Opinion Team of the Decade (2000-2009)

[Pie 4 Life]

B: Glenn Archer - Matthew Scarlett - Mick Martyn
HB: Andrew McLeod - Dustin Fletcher - James Clement
C: James Hird - Nathan Buckley - Robert Harvey
HF: Mark Ricciuto - Jonathan Brown - Anthony Koutoufides
F: Jeff Farmer - Matthew Lloyd - Brent Harvey
R: Dean Cox - Ben Cousins - Michael Voss (c)
INT: Scott West - Luke Hodge - Jeff White - Matthew Richardson - Adam Goodes - Peter Everitt - Chris Judd

Must have played until at least 2003.

Felt that players such as Carey did not contribute as much "in this decade" as players such as Lloyd and Brown, hence he is left out. When I say Farmer, remember the "Melbourne version" of Farmer who was dominating particularly 2000-2002. Mick Martyn is the other one that I wasn't sure about, but I know he was a champion player. Should Shannon Grant be in instead of Farmer?

Any other changes?

 

[monty1104]

B: Glenn Archer - Matthew Scarlett - Mick Martyn
HB: Andrew McLeod - Dustin Fletcher - James Clement
C: James Hird - Nathan Buckley - Robert Harvey
HF: Mark Ricciuto - Jonathan Brown - Anthony Koutoufides
F: Jeff Farmer - Matthew Lloyd - Brent Harvey
R: Dean Cox - Ben Cousins - Michael Voss (c)
INT: Scott West - Luke Hodge - Jeff White - Matthew Richardson - Adam Goodes - Peter Everitt - Chris Judd

Must have played until at least 2003.

Felt that players such as Carey did not contribute as much "in this decade" as players such as Lloyd and Brown, hence he is left out. When I say Farmer, remember the "Melbourne version" of Farmer who was dominating particularly 2000-2002. Mick Martyn is the other one that I wasn't sure about, but I know he was a champion player. Should Shannon Grant be in instead of Farmer?

Any other changes?

Pretty good Team I'd say, but wheres Pavlich? Here's my attempt.

FB: Chris Scott, Matthew Scarlett, James Clement
HB: Matthew Pavlich, Dustin Fletcher, Andrew McLeod
C:James Hird (vc), Simon Black, Nathan Buckley
HF:Mark Ricciuto, Jonathan Brown, Jason Akermanis
FF: Phil Matera, Matthew Lloyd, Brent Harvey
Rucks: Dean Cox, Michael Voss (c), Ben Cousins
Interchange: Adam Goodes, Chris Judd, Simon Goodwin, Peter Burgoyne, Brendon Lade, Matthew Richardson, Brad Johnson

Coach: Legh Matthews

Phil Matera will cause controversy, I know, but he was the dominant small forward of the decade IMO. There havent really been any standout small forwards that have played SOLELY in that position.

 

[Claude Balls]

B: Glenn Archer - Matthew Scarlett - Chris Johnson
HB: Andrew McLeod - Dustin Fletcher - James Clement
C: Simon Black - Nathan Buckley - Judd
HF: Mark Ricciuto - Warren Tredrea - James Hird
F: Akermanis - Matthew Lloyd - Brent Harvey
R: Dean Cox - Ben Cousins - Michael Voss (c)
INT: Scott West - Adam Goodes - Pavlich - Robert Harvey
Must have played until at least 2003.

Felt that players such as Carey did not contribute as much "in this decade" as players such as Lloyd and Brown, hence he is left out. When I say Farmer, remember the "Melbourne version" of Farmer who was dominating particularly 2000-2002. Mick Martyn is the other one that I wasn't sure about, but I know he was a champion player. Should Shannon Grant be in instead of Farmer?

Any other changes?

