Best player of the modern era?

[Macpotata]

And by modern era I'm talking 2000 onward.

Buckley, Hird, Judd, Voss, Akermanis, Black, Riccuito, Goodes, Robert Harvey, Bartel, Martin, Swan, Cotchin, Dangerfield, Hodge, Mitchell, Ablett Jnr, Cousins, Fyfe are just some of the gun players that many of us have had the fortune of seeing.

The original question was going to be who is the best player of the AFL era, but I opted not to as many would opt with Ablett Snr. and would end much of the debate.

Some good non Brownlow medal winners 2000 onward are Tredrea, Lloyd, Jobe Watson to name a few. And of course the great Buddy Franklin. Richo would earn a vote or two amongst the Tiger faithful. Jonathan Brown is a Lions Legend and another big game player and other tall forwards Pavlich and Riewoldt had significant influences on their teams and outcomes.

Who would be your pick as the best player of the modern era as well as your top 5. And yes I conveniently left out Shane Woewodin. You can mention him if you like or anyone not on this list { including Adam Cooney and Matt Priddis }


edit - forgot to include last years Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell. I don't think he is the best player in the modern era, but he at least deserves a mention.

 

[Philth]

Michael Voss.
Incredible leadership.
The ultimate footballer.

 

[Philth]

But purely as a player, from your list I voted Cousins.

 

[TBoyleSuperstar]

Hird, though Voss should be on there.

 

[The Swert]

I thought Jobe Watson was the joke selection...until I saw Ty Vickery.

 

[HTT]

Ablett and it’s not even close. Its just a shame he spent half his peak at GC so no one cared.

 

[Macpotata]

Hird, though Voss should be on there.

****s sake. Had to forget arguably the best of them all on the voting.

 

[Drewie11]

Franklin for sure, bloke is going to kick 1000 goals. In this day that is an amazing achievement.

Top 5 in my opinion are

1. Franklin
2. Gary Junior
3. Adam Goodes
4. Chris Judd
5. Voss

 

[woopedazz]

Clearly Ablett.

The others are all Hall of Fame players who will be in the conversation for best players of the modern era, but Ablett is the GOAT of the modern era.

 

[Virgin Dog]

Top 5

1. Judd
2. Cousins (wasted his career, but on talent he's up there with Judd)
3. Ablett Jr
4. Goodes
5. Franklin

Simon Black a close 6th place.

Realistically it's Ablett Jr on his career, as Judd and Cousins were ruined by injury and scandal. On talent, I have them above Ablett Jr

 

[Yojimbo]

Patrick Dangerfield, the last six years the top Brownlow rated player at his club 3 x Adelaide, 3 x Geelong also very nice
of him to name his AFLX franchise after Brendon Bolton (Bolts).

 

[blitzer]

Ablett Jnr for me. His level of consistent dominance is really in a league of his own. If you could add one player to any random game to increase your teams chances of winning then I reckon he'd be the one to go with.

I personally don't care about leadership when it comes to who is the best player. Leadership's a fine thing but its not the same as being a better player.

 

[ThatsjustDappa]

No Rance option.......?

 

[Isaac Cumming No 1]

Voted Luke Hodge.

Think GAJ was the better player, although Hodge was always underrated big time.

Convinced having Hodge in your team increases your chance of winning more than any of the others.

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Umm.... Michael Voss...

 

[LicoriceAllsorts]

Also where is Jonathan Brown option

 

[Macpotata]

No Rance option.......?

Was tempted to throw him in as a wild card but good old Murray was well before the 2000's

 

[Macpotata]

Also where is Jonathan Brown option

****

 

[Jhye Clark 13]

Ablett

Daylight

Buckley, Hird, Dangerfield, Franklin in no particular order.

 

[Fadge]

How do you have Buckley, Hird, Voss as options and not Carey?

If you are talking from 2000 onwards, those 3 are excluded as the first half of their careers was prior to then.

I think the top 3 since 2000 name themselves, and the order of the three is pretty clear as well.

1. Gary Ablett Jr
2. Lance Franklin
3. Chris Judd

 

[Brutalitops]

Franklin without a doubt.

 

[gavaniacono]

Buddy takes the cake.
Actually, he takes the whole table and dining room.

We may never see his like again.

 

[VineyToClark]

How on Earth does Joel Selwood not make this poll?

Especially given the OP supports Geelong.

 

[faible]

How on Earth does Joel Selwood not make this poll?

Especially given the OP supports Geelong.

Selwood is a good player, and a good captain, but hardly in the vicinity of the best player of the modern era.

Half the players on that list are nowhere near it; Ablett then Franklin for me.

Judd following them, maybe he’d rate higher if he hadn’t been done in by injury, but check out Gold Coast 2014 to see the impact Ablett made. In all likelihood they’d have played finals had he not gone down in R16.

Voss, Akermanis, Hird, Buckley, Black are all absolutely elite, but much of their peak was played in the late 90s instead of solely in the 00s.

I think Dangerfield has a few more seasons in him at the current level which would put him up there, along with Martin. Fyfe too if he stays fit and healthy.

Not sure guys like Watson (who I love as a player), Cotchin, Mitchell, Hodge and co are quite at that level on pure playing ability.

 

[Balony_pony16]

For much of the first decade Ablett was unstoppable just about every week. Unbelievable player