best afl players of the 21st century

Along with Hodge and Burgoyne, Richmond legend Matthew Richardson, AFLW trailblazer Daisy Pearce, former Geelong captain Cameron Ling, and 7NEWS football reporter Ryan Daniels also believe that the Hawks are on track to break a 58-year wooden-spoon drought. Horrie Clover - 1920-1924 & 1926-1931 The high-flying forward who was taken second overall had to wait until Round 5 to make his AFL debut, but he wasted no time playing a pivotal role in the Blues second win of the season. Dean Polo is one such player. Of course, the criteria for eligibility is totally arbitrary. He won the 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil, earning a place in the All-Star team with his performances, and his 21st-century trophy haul also includes two Champions League and three La Liga titles with Real Madrid. In 2000, Rio Ferdinand became the most expensive defender in the world and the most expensive British footballer ever when he moved to Leeds for 18m. No player has racked up more disposals, Champion Data ranking points and AFL Player Ratings points since 2000. Picture: Ian Cugley, Michael Voss led his Lions to three straight premierships. Fyfe's Brownlow votes polling average is set at an astonishing 1.07 per game, meaning he is one of only two players to ever average getting into the best in every game he plays. Since then, the Swans have made two Grand Finals but havent won a flag. When the game was on the line, he won two Norm Smith Medals (in Grand Finals) he was a captain in. Port Adelaide, who lead the competition from go to whoa during the home-and-away season last season have managed to blood three quality millenniums who in 2021 should all bring up their half-century of games: Connor Rozee (38 games), Zac Butters (36) and Xavier Duursma (35) while at Collingwood, rising star Isaac Quaynor played 15 games but only three other millenniums played only a handful between them. I thought it was timely to pick a team of future champions who over the next decade will become the face of the AFL. They held on to claim a two-point win and Polo took home three of five career Brownlow votes. Not only was it the only win he played in, McGrath kicked an unreal five goals from 12 touches in the Tigers triumph against the Western Bulldogs. The Manchester United legend ranks among the greatest English midfielders of all time, and has earned praise from illustrious quarters. Thats why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert Harvey arent on the list. Menzel, who played 80 AFL games across stints with both Geelong and Sydney in a career spanning a decade, ranked the leaders based on who he'd want to follow into the field. Hawthorn 400-game champion Michael Tuck recently made a bold call, telling Channel 7 he thinks the Hawks can play finals despite having one of the youngest playing lists in the competition. While. He averaged 29.5 a game in 2000 then accumulated 46 touches (plus 20 contested possessions, 13 inside 50s, eight clearances and a goal) against Fremantle early in 2001 in an awesome solo display. Nobody could play football as if sat in a directors chair and Pasolini their way through a game. It got me thinking though, with plenty of fresh faces set to chalk up the first game of their careers this weekend, which players have had the best performances in their first AFL contest since 2000? The Ivorian was one of the most fearsome strikers ever. The Pole with the goals has gone from strength to strength, with an outrageous late career peak. Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors. The 19-year-old - pick No.7 in the 2022 draft - provided a pinpoint kick inside 50 in the third term for Fergus Greene, who topped the goal count with three. After being named as a co-captain in 1997 at 21 years of age, Voss lead the Lions to three successive premierships between 2001 and 2003. For sheer consistency the only player that comes to Judd for mantle of best 21st century player is Gary Ablett Jnr, but his first season didn't set the world on fire. Ablett in full flight in the trademark words of Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell is as good as it gets. It has been a drastic reset under former premiership hero Sam Mitchell, who took the coaching reins from Clarkson at the end of the 2021 season in what was a messy handover. 236K subscribers in the AFL community. Deutsch. