PREVIOUS TOP TENS: CROWS,ย LIONS,ย BLUES,ย PIES,ย BOMBERS,ย DOCKERS,ย CATS,ย SUNS,ย GIANTS,ย HAWKS,DEES,ย ROOS, POWER
2. Jack Riewoldt (2007-2023)
3 x Coleman Medal (2010, 2012 and 2018)
12 x leading goalkicker (2010-2018, 2020-21 and 2023)
3 x All-Australian (2010, 2015 and 2018)
3 x premiership player (2017, 2019 and 2020)
347 games, 787 goals, 2.3 goals per game
If the Coleman Medal is the key forward's equivalent of the Brownlow Medal, then Jack Riewoldt is without doubt one of the greatest spearheads of the century.
With three Colemans and an even dozen club-goalkicking gongs, 'Mr. Brightside' has very little company when it comes to earning a spot in Richmond's top side of the 21st century.