Your glaring errors in my opinion are:

- Out: Brown, In: Tredrea. Tredrea is comfortably the CHF of this decade.
- Out: Kouta, In: Simon Black. Swap Black and Hird between Wing and HF also.
- Out: Mick Martyn, In: Chris Johnson. MM wasn't much chop, and backline way too tall with him in it.
- Swap Judd onto Field for Robert Harvey
- Out: Everiit, In: Pavlich. Goodes to be second ruckman.
- Out: Jeff Farmer, In: Akermanis. Complete no-brainer.
- Remove Hodge, White and Richo from your extended bench

 

[Last Line Hero]

You named Mick Martyn...

Credibility GAWN!!!

 

[Claude Balls]

Pretty good Team I'd say, but wheres Pavlich? Here's my attempt.

FB: Chris Scott, Matthew Scarlett, James Clement
HB: Matthew Pavlich, Dustin Fletcher, Andrew McLeod
C:James Hird (vc), Simon Black, Nathan Buckley
HF:Mark Ricciuto, Jonathan Brown, Jason Akermanis
FF: Phil Matera, Matthew Lloyd, Brent Harvey
Rucks: Dean Cox, Michael Voss (c), Ben Cousins
Interchange: Adam Goodes, Chris Judd, Simon Goodwin, Peter Burgoyne, Brendon Lade, Matthew Richardson, Brad Johnson

Coach: Legh Matthews

Phil Matera will cause controversy, I know, but he was the dominant small forward of the decade IMO. There havent really been any standout small forwards that have played SOLELY in that position.

Brown over Tredrea?
Pavlich at half back?
Chris Scott over Chris Johnson?
Peter Burgoyne?

 

[tribey]

Link​

All-Australian CHF: Tredrea 4, Brown 1
Club Best and Fairest: Tredrea 3, Brown 2
Coleman Medal: Tredrea 0, Brown 1
AFLCA MVP: Tredrea 1, Brown 0

And he's been on one leg since 2006. But no, not even worthy of a bench position behind the Warnambool slow-mo snorter.

 

[In And Under Tiger]

FB: Chris Johnson, Matthew Scarlett, James Clement
HB: Adam Goodes, Dustin Fletcher, Andrew McLeod
C: Simon Black, Michael Voss, Nathan Buckley
HF:Gary Ablett Jr, Nick Riewoldt, James Hird
FF: Jason Akermanis, Matthew Lloyd, Matthew Pavlich
Rucks: Dean Cox, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins
Interchange: Matthew Richardson, Robert Harvey, Warren Tredrea, Brad Johnson

Was unbelievably hard to pick and had to leave out some great players.

Can't believe some teams don't have Ablett either. Has been the premier player in the comp for 3 out of the 10 seasons.

 

[Last Line Hero]

G. Wanganeen - M. Scarlett - D. Fletcher

J. Clement - J. Leppitsch - A. McLeod

C. Judd - M. Voss - N. Buckley

M. Ricciuto - W. Tredrea - J. Hird

J. Akermanis - M. Lloyd - B. Johnson

D. Cox - S. West - B. Cousins

M. Pavlich
S. Black
A. Goodes
B. Harvey

Anything you would like me to justify, just ask.

 

[RangaInTeal]

G. Wanganeen - M. Scarlett - D. Fletcher

Anything you would like me to justify, just ask.

Yeah Wanganeen and Fletcher over Scott and Johnson, as a Port Supporter, Wanganeen won us a Grand Final with James, Tredrea, Peter Burgoyne, Hardwick and Carr, Chad at CHB... Bishop and Schoey, Wakes and Wilbur...

I mean Wanganeen really had one outstanding season with Port, and while a gun/gem/jet/star i dont think he was better than Johnson quantity of quality I guess...

And Fletcher, its a toss up really, but you cant have two fullbacks, how many time did Fletcher play as a Back Pocket?

 

[Pie 4 Life]

Yeah I realised Mick Martyn would be a weird one, I thought of his Kangaroos stint, not his Carlton one, where he was a premier defender. Totally forgot about Johnson, nice get there.

