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.
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, SAINTS
4. Luke Parker (2011-present)
3 x best and fairest (2014, 2017 and 2021)
1 x All-Australian (2016)
1 x premiership player (2012)
283 games, 23.5 disposals per game, 152 Brownlow votes, 0.5 votes per game
Hard as nails with a full arsenal of skills, enter a contest with him tentatively and Luke Parker could well cut you in half.
While the Victorian has turned in very few stinkers across his days as a Swan, Parker has saved his best for Sydney's crosstown battles, winning five Brett Kirk Medals in clashes against GWS, accounting for more than 20 per cent of the medallions ever on offer.
