Ranking Each Team's Best Team of this Century So Far....

[Mr Meow]

I reckon the pies midfield is insane. That midfield probably has 4 players who were the best 1-2 players in the comp at one point in time.

Buckley - 02-03
Swan - 09-11
Pendles - 11-14
Daicos - 23-present

Then throw in Grundy that was the best ruck for 2-3 years.

Even the back up mids like d Thomas, Ross Lyon called the best player in the game at one point.

Hands down the best midfield.

They aren’t as stacked I would’ve thought on some other lines though.

It's an outstanding midfield for sure.

Ablett, Dangerfield and Selwood with support from Bartel, Corey, Kelly/Holmes and the forward-mids SJ + Chapman stacks up well against it. However the 2 best players on that list did have some peak years representing other clubs.

 

[UltraEgo]

I reckon the pies midfield is insane. That midfield probably has 4 players who were the best 1-2 players in the comp at one point in time.

Buckley - 02-03
Swan - 09-11
Pendles - 11-14
Daicos - 23-present

Then throw in Grundy that was the best ruck for 2-3 years.

Even the back up mids like d Thomas, Ross Lyon called the best player in the game at one point.

Hands down the best midfield.

They aren’t as stacked I would’ve thought on some other lines though.

can also add Didak running through

 

[crowman2]

Jarman played 20 games as a Crow in the 21st century.

Rehn didn't play any (Hawthorn 2001-2002).

Gunston played 14.

Davis played 18.

Johnson played 37.

Lever played 56.

Even Smart only played 73.

For past players the minimum should probably be 100+ 21st century games for that club, and current players at least 50 (projected to play well over 100).

Jarman played 20 games as a Crow in the 21st century.

Rehn didn't play any (Hawthorn 2001-2002).

Gunston played 14.

Davis played 18.

Johnson played 37.

Lever played 56.

Even Smart only played 73.

For past players the minimum should probably be 100+ 21st century games for that club, and current players at least 50 (projected to play well over 100).

B: Hart, Rutten, laird
HB: McLeod, Talia, Jarman
C: Sloane, Ricciuto, Dawson
HF: Gunston, Carey , walker
F: Betts, Thilthorpe, Rankine
R: Rehn, Goodwin, Dangerfield
I: K Johnson , S Thompson, Edwards, Smart
Sub: Phil Davis

By the way Rehn got Brownlow votes in 2000 playing for Adelaide

I’m just dark Modra left in 99 then I would need to drop Gunston

I couldn’t even find room for two captains of the club in Bickley or van berlo they simply cannot displace any of the team, they weren’t that good, I just changed it and dropped lever to make room for Wayne Carey arguably the best afl player ever

Just using the list players we had from 2000, nothing sinister

 

[Mr Meow]

B: Hart, Rutten, laird
HB: McLeod, Talia, Jarman
C: Sloane, Ricciuto, Dawson
HF: Gunston, Carey , walker
F: Betts, Thilthorpe, Rankine
R: Rehn, Goodwin, Dangerfield
I: K Johnson , S Thompson, Edwards, Smart
Sub: Phil Davis

By the way Rehn got Brownlow votes in 2000 playing for Adelaide

I’m just dark Modra left in 99 then I would need to drop Gunston

I couldn’t even find room for two captains of the club in Bickley or van berlo they simply cannot displace any of the team, they weren’t that good, I just changed it and dropped lever to make room for Wayne Carey arguably the best afl player ever

Just using the list players we had from 2000, nothing sinister

I don't want to get stuck in semantics, but 2000 = 20th century. Anyway obviously people can make their lists as they see fit. I was just giving my own thoughts on the spirit of the thread regarding 21st century contributions for their club. 4 or 5 strong seasons/80 or 100+ games is probably where I'd draw the cut off line.

As far as "best players to ever play for your club this century" without the above criteria, your list works minus Rehn.