 

[Last Line Hero]

Yeah Wanganeen and Fletcher over Scott and Johnson, as a Port Supporter, Wanganeen won us a Grand Final with James, Tredrea, Peter Burgoyne, Hardwick and Carr, Chad at CHB... Bishop and Schoey, Wakes and Wilbur...

I mean Wanganeen really had one outstanding season with Port, and while a gun/gem/jet/star i dont think he was better than Johnson quantity of quality I guess...

And Fletcher, its a toss up really, but you cant have two fullbacks, how many time did Fletcher play as a Back Pocket?

Wanganeen was a toss- up.

I must admit that I elected for him over Johnson with some consideration given to what he'd accomplished over the course of his career. A 2- time All- Australian back pocket, premiership player, Brownlow Medal runner- up and Best & Fairest winner in this era I thought was just enough to give him the nod. Was more versatile to.

Fletcher has proven himself the 2nd best genuine key defender of this generation and someone I would label a champion of his club and the code. His ability to shut down any and every forward he was assigned, in often spectacular fashion, during his prime years earlier this century was as stoic as anyone. His past 3-4 seasons have been spent essentially as a roaming defender deep in Essendon's defensive 50, relinquished from manning the gun forward's on a consistent basis so as to provide damaging rebound and to be involved in more contests. He has flourished in both roles, and so I felt it would be a harsh injustice not to include him.

 

[Lach72]

B: Glenn Archer - Matthew Scarlett - Mick Martyn
HB: Andrew McLeod - Dustin Fletcher - James Clement
C: James Hird - Nathan Buckley - Robert Harvey
HF: Mark Ricciuto - Jonathan Brown - Anthony Koutoufides
F: Jeff Farmer - Matthew Lloyd - Brent Harvey
R: Dean Cox - Ben Cousins - Michael Voss (c)
INT: Scott West - Luke Hodge - Jeff White - Matthew Richardson - Adam Goodes - Peter Everitt - Chris Judd

Must have played until at least 2003.

Felt that players such as Carey did not contribute as much "in this decade" as players such as Lloyd and Brown, hence he is left out. When I say Farmer, remember the "Melbourne version" of Farmer who was dominating particularly 2000-2002. Mick Martyn is the other one that I wasn't sure about, but I know he was a champion player. Should Shannon Grant be in instead of Farmer?

Any other changes?

ANy team without Matthew Pavlich has zero credibility under this criteria.
Would also question the lack of the man with the phone

 

[AG]

B: James Clement; Matthew Scarlett; Dustin Fletcher
HB: Andrew McLeod; Justin Leppitsch; Nigel Lappin
C: Ben Cousins; Simon Black; Nathan Buckley
HF: James Hird ; Warren Tredrea; Mark Ricciuto (vc)
F: Brad Johnson; Matthew Lloyd; Jason Akermanis
R: Dean Cox; Chris Judd; Michael Voss (c)
INT: Adam Goodes; Scott West; Gary Ablett Jr; Matthew Pavlich
EMG: Chris Johnson; Brent Harvey; Simon Goodwin
Coach: Leigh Matthews

Unlucky: Nathan Brown (the only other true FP who challenged Aker), Gavin Wanganeen, Leo Barry, Chad Cornes, Nick Riewoldt, Fraser Gehrig, Darren Glass, Barry Hall, Peter Bell, Robert Harvey, Brendan Lade, Darren Milburn, Matthew Richardson, Jonathan Brown, Mal Michael, Matthew Primus, Glenn Archer.

In defence Scarlett, Fletcher and McLeod should probably be in every team. I think Leppitsch is probably the best true CHB of the decade. Scarlett and Fletcher play closer to the goal square. Nigel Lappin is another who played well off the HB line for various stages of his career. The other BP was between Johnson and Clement, but I think Clement gets it for being a slightly better 1-on-1 defender. Plus, he was probably one of the most professional footballers of the decade.

I think the middle is fairly straightforward. Voss, Black, Cousins, Buckley, Judd and Cox would be in most teams. Only other player challenging Cox for the pure ruck position would probably be Lade or Primus. Goodes won the Brownlow in 2003 as a ruckman so he can be backup. He would be in the team anyway, but it's easy to classify him as the backup ruckman.

