Throughout the final years of the 1990s,ย AFLย clubs across the land looked backward rather than forward, with selectors, historians and superstars converging to name their Teams of the 20th Century.

So, as we near the quarter-time mark of the 21st century, what better time to run the rule on which players are likely to feature when the selectors of tomorrow get together in several decades' time?

While every club has an array of deadset legends that can be called on, we here at Zero Hanger have employed the following rules of selection:

  • Only statistics recorded and achievements accrued since the start of the 2000ย AFLย season will be acknowledged.
  • All statistics and awards must have been accrued while playing for the club in question.
  • Any player selected must have played at least 100 senior games for their respective club since the start of the 2000ย AFLย season.

Next up, we head down the highway to run a rule over the cream of the Cats' crop.

PREVIOUS TOP TENS:ย CROWS,ย LIONS,ย BLUES,ย PIES,ย BOMBERS, DOCKERS

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10. Paul Chapman (2000-2013)

1 x Norm Smith Medal (2009)
1 x best and fairest (2006)
2 x All-Australian (2009 and 2010)
3 x premiership player (2007, 2009 and 2011)
251 games, 19.9 disposals per game, 336 goals, 1.3 goals per game

Highly skilled, deadly accurate and tough as nails, Chapman proved a champion teammate across more than 250 senior games in hoops.

While the Calder Cannons product bagged more than 330 goals during his days in blue and white, none will ever top his sealer in the 2009 grand final.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Paul Chapman, Tom Harley and Gary Ablett of the Cats sing the club song to the crowd during the Geelong Cats AFL Grand Final reception at Skilled Stadium on September 27, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. The Geelong Cats beat the St Kilda Saints in the 2009 AFL Grand Final yesterday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
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