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
4. Dean Cox (2001-2014)ย
1 x best and fairest (2008)
6 x All-Australian (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 and 2012)
1 x premiership player (2006)
290 games, 22.9 hitouts per gameย
Throughout the first 24 seasons of the 21st century, no Eagle has earned more All-Australian nods than Cox.
A tower of a man, one also blessed with brilliant ball skills, the Western Australian acted as a constant in an, at times, erratic team, providing his star-studded midfield with first use of the ball more often than any of his rivals ever could.
And with 169 goals to his name, Cox was also no slouch when floating forward across his 14-season stint in blue and gold.
