best afl players of the 21st century

Pictures: AFL Photos THEY'RE the stars who drive your club to glory. Bens twin brother Max from St Kilda (who surprisingly has the least millenniums on their list with five) will play in tandem with Ben as the two 202 cms show amazing athleticism. Dane Swan (Collingwood) Now we present the top five ranked players in foxfooty.com.au's Top 20 of the Past 20. Dean Polo is one such player. San Iker still holds the clean sheet record in the Champions League and racked up over 1,000 professional matches in a two-decade career. Pryor is of course known as one of the best running quarterbacks in OSU history, but check out his passing stats in 2010: 2,772 passing yards, a crisp completion percentage of 65.0, and 27 . But the doomsayers have come hard this year after the club lost three stars and began a hard rebuild. But any suggestions the unprecedented long-term deal has been failure are off the mark, as his influence at the Swans has gone beyond footy. It has been a drastic reset under former premiership hero Sam Mitchell, who took the coaching reins from Clarkson at the end of the 2021 season in what was a messy handover. No player has racked up more disposals, Champion Data ranking points and AFL Player Ratings points since 2000. In fact he probably became a wiser and more-rounded player at the Blues. Click here to subscribe on iTunes Ballack was the complete package as a central midfielder, capable of bossing opponents physically, spreading passes around the pitch with both feet and scoring goals. The Galacticos needed a goalkeeper as blockbuster to match. (Feel free to leave aratingand reviewto help me move up the charts ). Debuting as a skinny 17-year-old in 1992, Voss went on to play 289 games for Brisbane, and is arguably their greatest ever player. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide/Geelong). Sydneys Tom McCartin despite already playing 48 games and scoring 28 goals is ineligible as he was born two days before the calendar ticked over to the year 2000 as is Jordan Butts being born on New Years Eve 1999. The Magpies selected the best team in their history, comprising 21 players (with three on the interchange bench in accordance with the AFL's interchange rules at the time it was named) and coach Jock McHale. With his technical ability and intelligence, he would still slot into elite teams in the modern game, many years after he left his six-Premier League title-winning career behind him. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Francesco Totti retired with 307 goals in 786 Roma appearances. If you havent, do yourself a favour. They (will) have a lot of youth and enthusiasm, Tuck said. A modern-day Liverpool great, Salahs arrival from Roma in 2017 acted as a catalyst to the Reds outstanding period of success under Jurgen Klopp. CB, CM, CF. The midfielder is quiet, understated and perhaps the ultimate German footballer. It got me thinking though, with plenty of fresh faces set to chalk up the first game of their careers this weekend, which players have had the best performances in their first AFL contest since 2000? 13-min read. Create your own Fantasy AFL team and compete for daily prizes on Draftstars its free to join so why not check it out? He won Serie A, a Coppa Italia and the Champions League itself as part of one the most iconic Milan sides in history, and earned himself the Ballon dOr in 2004. Dangerfield has won seven All-Austrlian selections in the past eight seasons and is a proven threat within the middle and deep forward. Judd won another Brownlow in 2010 having averaged close to 27 disposals, 14-contested touches, 5.25 tackles and 6.50 clearances a game and would end his career after 279 games, winning six All-Australian selections and five Best and Fairests. Griezmann won the Golden Boot and player of the tournament at Euro 2016 as France reached the final, only to succumb to Portugal, but he made amends two years later by leading Les Bleus to their first World Cup victory in 20 years, winning man of the match in the final victory over Croatia. The players have been selected and ranked based on their 21st century performances only, so any seasons prior to 2000 haven't been considered. Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City the same month as the Abu Dhabi United Group. 1 and No. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Martin boasts two best and fairest honours, three All-Australian selections and 251 goals from his 225 game career. Menzel, who played 80 AFL games across stints with both Geelong and Sydney in a career spanning a decade, ranked the leaders based on who hed want to follow into the field. One of only four players to win two Norm Smith medals, Hodge was another match winner and showcase player, lighting up the biggest of stages with his professionalism alone. Haselbys high possession style of play was a feature of his game throughout his Rising Star award-winning season, and he continued it for 208 games in purple before hanging the boots up in 2010. Gerard Healy thinks Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is already a "certainty" to be named the AFL player of the 21st century. The Colombians football odyssey has taken him to seven different countries, with his most successful spells coming at Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco. At the time, Bradd Dalziells 32 touches were the most ever recorded in an AFL debut. He later joined Inter Milan and was just as classy: intelligent, creative and with the ability to control the cauldron, he's one of his country's finest ever players. Where Robben was direct, obvious, powerful and bold, Ribery was deft, thoughtful and capable of the unexpected. . No player has won more MVP awards. Ive got Scott Pendlebury at 5. The shaggy-haired Spaniard captained Barcelona to an incredible 18 major titles, including six La Liga crowns and three Champions Leagues, and his magnetic effect on trophies extended to international level too. You could be forgiven for not remembering Martin McGrath. It's the toughest, hardest, most athletic game on the planet. Source: FOX SPORTS David Zita from Fox Sports @DavidZita1 May 10th, 2020 6:57 pm At the age of 36, McCulloch scored 17 goals in the 2013-14 season to bring Rangers back into the Scottish Premiership. Puyol was part of Spains triumphant sides at Euro 2008 and the 2010 World Cup, and it was his headed goal against Germany that sent them through to the final of the latter tournament. Best forwards of the 21st century (L-R): Eddie Betts, Lance Franklin, Brendan Fevola, Matthew Pavlich. He's one of England's finest players ever. The most experienced millennium at the end of 2020 was Western Bulldogs Bailey Smith, who had played 41 games and starred in his 42nd game in the season opener against Collingwood, followed by Carltons Sam Walsh (39) and Gold Coasts Jack Lukosius (38). Smith, Kelly, Hird, Fyfe, Mitchell and Bedford may take the AFL trophy this century and Coleman, Young, Carroll and Rowell may be leading goal-kickers and what supporter would not want another Rioli, King, Stephens, Weightman, West, Neale, Walsh, Hamill, Serong, Clark or Evans playing again? The wingers scorching pace, mind-bending trickery and ability to win games single-handedly make him a joy to watch, and a future Ballon dOr seems all-but inevitable already. Whatever way you slice and dice the numbers, weve never seen a player like Ablett and that includes his father Gary Sr, who might still be the greatest player in VFL/AFL history yet had nothing on his sons insane, unprecedented ball-winning ability. Its hard to make a case against Barlows game as the best AFL debut since the start of the century and he didnt slow up recording 34 disposals the very next week against Essendon. Ablett in full flight in the trademark words of Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell is as good as it gets. Pendlebury Good top 5. . I dont necessarily know a lot of these guys in terms of how they lead inside the four walls because I wasnt with them, so Ive gone off the way they act on the field.. Today, we're able to reveal the players you considered to be the greatest bassists of the 21st century (so far). Inside or outside, left boot or right boot, in the air or on the ground, short kick or long kick, overhead or on the ground, in front of the goals or on the last line of defence, Geelong or Gold Coast he could do it all and has done it all, wherever hes played. Our criteria was that players had to have played at least five seasons in the 21st century. His 2016 campaign will go down as one of the greatest seasons in recent history, collecting a then-record 35 Brownlow votes, both AFLPA and AFLCA awards and a Carji Greeves medal to cap off a record breaking debut season with Geelong. Haselby himself could hold his head high though with the former No. The Belgian was one of the most imperious centre-backs in Europe at his peak, adored by every manager who worked with him. What is surprising is the two other clubs who also have 14: Port Adelaide and Collingwood. The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41. 0. Changkuoth Jiath had some solid moments in defence for Hawthorn in his first pre-season appearance and rising midfielder Jai Newcombe was also among the best with 27 disposals. The fact most started to quickly drop the Jnr from his name and even started to refer to his dad as Gary Sr proved hed arrived. Menzel, who played 80 AFL games across stints with both Geelong and Sydney in a career spanning a decade, ranked the leaders based on who he'd want to follow into the field. Across his 174-game career, Fyfe has won both All-Australian selections and a Doig Medal on three occasions as well as the Leigh Matthews Trophy twice. Inducted in 1987: Rod McGregor - 1905-1920 One of the brightest stars of his era, Rod McGregor was a four-time Premiership player for the Navy Blues in a 236-game career that stood as a club record for more than half a century. That is the reason I gave him the best captain of the last 23 years., 2023, SEN All Rights Dennis Comettis call of cometh the moment, cometh the man the son of the man was so apt, as it was a goal when his team needed him most in its most important win of the season. He was the Adelaide captain between 2001-2007, he won the AFLPAs best captain in 2005 and 2006. Lance Franklins famous match-winning goal against Adelaide in 2007 elimination final. The Czech sensation won a league and cup double with Lazio in 2000, before replacing Zinedine Zidane at Juventus and firing the Turin club to two league titles and the Champions League final, achievements that helped him clinch the 2003 Ballon dOr. Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated. Robert Lewandowski netted 344 goals in 375 Bayern Munich games. Goals: 156+. An explosive, contested bull in midfield, Chris Judd burst onto the scene and quickly made a name for himself as one of the game's tidiest midfielders. Lots of goals. Eight current AFL players, including Andrew McLeod and Adam Goodes, have been included in the league's indigenous team of the century, announced today. Ferdinand was a ball-playing defender of the European school, rather than the bruising centre-halves more associated with the English school of thought. Van Dijks 75m move to Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 has often been pointed to as the moment Jurgen Klopp added the final piece to his Reds jigsaw, and you can see why. 22. But from that effervescent starlet grew a dependable leader: Spain's reliable backbone through three consecutive international trophies. THE star forward of the 21st century, nobody has or will ever match the ability of Buddy Franklin. If Judd had maintained that same level after his sensational move to Carlton, hed probably be higher on this list. The three-time German Footballer of the Year starred in Bayer Leverkusens remarkable runners-up treble of 2001/02, when they finished second in the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, before losing the World Cup final to Brazil that summer. Chelsea didnt take long to pounce and it was at Stamford Bridge that the dynamic winger established a reputation as one of the best in the business, scoring 110 goals over seven seasons with the London club and wining a stack of individual awards to go with two Premier League and two Europa League titles. 10 greatest AFL players of all time. Philip Rivers (QB) San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts - First year: 2004 - Drafted:. View All Partners Shevchenko was great at an overachieving Dynamo Kyiv side in the 1990s, but its his time at AC Milan in the 2000s that earns him a place here. Amazing to think Ablett would have even gotten close to the level of his father when he first arrived at Kardinia Park, but now we could argue he has surpassed his senior. Buffon broke the world record for a goalkeeper back in 2001, and as of 2022, he is still playing, in a career that has seen him make over 1,000 appearances for clubs and country. As a 21-year-old, Franklins 2008 season was the stuff of legend. 38 Hawthorn jumper for all the trivia buffs playing along at home the Buddy nickname stuck. No player has polled more Brownlow Medal votes. The 'Little Master' had it all. Sachin Tendulkar (cricket) 17. A two-time premiership player with Geelong, Ablett had notched up close to 200 games for Geelong before leaving for the Gold Coast, winning a Brownlow Medal, four All-Australian selections, two best and fairests, three AFLCA Player of the Year awards and three Leigh Matthews trophies before 2011. Toni Kroos can do both. During Collingwoods stint at the bottom of the ladder in the late 1990s, Buckley was a rare shining light. Eight of Scholes 11 Premier League titles came after the year 2000, as well as the 2007/08 Champions League triumph. The technically gifted winger is often less lauded than some of his illustrious team-mates for club and country, but hes been a consistent source of goals and assists throughout his career. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. Four Brownlow Medallists and the fifth deserves one, Four game-changing freaks and a controversial legend, The 12 AFL legends brutally snubbed from top-20 list. A World Cup winner and 10-time Serie A winner, his three times on the losing side of a Champions League final feel thoroughly undeserving of a player who has become the godfather of modern goalkeeping. This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. He is PSGs all-time top assist provider, while at Real Madrid his ability to morph into a central midfielder under Carlo Ancelotti helped the club win La Decima - their long-awaited 10th Champions League title. But Pirlo still found time and he never failed to discover space. All players have been selected and ranked based on their 21st century performances only, so any seasons prior to 2000 havent been considered. 2000-2020 stats: 161 games, 137 goals, 94 Brownlow votes, averaged 22.1 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Three-time premiership Lion (all as captain), two-time AFLPA MVP, three-time All-Australian (two as captain), three-time best and fairest. Smith, Kelly, Hird, Fyfe, Mitchell and Bedford may take the AFL trophy this century and Coleman, Young, Carroll and Rowell may be leading goal-kickers and what supporter would not want another Rioli, King, Stephens, Weightman, West, Neale, Walsh, Hamill, Serong, Clark or Evans playing again? Gavin Brown, a 254-game champion of the club, was added in 2002 five years after the league had extended the standard interchange bench . Michael Voss The star of the Lions three-peat dynasty, Voss would add to his already stellar career with record breaking season after season following the conclusion of the 20th century. He averaged 29.5 a game in 2000 then accumulated 46 touches (plus 20 contested possessions, 13 inside 50s, eight clearances and a goal) against Fremantle early in 