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.
7. 2013 Geelong Cats
2013 was a season of missed opportunity for the Cats. After 18 wins in the home and away season, the Cats let a 20-point three quarter time lead slip in the preliminary final clash against Hawthorn and lost by five points.
This midfield was unbelievable: Joel Selwood as captain kicked 30 goals while averaging 24 disposals per game. Joel Corey, Jimmy Bartel and James Kelly were in the twilight of their careers, Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie in the early phase.
Mathew Stokes was on a wing averaging 26 disposals. Steve Johnson played more midfield minutes this year and averaged 28 disposals per game.
Harry Taylor and Corey Enright were in elite touch, both being named in the defensive six in the All-Australian team, whilst Andrew Mackie was also in good touch as the rebounding defender, and Jared Rivers was solid enough as a contributor to defence.
Up forward, there’s Tom Hawkins, still working hard as the go-to forward, kicking 49.20 alongside James Podsiadly, who was terrific as a foil-forward – he kicked 33.18 in what would actually be his last season in Cats colours. Steven Motlop kicked 44 goals and was in the All-Australian squad
B: Jared Rivers, Tom Lonergan, Corey Enright
HB: Andrew Mackie, Harry Taylor, Jimmy Bartel
C: Mathew Stokes, Joel Selwood, James Kelly
HF: Allen Christensen, Tom Hawkins, Paul Chapman
F: Travis Varcoe, James Podsiadly, Steven Motlop
FOL: Trent West, Steve Johnson, Joel Corey
INT: Josh Caddy, Cameron Guthrie, Mark Blicavs, Mitch Duncan