 

[RUNVS]

B: Hart, Rutten, laird
HB: McLeod, Talia, Jarman
C: Sloane, Ricciuto, Dawson
HF: Gunston, Carey , walker
F: Betts, Thilthorpe, Rankine
R: Rehn, Goodwin, Dangerfield
I: K Johnson , S Thompson, Edwards, Smart
Sub: Phil Davis

By the way Rehn got Brownlow votes in 2000 playing for Adelaide

I’m just dark Modra left in 99 then I would need to drop Gunston

I couldn’t even find room for two captains of the club in Bickley or van berlo they simply cannot displace any of the team, they weren’t that good, I just changed it and dropped lever to make room for Wayne Carey arguably the best afl player ever

Just using the list players we had from 2000, nothing sinister

I don't think you can include Gunston as yes he was a very good player for Hawthorn, but for Adelaide he was a young player who showed promise but did not really achieve much.

It would be like Brisbane including Hodge in their 21st century team, just because he was a great player for Hawthorn. Yes he was, but for Brisbane his career was winding down and he was not the player he once was, but that is the player Brisbane had so that is what should be considered before putting him in the Brisbane team.

There is a reason no one is putting Tom Mitchell in the Swans team of the century, and that is because what he did at the Swans did not warrant it.

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Nice effort. I don't strongly disagree with anything regarding Geelong, but these would be my changes and why:

FB: Stewart Scarlett Milburn
HB: Enright Taylor Mackie
C: Holmes Selwood Bartel
HF: Miers Cameron Chapman
FF: Johnson Hawkins Stengle
R: Ottens Dangerfield Ablett
IC: C.Guthrie Blicavs Corey Kelly

Mackie > Harley: there's already a full set of aerial interceptors but the defence lacks the run and dash of Mackie between the arcs. The "down the highway" run-and-gun stuff often involved Mackie.

Holmes > Ling: Lingy was a champ, especially when Geelong were poor or building. I realise it's early for Holmes (and his most recent game spraying it everywhere is fresh in people's minds) but he's won back-to-back BnFs in the 2nd best team in the comp for the 2024-2025 period. Once as a defender/utility, once as a midfielder. He was also hugely important to our change in gameplan for the 2022 premiership, with a massive 2nd half of the season on the wing. One of our best runners ever. Extreme pace. Easy choice on a wing and he's actually played there a lot.

Miers > Mooney: Blicavs covers 2nd ruck duties and Ottens can swing forward. As far as team balance, the prolific creator at half forward works better than putting in someone as third tall who never actually played third tall. Career wise, Miers has been important in keeping Geelong contending and has been in our top few most important players over the past 4 year period.

Ottens > King: It's 21st century only, so it removes King's strong 90s work. King was All Australian this century too, but his peak ended after that and Ottens was hugely important for our 3 flags. Plus he can swing forward and kick a goal, releasing Cameron further up the field.

Edit: Duncan is very unlucky not to make it, but it's really difficult to know who to exclude. Possibly Kelly, Corey, Blicavs or Holmes* (*for now).

Anyway like I said, great job. There are things I disagree with for each team but that's expected from person to person.

Mooney to chf, Cameron either to the bench, or out.

Like Barnes in the 90s, Mooney gave us everything he had, all the time and was very good on both sises of his body.

Criminally underrated

 

[crowman2]

I don't think you can include Gunston as yes he was a very good player for Hawthorn, but for Adelaide he was a young player who showed promise but did not really achieve much.

It would be like Brisbane including Hodge in their 21st century team, just because he was a great player for Hawthorn. Yes he was, but for Brisbane his career was winding down and he was not the player he once was, but that is the player Brisbane had so that is what should be considered before putting him in the Brisbane team.

There is a reason no one is putting Tom Mitchell in the Swans team of the century, and that is because what he did at the Swans did not warrant it.