2001 in an awesome solo display. NY 10036. Please gamble responsibly. A powerhouse of the 21st century that hauled in four premierships in the Alastair Clarkson era (including three in a row from 2013-2015), the Hawks last played finals in 2018. Modern-day forwards like him arent supposed to average 3.5 goals per game across multiple seasons. The Collingwood great will go down in history as one of the clubs greatest onballers. Since then, the Swans have made two Grand Finals but havent won a flag. Chris Judd, Adam Goodes and Nat Fyfe are all among the AFL's best since 2000. Selwood 5. Cam Mackenzie was a standout for the Hawks during the practice against Collingwood in Tasmania. Not only was he playing the first game of his career, but his debut coincided with the first game in GWS Giants history. There were seasons in which Didier Drogba didn't live up to his humongous hype but that big game record alone is reason to see him as one of the greatest African players of all time. Toure won four consecutive African Player of the Year awards between 2011 and 2014, his first four seasons with Manchester City, and he played a pivotal role in the Citizens first title of the Premier League era in 2011/12. The rock within the Lions dynamic and star-studded midfield. The former Groningen, Celtic and Saints stoppers importance to those achievements didnt go unnoticed, as he won the UEFA Mens Player of the Year award for 2018/19 - the only defender to have done so - and finished as the Ballon dOr runner-up in 2019. The team, captained by ruck legend Graham . Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. He was acrobatic, dramatic and exciting to watch. 2. Note that players must have played at least five seasons in the 21st century to meet the criteria and their body of work during the century is also key. BA1 1UA. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 19. The Melbourne Team of the Century was selected in June 2000, by a panel that included Mike Sheahan, Percy Beames, Bill Guest, Lynda Carroll, Greg Hobbs, John Mitchell, Linda Pearce, Dudley Phillips and Steven Phillips. New customers only. Remember the Titans is a heartwarming story of how, after the strife of The Civil Rights Movement, both blacks and whites came together to form a football team and defeat discrimination between each other. Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors. Dalziell held the disposals record for less than two years before another mature-aged player stole his thunder. Both Matthew Richardson and Luke Hodge have serious fears for Hawthorn in the 2023 season. For sheer consistency the only player that comes to Judd for mantle of best 21st century player is Gary Ablett Jnr, but his first season didn't set the world on fire. Catch up and settle in with no installation & no lock-in contract. Another natural leader and star utility, Luke Hodge revolutionised the half-back position during the Hawks' first several years as one of the century's best sides. He was at the very core of everything that would happen on Eastlands. We want to see it. It was the first major honour of his career, but far from the last. The four selectors picked their separate teams, from which the final team was named. Alastair Clarkson has defended his temper after a clash with a reporter earlier this month, saying he cannot guarantee it will not flare up again. Nobody could play football as if sat in a directors chair and Pasolini their way through a game. Lionel Messi. Judd . Commentators also will have fun with pronouncing or making fun of Mosquito, Tsapatolis, Lukosius, Oea, Bosenavulagi and Uosis. But the trait that defined Voss career was his ferocity at the contest. CHRIS JUDD (WEST COAST EAGLES/CARLTON), 2000-2020 stats: 279 games, 228 goals, 210 Brownlow votes, averaged 22.9 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Eagles premiership captain, Norm Smith Medallist, two-time Brownlow Medallist, two-time AFLPA MVP, six-time All-All Australian (one as captain), five-time best and fairest. Yet the silverware he craved so much, a Collingwood premiership, eluded him until the end. A two-time Golden Boot winner, Salah holds the record for the most goals scored in a Premier League season with 32 and has been astonishingly prolific at Anfield, notching more than 20 goals in each of his five seasons. Greene hasnt played in the AFL since 2018 but could be a valuable addition for the Hawks, who meet Essendon in round one. I thought it was timely to pick a team of future champions who over the next decade will become the face of the AFL. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. After being named as a co-captain in 1997 at 21 years of age, Voss lead the Lions to three successive premierships between 2001 and 2003. Please refresh the page and try again. THE NUMBERS:27 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 tackles Get the best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. The fact he actually improved as a player when he moved north his first four years at the Suns, numerically, were the finest of his career to join an expansion club that was always going to start slowly is a testament to his drive, professionalism and talent. These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire career. The Chelsea legend established a reputation as one of the Premier Leagues greatest-ever defenders during 19 years at Stamford Bridge. He kicked 113.88 which included nine bags of six goals or more in a stunning solo campaign. FourFourTwo is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. And hes a Buddy legend. Menu . Enjoy! Debate about the best players of the 21st Century goes . If names are anything to go by, we are in for a treat with surnames that whether or not they are in any way related mirror the surnames of former Brownlow Medalists, champion goal scorers and club champions both past and present. 