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 to the Harbour City to separate the Swans' wheat from their chaff.

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10. Leo Barry (2000-2009)

2 x All-Australian (2004 and 2005)
1 x premiership player (2005)
188 games, 5.4 marks per game

Despite beginning his lengthy stay in the Harbour City as a forward, Barry would end it as one of the greatest stoppers in Sydney Swans' history.

While the Deniliquin-born utility would muster over 1100 marks across the course of his 15 seasons in red and white, it was his match-saver to deliver the Swans' a drought-breaking flag in 2005 that will be remembered forever.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 24: Leo Barry of the Swans takes a crucial mark in the dying seconds during the 2005 AFL Grand Final between the Sydney Swans and the West Coast Eagles at the Melbourne Cricket Ground September 24, 2005 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)
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