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 West to decide which ten Eagles have flown highest this century.
OTHER LISTS: CROWS,ย LIONS,ย BLUES,ย PIES,ย BOMBERS,ย DOCKERS,ย CATS,ย SUNS,ย GIANTS,ย HAWKS,DEES,ย ROOS,ย POWER,ย TIGERS, SAINTS, SWANS
8. Shannon Hurn (2006-2023)
2 x All-Australian (2018 and 2019)
1 x premiership player (2018)
333 games, 5.35 marks per game, 4.15 rebound 50s per game
If the ball was flying high and long into West Coast's defensive third at any stage this century, chances are the Sherrin ended up in the safe hands of Shannon Hurn.
Although never the most loquacious bloke when before the microphones, Hurn let his footy do the talking, stopping opposition thrusts, starting his own and becoming just the third Eagle to lead his side to premiership glory back in 2018.