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41. The Colombians football odyssey has taken him to seven different countries, with his most successful spells coming at Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco. AFL: Best 22 of the Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond dynasties, Mark Robinson | Herald Sun afl tigers - blues - 17/03 Fri 1:40AM cats - magpies - 17/03 Fri 7:45PM kangaroos - Eagles - 17/03 Fri 10:35PM power - lions - 18/03 Sat 1:25AM demons - bulldogs - 18/03 Sat 2:00AM suns - swans - 18/03 Sat 7:10PM giants - crows - 18/03 Sat 9:20PM A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Franklins sensational switch to Sydney, after two flags with the Hawks, was bold on many fronts. The 2023 AFL Season is just around the corner and the Zero Hanger Season Guide is back! This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. Ignore the description#afl #afl2022 #goty #shorts #2022 #aflw #aflw #shorts #ytshorts #ytshort #yt The Belgian was one of the most imperious centre-backs in Europe at his peak, adored by every manager who worked with him. So many moments. It had become too high in velocity, too intense. The Hall of Famer was a staple in Geelong's three premierships between 2007 and 2011, with Scarlett adding six All-Australian selections and a Carji Greeves Medal from his 284-game career. He was a key contributor in the Giants first AFL season, illustrating his talents from day one as he tied for the second most touches for his side in an expectedly ugly loss to the Swans. HIGHLIGHTS Watch the best of Team of the 21st Century back pocket, Dylan Grimes AFL career averages Kicks: 6.2 Handballs: 5.3 Disposals: 11.5 Marks: 3.8 Rebound-50s: 1.7 Contested possessions: 4.6 Uncontested possessions: 6.8 Intercepts: 4.2 Score involvements: 1.4 Tackles: 2.5 One-percenters: 4.9 Metres gained: 88.8 You must provide an email address to create a Roar account, When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address, By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions. He played at least 21 games in each of those seven seasons. Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. Black also sits in exclusive company as one of only six players to win a Brownlow, Premiership and Norm Smith, joining the likes of Bartel, Williams, Hird, Judd and Martin. 245 games as captain, the most games as captain, the most wins as captain. I dont want to put any pressure on the kids shoulders, but his debut is one of great anticipation, with some dubbing him a Brownlow chance (keep a lid on it) before the season has even begun. Arsene Wenger once claimed that he only really won the Arsenal players' trust when he arrived in England because they could see he'd brought a top player with him. He was also a dangerous goalkicker, punctuated by his 36-goal season in 2002 and a seven-goal haul against Adelaide in early 2004. 2. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). LANCE FRANKLIN (HAWTHORN/SYDNEY SWANS), 2000-2020 stats: 300 games, 944 goals, 170 Brownlow votes, averaged 15.5 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Two-time premiership Hawk, eight-time All-Australian (one as captain), one best and fairest, four-time Coleman medallist, 11-time club leading goalkicker. Hawthorn have won 11 wooden spoons in their history but the last time they ended up on the bottom of the ladder was in 1965. All these players are shoo-ins for the early call of the team of the century as are Sydneys Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom and Justin McInerney. 1 and No. Lance Franklins famous match-winning goal against Adelaide in 2007 elimination final. Mine are Gary Ablett Junior Buddy Juddy Dusty Unlucky Hodge Selwood As we near the last Saturday in September, to help whet your appetite for the big day, here are the 10 Best AFL Grand Final Moments of the 21st Century in chronological order. 21st century accolades: One NBA title, one-time Finals MVP, one-time MVP, 14-time All-Star, four-time 1st Team All-NBA, five-time 2nd Team All-NBA, three-time 3rd Team All-NBA, three-point. You could be forgiven for not remembering Martin McGrath. Across his 174-game career, Fyfe has won both All-Australian selections and a Doig Medal on three occasions as well as the Leigh Matthews Trophy twice. The outstanding performer for Germany in Brazil in 2014; the steady metronome during Real Madrid's Threepeat. The former Groningen, Celtic and Saints stoppers importance to those achievements didnt go unnoticed, as he won the UEFA Mens Player of the Year award for 2018/19 - the only defender to have done so - and finished as the Ballon dOr runner-up in 2019. He is electric. But not all former Hawks are in agreement with the doom-and-gloom forecast. (Mackenzie) is a great kid. Pele said if I played with him, I wouldve scored many more goals, Thierry Henry described Scholes as the greatest Premier League player ever, and Xavi called him a role model. How many others have a position named after them? The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium. 12 - Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) Games: 181+. His heroics earned McGrath a game in the next three rounds, where he combined to record just 19 possessions and one goal. The argument for Bale falls into three categories: his astonishing rise at Tottenham, his performances in finals for Real Madrid, and his unwavering commitment to Wales. Now we present the top five ranked players in foxfooty.com.aus Top 20 of the Past 20. Naming the 10 best AFL players of all-time is a thankless task when you consider the talent the competition has had in its long history. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 100-81 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 80-61 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26 The . The Melbourne Team of the Century was selected in June 2000, by a panel that included Mike Sheahan, Percy Beames, Bill Guest, Lynda Carroll, Greg Hobbs, John Mitchell, Linda Pearce, Dudley Phillips and Steven Phillips. 