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 he to Alberton to assess which Port players stand above the pack.
PREVIOUS TOP TENS: CROWS, LIONS, BLUES, PIES, BOMBERS, DOCKERS, CATS, SUNS, GIANTS, HAWKS, DEES, ROOSÂ
10. Gavin Wanganeen (2000-2006)
1 x best and fairest (2003)
2 x All-Australian (2001 and 2003)
1 x premiership player (2004)
121 games, 16.7 disposals per game, 111 goals, 0.9 goals per game, 31 Brownlow votes, 0.25 votes per game
The face of the club during Port's formative years in the AFL, the Brownlow medallist proved to be a perfect poster boy for Power fans, leading well from the front.
After handing the captaincy reins over at the end of the 2000 season, Wanganeen failed to fade entirely into the background, racking up a pair of All-Australians, a John Cahill Medal and slotting four crucial goals during the club's only AFL grand final win.