Throughout the final years of the 1990s, AFL 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 2000 AFL 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 2000 AFL season.

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

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

3. Matthew Scarlett (2000-2012)

1x best and fairest (2003)
6 x All-Australian (2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2011)
3 x premiership player (2007, 2009 and 2011)
284 games

Tough and uncompromising, Scarlett proved to be a key forward's nightmare for the better part of a decade, racking up six All-Australian nominations between 2003 and 2011.

And when not shutting down spearheads, Scarlett proved a key link in offensive chains too, providing the pivotal toe poke that would propel the Pivotonians to the premiership in 2009.

Very, very few can claim to have given more for the Geelong Football Club.

Image: AFL Media

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