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 turn to Moorabbin to rank the Saints 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,ย POWER, TIGERS
7. Brendon Goddard (2003-2012)
- 2x All-Australian (2009, 2010)
- 205 games, 22.8 disposals per game, 160 goals
Goddard would likely rank higher had he persisted as a one-club player for St Kilda without making the switch to the rival Bombers.
In 10 years with the Saints, few players brought more excitement and bigger moments to the club than Goddard.
No football fan, let alone St Kilda diehard, will ever forget that mark in the 2010 draw to take the lead in the fourth, though some may forget just how dominant he was in that season - averaging 29 disposals, seven marks and a goal per game before nearly single-handedly lifting the Saints to their second ever flag.