14. Martin's 2017 season is arguably the most dominant by any midfielder of the past decade, winning almost every honour possible and stamping his authority as the competitions best. Even if you go back to the summer of 1933, when The Sporting News hailed baseball's first official . Nathan Buckley emerged as a genuine superstar of the game in the early 2000s. Share Playing Career: 1982, 1984-96 (Haw 1982, Geel 1984-96) Games: 248. Two Crows but which Hawks icon missed the cut? A leader in defence like few had ever seen in the Premier League, Kompany embraced the club he defined, Mancunian twang and all. Cechs individual records stack up high: he has the most clean sheets ever in the Premier League with 202, as well as the most in a single season, 24, while hes a four-time Golden Glove winner and has gone longer than any other keeper without conceding, 1,025 minutes in 2004/05. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Pies recruits sizzle in pre-season clash with Hawthorn. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. Both Matthew Richardson and Luke Hodge have serious fears for Hawthorn in the 2023 season. Inside or outside, left boot or right boot, in the air or on the ground, short kick or long kick, overhead or on the ground, in front of the goals or on the last line of defence, Geelong or Gold Coast he could do it all and has done it all, wherever hes played. The players have been selected and ranked based on their 21st century performances only, so any seasons prior to 2000 haven't been considered. An explosive, contested bull in midfield, Chris Judd burst onto the scene and quickly made a name for himself as one of the game's tidiest midfielders. New customers only. THE NUMBERS: 32 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles View All Partners Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, Current page: Its hard to make a case against Barlows game as the best AFL debut since the start of the century and he didnt slow up recording 34 disposals the very next week against Essendon. Alastair Clarkson told a female reporter "your . Dalziell held the disposals record for less than two years before another mature-aged player stole his thunder. 2000-2020 stats: 161 games, 137 goals, 94 Brownlow votes, averaged 22.1 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Three-time premiership Lion (all as captain), two-time AFLPA MVP, three-time All-Australian (two as captain), three-time best and fairest. San Iker still holds the clean sheet record in the Champions League and racked up over 1,000 professional matches in a two-decade career. AFL's biggest question 'everyone's talking . 2010 - Collingwood vs St. Kilda. Shevchenko was great at an overachieving Dynamo Kyiv side in the 1990s, but its his time at AC Milan in the 2000s that earns him a place here. The Collingwood great will go down in history as one of the clubs greatest onballers. The eight-time All-Australian has lead his club's goal kicking tally across 11 separate seasons, six with the Hawks and five with the Swans, becoming the undisputed, greatest forward of his time. Amazing to think Ablett would have even gotten close to the level of his father when he first arrived at Kardinia Park, but now we could argue he has surpassed his senior. Greatest player of the 21st Century (so far)" thread, where we could all share some of our favourite stories of the great man. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. . At the very start of the 21st Century, Luis Figo committed the most controversial transfer that football had ever seen. Randomn but heading into the 2023 season I was thinking who would be stop the AFL Mt Rushmore of the 21st Century. This devalues names like Robert Harvey, Scott West and Stephen Silvagni. If youd like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. Drew Brees (American football) 21. That's why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert . Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, Few deserved the accolade more. There was a problem. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Last-gasp wins, mouth-watering match-ups, inspirational individual performances; this is the stuff that memorable Grand Final moments are made of. Since breaking into Bara team at the age of 20, he has never made fewer than 40 appearances a season, he has been the rock on which Messi and co.s cathedral was built throughout the 2010s. The criteria incorporates consistency at an elite level, match-winning ability, contribution to team success and influence during their playing stints across the past two decades. Commentators also will have fun with pronouncing or making fun of Mosquito, Tsapatolis, Lukosius, Oea, Bosenavulagi and Uosis. This varies slightly from the Last Word On Baseball All-Decade teams list which took the best individual seasons. Your first AFL game is a pretty monumental occasion, but Toby Greenes debut was different from others. It was the