Throughout the history of the AFL, there have been champions and then there have been the unfortunate teams who never quite climbed to the top of the mountain.

The Zero Hanger team have identified and ranked the best 10 teams to never win a flag since 2000.

Two important factors made up our criteria - each club could only be represented once and was ineligible if they won a premiership the season before or after.

Without further ado, here are our 10 best AFL teams to never win a premiership since 2000.

9. 2003 Collingwood 

Out of their two Grand Final seasons, this was the better year, despite the fact they got pumped by Brisbane by 50 points. They finished second and won two extra games than they did in 2002.

Nathan Buckley was the star of this team, averaging over 27 disposals per game and kicking 22.23 over 24 games en route to his only Brownlow Medal. But there was a great support cast there in the likes of Scott Burns, Shane O’Bree and despite the tag of ‘Worst Brownlow Medal Winner Ever,’ Shane Woewodin had himself a solid season.

Chris Tarrant kicked 54 goals and Anthony Rocca kicked 45 as the key forwards in this team, whilst they also had Alan Didak playing one of his many seasons as the livewire forward, kicking 36.22 across 25 games.

That defence was pretty stingy too: Shane Wakelin, James Clement, Simon Prestigiacomo were all solidly consistent in their roles every week.

B: Ben Johnson, Shane Wakelin, James Clement

HB: Matthew Lokan, Simon Prestigiacomo, Richard Cole

C: Brodie Holland, Nathan Buckley, Ryan Lonie

HF: Shane O'Bree, Jason Cloke, Scott Burns

F: Ben Kinnear, Anthony Rocca, Chris Tarrant

FOL: Josh Fraser, Shane Woewodin, Paul Licuria

INT: Alan Didak, Heath Scotland, Rhyce Shaw, Leon Davis

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Josh Fraser of the Magpies celebrates kicking a goal during the round five AFL match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Essendon Bombers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on April 25, 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)