In the forward line I put two mids who often played across the HF throughout their careers. Ricciuto and Hird were versatile in that they could still be matchwinners without being in the thick of the action. Tredrea is a must pick. He is the best CHF since Carey and therefore clearly the best this decade. Absolutely tore the competition apart in the early to mid 2000's. Has been in AA form this year as well. Lloyd would be most people's FF. Gehrig and Hall haven't been nearly as good for the whole decade. Aker and Johnson have been the best mid/small forwards.

On the bench I have Goodes. At his best Goodes would nearly challenge for the best player of the decade, but consistency is his big problem. The other midfielders start ahead of him because they performed nearly every week over the past decade. Goodes can go missing too often. West has probably been the most consistent midfielder over the decade, but doesn't get a starting position because he lacks the match winning/x-factor feel about him. Sort of the opposite of Goodes. Does the dirty work very well. Ablett probably hasn't played enough good football over the whole 10 years but to be considered the best player in 3 of them probably warrants selection.Pavlich has been the next best forward with something like 6 AA selections. He has been a super player in a crap team.

Captain would be Voss and vice-captain Ricciuto. Both hard, tough footballers and terrific leaders. Hird, Buckley, Cousins, Tredrea and Judd have all led, but the other two just demand respect.

For the emergencies, Chris Johnson was unlucky not to be in a back pocket. Brent Harvey and Simon Goodwin were the other two unlucky players. Harvey could be in most people's team but I think Goodwin would be underrated by most this decade. Both players have had 4 AA selections since 2000 so you can't deny that they would be deserving players.

Leigh Matthews is an obvious selection for coach. Mark Williams and Mark Thompson the other two who have done very well this decade.

 

[Lach72]

B: James Clement; Matthew Scarlett; Dustin Fletcher
HB: Andrew McLeod; Justin Leppitsch; Nigel Lappin
C: Ben Cousins; Simon Black; Nathan Buckley
HF: James Hird ; Warren Tredrea; Mark Ricciuto (vc)
F: Brad Johnson; Matthew Lloyd; Jason Akermanis
R: Dean Cox; Chris Judd; Michael Voss (c)
INT: Adam Goodes; Matthew Pavlich; Scott West; Gary Ablett Jr
EMG: Chris Johnson; Brent Harvey; Simon Goodwin
Coach: Leigh Matthews

Like this side a lot.
Completely biased, I'd take out either Goodwin or West and add in Peter Bell

 

[Claude Balls]

B: James Clement; Matthew Scarlett; Dustin Fletcher
HB: Andrew McLeod; Justin Leppitsch; Nigel Lappin
C: Ben Cousins; Simon Black; Nathan Buckley
HF: James Hird ; Warren Tredrea; Mark Ricciuto (vc)
F: Brad Johnson; Matthew Lloyd; Jason Akermanis
R: Dean Cox; Chris Judd; Michael Voss (c)
INT: Adam Goodes; Scott West; Gary Ablett Jr; Matthew Pavlich
EMG: Chris Johnson; Brent Harvey; Simon Goodwin
Coach: Leigh Matthews

Good team AUSSIE GUN. The only changes I would make are to get Chris Johnson into the backline, probably at the expense of Nigel Lappin. I'd even be happy to put Lappin on the bench at the expense of Ablett.

Props to you too, by the way, for not putting Banger Harvey in your team. Strikes me he played all his best footy in the 90s.

 

[AG]

Good team AUSSIE GUN. The only changes I would make are to get Chris Johnson into the backline, probably at the expense of Nigel Lappin. I'd even be happy to put Lappin on the bench at the expense of Ablett.

Props to you too, by the way, for not putting Banger Harvey in your team. Strikes me he played all his best footy in the 90s.

