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
2. Josh J. Kennedy (2008-2022)
2 x Coleman Medal (2015 and 2016)
8 x leading goalkicker (2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2022)
3 x All-Australian (2015, 2016 and 2017)
1 x premiership player (2018)
271 games, 712 goals, 2.6 goals per game
Ironically becoming an Eagle as part of the deal that saw Chris Judd become a Blue, Kennedy would fledge fully as an Eagle, etching his name into recent records as one of the greatest key forwards of his era.
Routinely, the Western Australian would lead the Eagles' goalkicking each season, and on two occasions, the entire league, with Kennedy proving himself to be perhaps the most bankable deadeye when it came to completing set shots.
A fan favourite and professional to the end, Kennedy ended his 271-game stay out west in elite fashion, booting eight goals in his final game before the adoring Optus Stadium crowd.