first major honour of his career, but far from the last. The former Magpies captain and now coach won a total of seven All-Australian selections, along with a Brownlow medal and Norm Smith following the turn of the century. He may well be the Ballon d'Or's greatest miss, too. Modern-day forwards like him arent supposed to average 3.5 goals per game across multiple seasons. The greatest player of the last 20 years. Adelaide has 16 and the other cellar dweller (North Melbourne) has 14. Dane Swan (Collingwood) Now we present the top five ranked players in foxfooty.com.au's Top 20 of the Past 20. Wherever El Tigre has gone, goals have followed. Footballers of Franklins size arent supposed to cover the ground as quickly and athletically as he does. "In his prime; Falcao looked absolutely unstoppable: Chelsea fans still have traumatic memories of his impressive prone-trick in the first half of a 4-1 victory in the UEFA Super Cup for Atleti in 2012, he completed a report that carried some of the best things. The surrounding blur and rush did not disrupt his tempo, nor impair his vision. Gerard Healy thinks Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is already a "certainty" to be named the AFL player of the 21st century. A complete striker, Aguero put beauty in ball-striking, making an art of finding space around the penalty area. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium. The level of talent in this tournament -- especially among the top few teams -- is unprecedented. There were seasons in which Didier Drogba didn't live up to his humongous hype but that big game record alone is reason to see him as one of the greatest African players of all time. Here is our top 15 players of the century. Smith, Kelly, Hird, Fyfe, Mitchell and Bedford may take the AFL trophy this century and Coleman, Young, Carroll and Rowell may be leading goal-kickers and what supporter would not want another Rioli, King, Stephens, Weightman, West, Neale, Walsh, Hamill, Serong, Clark or Evans playing again? Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. He may not have enjoyed the same level of success in an England shirt, but Terry was at least the only English player to earn a place in the 2006 World Cup team of the tournament. A powerhouse of the 21st century that hauled in four premierships in the Alastair Clarkson era (including three in a row from 2013-2015), the Hawks last played finals in 2018. With the NRL season shut down and no footy to . Between 2001 and 2003, Voss won two AFLPA MVP awards, two best and fairests, three best captain titles and All-Australian honours on three occasions (including twice as the captain). It's the toughest, hardest, most athletic game on the planet. This list was composed by taking the players with the best careers in the 21st Century (2000-2019). The team, captained by ruck legend Graham . 2 pick recording 30 touches against Geelong way back at the start of the 2000 season. The fact most started to quickly drop the Jnr from his name and even started to refer to his dad as Gary Sr proved hed arrived. The four-time All-Australian would flex his versatility when called upon, in midfield, ruck or forward. Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) 20. A star midfielder, an unstoppable forward and overall legend for the Bombers. Francesco Totti retired with 307 goals in 786 Roma appearances. Get the best features, fun and footballing frolics straight to your inbox every week. Comment on stories, get exclusive content and submit your own articles! Gavin Brown, a 254-game champion of the club, was added in 2002 five years after the league had extended the standard interchange bench . Powerful yet graceful, explosive yet incredibly footy smart, Buckley at his best was the perfect midfielder. THE NUMBERS: 33disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 goals At his peak, Falcao looked utterly unstoppable - Chelsea fans might still have traumatic flashbacks to his stunning first half hat-trick in a 4-1 UEFA Super Cup victory for Atleti in 2012. The 280-game Collingwood star had the archetype like no other. Or why not treat yourself? He was at the very core of everything that would happen on Eastlands. Youll never tire of watching them. Three hundred and ninety-one career goals cant be wrong. It's ironic that Kroos running riot against the Selecao has become the defining image of his career: he's far more restrained, usually. The cousin of 200+ game Brisbane veteran Ash, Martins AFL career lasted just four games, but his first match was something special. Buckleys 2003 campaign was arguably the finest of his career. CB, CM, CF. Hall of Fame legend Barry Cable and Norm Smith medal winners, Michael Long and Peter Matera, were invited to join Mark Robinson in picking the best team of players. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide/Geelong). Haselbys high possession style of play was a feature of his game throughout his Rising Star award-winning season, and he continued it for 208 games in purple before hanging the boots up in 2010. These are guys you want to go out to battle with. As a 21-year-old, Franklins 2008 season was the stuff of legend. From the moment he graced an AFL field wearing a No. Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City the same month as the Abu Dhabi United Group. 2. 5. Stream them all for free on 7plus >>. 'Dusty' brings a level of aggression to the game like nobody before him. Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina. In particular, Judds leadership helped Carlton emerge from one of the clubs darkest periods into one of great promise during the late 2000s and early 2010s. Voss presence within the midfield lifted those around him, making some of the greatest onballers within the league better, perhaps producing the 'fab four' himself. Dean Polo is one such player. 'Saint Nick' was everything a coach could ask for in a player. If names are anything to go by, we are in for a treat with surnames that whether or not they are in any way related mirror the surnames of former Brownlow Medalists, champion goal scorers and club champions both past and present. On the other hand, Jason Carter, born 11 days into the new millennium has already been delisted by Fremantle after two games in 2019. Lots of goals. Picture: Phil Hillyard. THE NUMBERS: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals Reserved. Stay tuned, and check out the other runners and riders. Patrick Vieira was the beating heart of every side he led, winning the Euros with France, a double and unbeaten title with Arsenal and covering more grass than just about any other teammate. Rahul Dravid (Ind) Key numbers (from Jan 1, 2000): 130 matches, 10,590 runs at 52.95 But in all honesty, selecting the superstars at No. Lee McCulloch. Lloyd started the 21st century like no other, having two 100+ goal seasons in 2000 and 2001 and added a third Coleman Medal in 2003. The star of the Lions three-peat dynasty, Voss would add to his already stellar career with record breaking season after season following the conclusion of the 20th century. 38 Hawthorn jumper for all the trivia buffs playing along at home the Buddy nickname stuck. The Hawks will take a lot of encouragement out of their practice match against Collingwood in Tasmania on Thursday, losing to last years preliminary finalists by just one goal. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Hird lived for the big games, winning Norm Smith honours in the club's 2000 Premiership victory as Captain as well as three ANZAC Day Medals. His move to Carlton raised questions surrounding his ability to perform without a number of stars around him, but his critics were soon silenced. He had an incredible blend of physical power, velvet touch and positional intelligence: the Gunners yearned for him for a decade after he departed. If his body holds up for another year or two, hes a huge chance to become just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to reach 1000 goals. 2000-2020 stats: 138 games, 140 goals, 82 Brownlow votes, averaged 24.5 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Norm Smith Medallist, Brownlow Medallist, three-time All-Australian, two-time best and fairest. Get the best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. Goodes is a two-time Brownlow Medalist, two-time premiership player and three time best and fairest with Sydney. Hazard captained Belgium to a third-place finish and won the Silver Ball at the 2018 World Cup, his countrys best-ever finish. Channel 7 AFL commentators Luke Hodge and Shaun Burgoyne are also Hawthorn icons and teammates of Mitchell. Sit back and relax, as we take a look at the greatest, the best, the most iconic, the most memorable, the most spectacular and the most sensational . James Horncastles reflections on Andrea Pirlo remain unmatched: Many thought the regista was a relic consigned to the past. AFL: The home of Australian rules football on Reddit, including the Australian Football He is PSGs all-time top assist provider, while at Real Madrid his ability to morph into a central midfielder under Carlo Ancelotti helped the club win La Decima - their long-awaited 10th Champions League title. The Brownlows, All-Australians, best and fairests and flags flowed, even after he sensationally walked away from the Cats at the end of 2010 to become new club Gold Coasts marquee player. JESSE HOGAN. UNLUCKY DOZEN: The 12 AFL legends brutally snubbed from top-20 list, *Odds are current as of 4th March 2023, 6:03pm AEST. Please refresh the page and try again. Sachin Tendulkar (cricket) 17. Ive got Scott Pendlebury at 5. He captained Brisbane to the 2001, 2002, 2003 premierships and even in the 2004 Grand Final. One of only four players to win two Norm Smith medals, Hodge was another match winner and showcase player, lighting up the biggest of stages with his professionalism alone. The Top 20 players of the past 20 years have been revealed. Added to his premiership in 2000, Lloyd was selected as an All-Australian a total of five times, three coming after the turn of the century. A combination of icy cold finishing and red-hot drive through the centre of the pitch made him utterly unstoppable at his best.

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