12 - Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) Games: 181+. The game's all-time leader for marks was the focal point for the Saints for over a decade, claiming five All-Australian selections, six best and fairests and four leading goal-kicker awards across 336 games for St Kilda. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, Current page: He won back-to-back Europa League titles with different clubs in 2011 and 2012 for Porto and Atleti, a Ligue 1 title with Monaco and is Colombias all-time top scorer with 35 goals in 90 caps. Language. Former AFL forward Daniel Menzel has ranked his top seven AFL captains of the 21st century. Few footballers have been this influential and even fewer have been quite so adored. AFL Club Essendon Other Teams Coburg Lions, All Boston sides Dec 19, 2022 #352 1. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE DEBATE DAVID KING, DERMOTT BRERETON AND TOM MORRIS ON WHETHER CUTTING LIST SIZES WILL BE GOOD OR BAD FOR FOOTY, IF YOURE ON A MOBILE, TAP HERE TO LISTEN, 15. Thank you for reading 5 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access, Enjoy your first month for just 1 / $1 / 1, *Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription, Current page: Share He had an incredible blend of physical power, velvet touch and positional intelligence: the Gunners yearned for him for a decade after he departed. He won the Scudetto in 2001 before a World Cup in 2006, reinventing himself from a false nine, second striker and attacking midfielder along the way. Tonight, AFL and Carlton fans alike will get their first look at prized No. Skip to main content. Judd's record stands by itself, and this year first player i believe to poll more then 20 brownlow votes in 5 seasons. It's ironic that Kroos running riot against the Selecao has become the defining image of his career: he's far more restrained, usually. 0. THE NUMBERS:12 disposals, 5 marks, 5 goals Years active: 2010 - current. The Czech Republic international was behind four league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and a Champions League triumph during his 11-year spell with Chelsea, before clinching another FA Cup at Arsenal. I dont want to put any pressure on the kids shoulders, but his debut is one of great anticipation, with some dubbing him a Brownlow chance (keep a lid on it) before the season has even begun. Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. THE NUMBERS: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals Personally, the late, long-range snap goal from a stoppage in the 2007 preliminary final against Collingwood stands out. The Civil Rights Movement displayed how the African Americans fought against the tremendous alienation that they had faced for centuries. AFL 2020: Toughest players, Gladiator 20 years on, top ten footy gladiators, Jonathan Brown, Luke Hodge, Joel Selwood HOME AFL Yes, we are entertained: The AFL's top 10 gladiators since 2000 20 years on from the release of Gladiator, we rank the AFL's top ten hard men. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Come the turn of the century, his standing in the game grew as he inspired the Magpies to a genuine premiership tilt. 1 picks, dating back to 2000, and rank them as players from worst to best. Judd 4. Nedved was already a decade into his playing career by the turn of the millennium, but he saved some of his best form for the 21st century. Cameron Smith and Billy Slater were a key part of one the greatest NRL teams of the 21st century. As for the man himself, he told FFT in 2016 that it all came very naturally to me. He may well be the Ballon d'Or's greatest miss, too. 2000-2020 stats: 138 games, 140 goals, 82 Brownlow votes, averaged 24.5 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Norm Smith Medallist, Brownlow Medallist, three-time All-Australian, two-time best and fairest. 11. Round 13 and 14 rising stars Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane Lions) and Giant Jake Riccardi both miss the age barrier by less than six months but all the other rising star winners are in as are North Melbournes Tarryn Thomas, Bailey Scott and Jack Mahony, while Adelaides Chayce Jones and Fischer McAsey join Lachlan Sholl in the squad. Hes played with some of the best midfielder of any generation Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya Toure, to name a few and while his contributions may be less eye-catching, theres a reason he has spent more than a decade at the heart of Barcelonas midfield. Black also sits in exclusive company as one of only six players to win a Brownlow, Premiership and Norm Smith, joining the likes of Bartel, Williams, Hird, Judd and Martin. 295. Stream them all for free on 7plus >>. 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