NAMED: The greatest AFL team made up of players who never won a Premiership

Selecting an all-time team of players who never won a premiership is one of the most challenging exercises for an 18-year-old football journalist.

The quality of players who retired without a flag is extraordinary, meaning many genuine champions inevitably miss selection.

To ensure every player had completed their career, I only considered retired players, as current players/coaches still have the opportunity to win a premiership. I aimed to choose the strongest and most balanced team rather than simply listing the greatest individuals.

One of the biggest challenges I faced was that only one player can occupy each position on the ground. For example, Matthew Pavlich, Matthew Richardson and Nick Riewoldt were all elite key forwards, but only two key forward positions are available in CHF and FF. The same dilemma existed in defence, where several outstanding players competed for just six places.

Another important consideration was comparing players from different eras. The style, pace and professionalism of the VFL era varied significantly from the modern AFL. While today's players benefit from full-time training, game plans and advanced technology, the achievements of VFL greats should not be undervalued.

Greatness should be measured by what a player accomplished against the standards of their own era, and accolades such as Brownlow Medals, Coleman Medals, and club best and fairests remain enduring indicators of excellence. Those achievements allowed the greatest VFL champions to earn their place alongside modern AFL stars in the team.

The balance of positions was therefore a key consideration. Every player was selected in the position where they would have the greatest impact while ensuring the team could function as a genuine AFL side rather than simply featuring the biggest names. In some cases, exceptional players were left out because another champion was considered slightly better suited to that role or because the team already had sufficient strength in that area.

Ultimately, this team recognises players whose individual brilliance was never rewarded with a premiership. Despite that, many are Brownlow Medallists, Coleman Medallists and Hall of Fame members and are widely regarded among the greatest footballers to have played the game. While options will always differ, this team reflects a balance of talent, positional needs, longevity, consistency and overall impact on the game.

Apologies to those who missed selection: Brad Johnson, Matthew Pavlich, Tony Modra, Robert Murphy, Lenny Hayes