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 the Harbour City to separate the Swans' wheat from their chaff.
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8. Dan Hannebery (2009-2018)
3 x All-Australian (2013, 2015 and 2016)
1 x Ron Evans Medal (2010)
1 x premiership player (2012)
208 games, 24.4 disposals per game, 106 Brownlow votes, 0.5 votes per game
Right from the get-go, Hannebery was a gun for the Swans, with his Ron Evans Medal the proof in the pudding.
Across the course of a decade in red and white, the midfielder would risk life and limb in the name of a Bloods win, often leaving his body battered and bruised.
While his second footballing chapter at St Kilda would be far from fruitful, Hannebery's time at Moorabbin only acts as evidence of how much of himself he gave to the Swans.