Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. He kicked 113.88 which included nine bags of six goals or more in a stunning solo campaign. They put him in there because they knew he was a cool head, a calm head and could get the best out of his team and I think he is a massive reason as to why Geelong has had sustained success for such a massive period of time.. Where Robben was direct, obvious, powerful and bold, Ribery was deft, thoughtful and capable of the unexpected. 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. Pictures: AFL Photos DOMINANT tap specialist or athletic around-the-ground option? Eight of Scholes 11 Premier League titles came after the year 2000, as well as the 2007/08 Champions League triumph. Picture: Annette Dew, There are few better sights in footy than Lance Franklin in full flight. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. 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. Pic: Getty. There were devastating patches of brilliance. The Pole with the goals has gone from strength to strength, with an outrageous late career peak. This varies slightly from the Last Word On Baseball All-Decade teams list which took the best individual seasons. Posted below are The Independent's 100 best players of the 21st century. 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. 2010 - Collingwood vs St. Kilda. Hes one that if you ran out there beside him, you know what youd get from him every single time.. Can use the ball really well. That's why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert . THE NUMBERS:28 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals, 3 Brownlow votes He was acrobatic, dramatic and exciting to watch. The double baulk and goal against Port Adelaide in 2007, the running goal from the impossible angle against Brisbane in 2008 and his ridiculous snap from the boundary for the Suns against the Cats in 2013 his first game back at Kardinia Park since moving. The Cats start kick-off our list as a deserving candidate with a stelar record to his name. 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. But from that effervescent starlet grew a dependable leader: Spain's reliable backbone through three consecutive international trophies. The fact he actually improved as a player when he moved north his first four years at the Suns, numerically, were the finest of his career to join an expansion club that was always going to start slowly is a testament to his drive, professionalism and talent. Voss played through most of the 90s, but his durability and elite consistency across the first seven years of the 2000s mustnt be forgotten. Sun Sign: Cancer. 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Skip to main content. Buddy 3. While most AFL fans will remember Ben Truck Rutten for his All-Australian defensive days his debut match in 2003 was something quite the opposite. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. Powerful yet graceful, explosive yet incredibly footy smart, Buckley at his best was the perfect midfielder. Best Performance: Chanderpaul scored five hundreds against Australia including one remarkable out-of-the-box effort - the fifth-fastest Test ton of all time, from just 69 balls as West Indies chased down a world record 418 in Antigua, 2003. The rock within the Lions dynamic and star-studded midfield. 2. Week by week Scarlett would claim a new scalp from the oppositions best forward, using his high-level footballing IQ and unrivalled consistently to do so. Our criteria was that players had to have played at least five seasons in the 21st century. That's 22.5% of the greatest sluggers of this century, even with testing in place for 17 of the 21 seasons. The level of talent in this tournament -- especially among the top few teams -- is unprecedented. During Collingwoods stint at the bottom of the ladder in the late 1990s, Buckley was a rare shining light. Regarded as one of the best big-game players in the game's history, Martin has his eye on more team and individual honours with the Tigers premiership window still wide open. Franais. Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) 18. Whilst most teams boast a clutch of these youngest players, the teams from lower down the ladder who have put their faith in rebuilding over time have the most. The former Brisbane captain played in four grand finals - winning three - while adding two Leigh Matthews Trophies, three Best and Fairests and three All-Australian selections all within his first 119 games of the new century. What is surprising is the two other clubs who also have 14: Port Adelaide and Collingwood. 1 picks, dating back to 2000, and rank them as players from worst to best. The team at AFL.com.au has dissected every club's records to name the best forward at each since the turn of the century. It's the toughest, hardest, most athletic game on the planet. The 8 Best AFL Debut's of the 21st Century TONIGHT AFL and Carlton fans alike will get their first look at prized No. Picture: Ian Cugley, Michael Voss led his Lions to three straight premierships. Get the best features, fun and footballing frolics straight to your inbox every week. Toure won four consecutive African Player of the Year awards between 2011 and 2014, his first four seasons with Manchester City, and he played a pivotal role in the Citizens first title of the Premier League era in 2011/12. Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? 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 Australia's #1 independent AFL news source, Eddie McGuire tips Collingwood-Richmond blockbuster to reopen season, Jordan Lewis reveals he nearly went to Carlton after Hawks departure, Richmond confirm Jack Ross sidelined with injury, Forward or back? It shouldnt take away from his outstanding Blues stint, which netted him a second Brownlow Medal and three best and fairests. Language. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). With the NRL season shut down and no footy to . Champion Geelong ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer was today named as captain of the indigenous team of the century. Ive got Scott Pendlebury at 5. The Belgian was one of the most imperious centre-backs in Europe at his peak, adored by every manager who worked with him. Gavin Brown, a 254-game champion of the club, was added in 2002 five years after the league had extended the standard interchange bench . Create Account. 