In 70 years when we are dead and we look at lists and lists only how he performed will be known and what lists he was on

 

[RUNVS]

In 70 years when we are dead and we look at lists and lists only how he performed will be known and what lists he was on

In 70 years we can still look at stats and see he only played a handful of games for Adelaide as a teenager. I mean there is a reason why Gary Ablett Snr is not in any Hawthorn teams of the 20th century.

 

[crowman2]

In 70 years we can still look at stats and see he only played a handful of games for Adelaide as a teenager. I mean there is a reason why Gary Ablett Snr is not in any Hawthorn teams of the 20th century.

That’s because most are still alive

Like I said when everyone is dead everything changes

 

[RUNVS]

That’s because most are still alive

Like I said when everyone is dead everything changes

Stats are still a thing, and it would take 3 seconds of research to see Gunston is not really eligible for the Adelaide 21st century team.

 

[PhatBoy]

Mooney to chf, Cameron either to the bench, or out.

Like Barnes in the 90s, Mooney gave us everything he had, all the time and was very good on both sises of his body.

Criminally underrated

Who cares. Trying hard doesn’t earn you points ahead of a player who has kicked 309 goals and had 74 assists in 109 games for us. Mooney played 100 games more than that and kicked less goals, and set them up at the same rate.

If effort was a criteria, Max Rooke and Josh Hunt would get in there as well.

I loved Mooney as much as the next bloke but merely trying hard doesn’t get you a guernsey over a Coleman medalist who - I’m not sure if you noticed - but tries pretty hard himself when he plays a grand final with a broken arm and produces the most courageous play of the match to run down an opponent and bring him to the ground one handed.

 

[Mav3rick]

Nice work OP

On the st Kilda front, I wouldn’t have jade gresham

11

Jade Gresham

Age

28

Ht

177cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

17.4

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

7.2

4star

M

3.2

3star

T

2.7

4star

G

1.1

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

10.8

4star

HB

6.8

4star

M

2.1

2star

T

2.0

3star

G

0.5

4star

D

11.8

3star

K

6.0

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

2.6

3star

T

3.4

5star

G

0.4

3star

anywhere near this team personally. Had a couple of good years but was always a butcher.

Higgins has already had a better saints career, 3 time leading goal kicker and just hitting his straps.

 

[RUNVS]

Nice work OP

On the st Kilda front, I wouldn’t have jade gresham anywhere near this team personally. Had a couple of good years but was always a butcher.

Higgins has already had a better saints career, 3 time leading goal kicker and just hitting his straps.

Same reason I would not have Hannebery in the Swans team. Tough as nails but he butchered the ball like few could.

 

[curnow inferno]

In 70 years when we are dead and we look at lists and lists only how he performed will be known and what lists he was on

Standard for every one of these threads on each board to get derailed by one poster who tries too hard to think outside the centre square, the goal square and every other square in between

 

[TheEscapeClub]

Who cares. Trying hard doesn’t earn you points ahead of a player who has kicked 309 goals and had 74 assists in 109 games for us. Mooney played 100 games more than that and kicked less goals, and set them up at the same rate.

If effort was a criteria, Max Rooke and Josh Hunt would get in there as well.

I loved Mooney as much as the next bloke but merely trying hard doesn’t get you a guernsey over a Coleman medalist who - I’m not sure if you noticed - but tries pretty hard himself when he plays a grand final with a broken arm and produces the most courageous play of the match to run down an opponent and bring him to the ground one handed.

Cameron staying on with a broken arm was one of the most selfish things I've ever seen, no brownie points from me for it.

I never said I'd have him in for just trying hard, he was highly skilled, which often got lost, because people focused on his aggression

 

[Doashuey]

On a more serious note I would include Lewis Jetta in the Swans side. Yes, in theory he may not be as good as the players listed but he provides something that no other player does. He is very much a point of difference with his speed and his kicking.

Yeah I guess you can have him as we cant squeeze him in.
You are welcome.

 

[Mr Meow]

I never said I'd have him in for just trying hard, he was highly skilled, which often got lost, because people focused on his aggression

I agree that Mooney was important and underrated. He worked extremely well with Chappy and SJ in particular during our golden era, and was useful as Mr Fix It (in between his brain snaps) before then.

