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
3. Chris Judd (2002-2007)ย
1 x Brownlow Medal (2004)
1 x Leigh Matthews Trophy (2006)
1 x Norm Smith Medal (2005)
2 x best and fairest (2004 and 2006)
2 x All-Australian (2004 and 2006)
134 games, 21 disposals per game, 1.02 goals per game, 94 Brownlow votes, 0.7 votes per game
Had Judd stayed an Eagle for the entirety of his decorated career, there is absolutely no doubt that the gun midfielder would have finished atop this list.
Brought west with the Eagles' opening pick of the 2001 Super Draft, the Victorian wasted little time in marking his mark, dominating in the middle and before goal during his early years in blue and gold.
While his stay at Subiaco would only last six seasons, Judd left no stone unturned, winning just about everything on offer to him, including leading West Coast to their third flag in 2006.