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. Originally a striker, Roberto Carlos bombing runs, fierce shot and bending free-kicks made him possibly the most entertaining left-back the game has ever seen. The Czech Republic international was behind four league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and a Champions League triumph during his 11-year spell with Chelsea, before clinching another FA Cup at Arsenal. A leader in defence like few had ever seen in the Premier League, Kompany embraced the club he defined, Mancunian twang and all. 13-min read. JESSE HOGAN. And there's no doubt about it. Ablett in full flight in the trademark words of Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell is as good as it gets. 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. Franck Ribery more than lived up to the billing. Dennis Comettis call of cometh the moment, cometh the man the son of the man was so apt, as it was a goal when his team needed him most in its most important win of the season. He's one of England's finest players ever. Hawks great Dermott Brereton, who wore the same No. Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. If youd like to view this content, please adjust your Cookie Settings. Heres how it works. Official Western Bulldogs App. Randomn but heading into the 2023 season I was thinking who would be stop the AFL Mt Rushmore of the 21st Century. Deutsch. Please gamble responsibly. Credit: PA Please refresh the page and try again. Judd won his first Brownlow at 21-years-old and was soon a premiership star in 2006 with the Eagles, leading the club alongside the likes of Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox. Espaol. Reckon you can pick the best team? Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. 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. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). 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. Di Maria has won league titles in Portugal, Spain and France, and finally added an international honour to his cabinet last year by scoring the only goal of the Copa America final against Brazil. Here is our top 15 players of the century. 20-16: Two Crows but which Hawks icon missed the cut? So many moments. Lee McCulloch. It was clear from an early age that there was something special about Hazard. Reserved. 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. 2. Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. Judd . Comment on stories, get exclusive content and submit your own articles! August 1, 2005. Whatever way you slice and dice the numbers, weve never seen a player like Ablett and that includes his father Gary Sr, who might still be the greatest player in VFL/AFL history yet had nothing on his sons insane, unprecedented ball-winning ability. AFL: The home of Australian rules football on Reddit, including the Australian Football 1 and No. Or why not treat yourself? His ability to dominate within the middle of the ground as well as lead as a key target in the Bombers forward line gave Hird the label as one of the best utility players to stop foot on a footy field. Player Sponsorship . 5. 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. When the game was on the line, he won two Norm Smith Medals (in Grand Finals) he was a captain in. 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. Michael Barlow looked composed beyond his years against the Crows to start 2010 as he effortlessly chalked up 33 touches, becoming a Freo fan favourite from day one. And while the no.10 broke through in the 90s, the 21st Century was paved in gold for him. The Magpies selected the best team in their history, comprising 21 players (with three on the interchange bench in accordance with the AFL's interchange rules at the time it was named) and coach Jock McHale. 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. There was a problem. Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. 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. Create. Hazard captained Belgium to a third-place finish and won the Silver Ball at the 2018 World Cup, his countrys best-ever finish. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Time to Find Out Who the 2019 Denver Nuggets Really Are. It just seemed he wasnt as dynamic at Carlton compared to his West Coast days, while his ability to hit the scoreboard declined. Abletts rise to superstardom genuinely kickstarted in 2007 and mirrored Geelongs rapid rise. The top 10 players in your ranking, below, will next go head-to-head with our winningest pre-80 and 80-99 stars for the battle to determine the one true bass GOAT. He was the Adelaide captain between 2001-2007, he won the AFLPAs best captain in 2005 and 2006. 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? Ballack was the complete package as a central midfielder, capable of bossing opponents physically, spreading passes around the pitch with both feet and scoring goals. 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. 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. Share 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. (We've also collated a 12-man list of snubbed players, which you can check out here.) Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Three hundred and ninety-one career goals cant be wrong. 2 was the easiest part of the gig. Throughout of the rest of the noughties, he simply oozed more of the class he'd displayed in the 90s. AFL 2020: Toughest players, Gladiator 20 years on, top ten footy gladiators, Jonathan Brown, Luke Hodge, Joel Selwood HOME AFL Yes, we are entertained: The AFL's top 10 gladiators since 2000 20 years on from the release of Gladiator, we rank the AFL's top ten hard men. Rahul Dravid (Ind) Key numbers (from Jan 1, 2000): 130 matches, 10,590 runs at 52.95 Across his stellar two-club career, 'Buddy' has also added four Coleman Medals, two premierships and a best and fairest from his 300-game career. He's still the only player to score in four FA Cup finals and he practically won Chelsea their first Champions League on his todd. 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. THE star forward of the 21st century, nobody has or will ever match the ability of Buddy Franklin. 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. Birthdate: June 24, 1987. Playing Career: 1982, 1984-96 (Haw 1982, Geel 1984-96) Games: 248. Alonsos debut season at Liverpool couldnt have ended any better, as the Spaniard scored the equaliser in the 3-3 Miracle of Istanbul Champions League final against AC Milan before the Reds eventual penalty shoot-out victory. 245 games as captain, the most games as captain, the most wins as captain. 0. But any suggestions the unprecedented long-term deal has been failure are off the mark, as his influence at the Swans has gone beyond footy. As a 21-year-old, Franklins 2008 season was the stuff of legend. Sydneys Tom McCartin despite already playing 48 games and scoring 28 goals is ineligible as he was born two days before the calendar ticked over to the year 2000 as is Jordan Butts being born on New Years Eve 1999.

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