Personally I don't like stacking these teams with talls. Scarlett, Taylor, Cameron, Hawkins, Ottens, Blicavs is enough for me. A few others you can easily make a case for but I've recognised some players who have been important in the rebuilding of our team 2021 onwards. Ones that are dynamic with skill, creativity or pace.

As far as a straight Mooney vs Cameron comparison, the latter has been one of the best players in the league a couple of years for us. Arguably the best forward, or in the top few, for the 2022-2025 period. He's kept us contending like Dangerfield did before him, and was vitally important for us getting the 2022 flag.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Cameron staying on with a broken arm was one of the most selfish things I've ever seen, no brownie points from me for it.

I never said I'd have him in for just trying hard, he was highly skilled, which often got lost, because people focused on his aggression

Wasn't that more on Scott who then subbed off a non-injured player & the club doctor should have made a call too...

 

[Mr Meow]

Wasn't that more on Scott who then subbed off a non-injured player & the club doctor should have made a call too...

Yes.

To be honest we were screwed either way. We are still very reliant on Cameron, Dangerfield and Stewart so by the time it was clear Danger was off his game and Cameron clipped his wing, that was our chances down the drain.

 

[PhatBoy]

Cameron staying on with a broken arm was one of the most selfish things I've ever seen, no brownie points from me for it.

I never said I'd have him in for just trying hard, he was highly skilled, which often got lost, because people focused on his aggression

But mooney continually getting himself suspended because he couldn’t go five minutes without belting someone was unselfish

Oh yeah. That’s way lower on the list of sins than staying on the field like a thousand other players have done before while injured in a bid to help the team.

Better to ensure you’re fully fit but off it because you whacked someone.

He wasn’t highly skilled. He had a decent enough skillset - above average - but not genuinely elite and his effort levels made him a strong target for a couple of years and a good man to build the forward line around.

The other alternative is the best running forward since Lance Franklin.

 

[doppleganger]

Who cares. Trying hard doesn’t earn you points ahead of a player who has kicked 309 goals and had 74 assists in 109 games for us. Mooney played 100 games more than that and kicked less goals, and set them up at the same rate.

If effort was a criteria, Max Rooke and Josh Hunt would get in there as well.

I loved Mooney as much as the next bloke but merely trying hard doesn’t get you a guernsey over a Coleman medalist who - I’m not sure if you noticed - but tries pretty hard himself when he plays a grand final with a broken arm and produces the most courageous play of the match to run down an opponent and bring him to the ground one handed.

What is going on in this thread?

A Cat fan thinking Mooney is better than Jezza Cameron almost tops the Swan's bloke thinking Heeney was better than Dane Swan.

 

[PhatBoy]

What is going on in this thread?

A Cat fan thinking Mooney is better than Jezza Cameron almost tops the Swan's bloke thinking Heeney was better than Dane Swan.

It’s bizarre. I loved the big bloke - he was a tremendous player in his own right but there’s no metric you could use to justify him being anywhere in front of Cameron.

 

[Mr Meow]

What is going on in this thread?

A Cat fan thinking Mooney is better than Jezza Cameron almost tops the Swan's bloke thinking Heeney was better than Dane Swan.

In Cat land currently there's a few supporters very pissed off with some poor 2025 GF performers and I think that has a bit to do with current player opinions.

 

[GoldbergsGold]

#1: GEELONG

Unsurprisingly the most successful team of this century comes in at no.1.

How is Geelong the most successful this century? Brisbane are the most successful with 5 premierships this century.

 

[Mr Meow]

How is Geelong the most successful this century? Brisbane are the most successful with 5 premierships this century.

He didn't phrase it correctly as flags trump everything, but I know what he meant. "The side that has most consistently been a strong side" doesn't roll off the tongue as nicely, but is the accurate phrasing.