I'd be happy with swapping Lappin with Johnson and then putting Lappin to the bench at the expense of Ablett. I just think Ablett needs to be rewarded for being considered the best player in 3 of the 10 years. When I say 3/10 it doesn't look enough but he was the best player each year.

The two best players from each year of the decade would be:

2000 - Scott West/Andrew McLeod
2001 - Jason Akermanis/Michael Voss
2002 - Michael Voss/Simon Black
2003 - Nathan Buckley/Mark Riccuito
2004 - Warren Tredrea/Nick Riewoldt
2005 - Ben Cousins/Daniel Kerr
2006 - Adam Goodes/Chris Judd
2007 - Gary Ablett/Jimmy Bartel
2008 - Gary Ablett/Lance Franklin
2009? - Gary Ablett/Chris Judd or Leigh Montagna (looks out of place doesn't he)

The only four players I didn't pick were Kerr, Bartel, Riewoldt and Franklin. Bartel and Franklin have really only been great for 2 years out of this decade. Kerr and Riewoldt would be in contention for the team of the decade but are behind others.
Ablett is the only player who has been in the top 2, in my opinion, for more than two years. Some would argue Judd was in the top 2 in 2004, but I thought Tredrea and Riewoldt were better.

 

[Claude Balls]

My team.

B: Dustin Fletcher - Matthew Scarlett - Chris Johnson
HB: Andrew McLeod - Leppitsch - James Clement
C: Ben Cousins - Michael Voss (c) - Nathan Buckley
HF: Mark Ricciuto - Warren Tredrea - James Hird (vc)
F: Akermanis - Matthew Lloyd - Brad Johnson
R: Dean Cox - Simon Black - Chris Judd
INT: Scott West - Adam Goodes - Pavlich - Gavin Wanganeen
EMERG: Brent Harvey; Nigel Lappin; Ablett Jnr; Robert Harvey

 

[Claude Balls]

I'd be happy with swapping Lappin with Johnson and then putting Lappin to the bench at the expense of Ablett. I just think Ablett needs to be rewarded for being considered the best player in 3 of the 10 years. When I say 3/10 it doesn't look enough but he was the best player each year.

The two best players from each year of the decade would be:

2000 - Scott West/Andrew McLeod
2001 - Jason Akermanis/Michael Voss
2002 - Michael Voss/Simon Black
2003 - Nathan Buckley/Mark Riccuito
2004 - Warren Tredrea/Nick Riewoldt
2005 - Ben Cousins/Daniel Kerr
2006 - Adam Goodes/Chris Judd
2007 - Gary Ablett/Jimmy Bartel
2008 - Gary Ablett/Lance Franklin
2009? - Gary Ablett/Chris Judd or Leigh Montagna (looks out of place doesn't he)

The only four players I didn't pick were Kerr, Bartel, Riewoldt and Franklin. Bartel and Franklin have really only been great for 2 years out of this decade. Kerr and Riewoldt would be in contention for the team of the decade but are behind others.
Ablett is the only player who has been in the top 2, in my opinion, for more than two years. Some would argue Judd was in the top 2 in 2004, but I thought Tredrea and Riewoldt were better.

Yeah, good point. Assuming Ablett finishes this year as he started, the three years he will have put in at the top will quite possibly be so good to warrant his inclusion over someone with 5 or 6 years of marginally less brilliant football.

BTW, I reckon you could slip Judd in for dual honours in 2004, instead of Riewoldt... or not, it was a great year for both.

 

[AG]

BTW, I reckon you could slip Judd in for dual honours in 2004, instead of Riewoldt... or not, it was a great year for both.

Probably. I thought Tredrea was clearly the best in 2004. Then Riewoldt just ahead of Judd. Goodes was good in 03 but I had Buckley and Ricciuto just ahead of him.

 

[drama5]

I'd be happy with swapping Lappin with Johnson and then putting Lappin to the bench at the expense of Ablett. I just think Ablett needs to be rewarded for being considered the best player in 3 of the 10 years. When I say 3/10 it doesn't look enough but he was the best player each year.

The two best players from each year of the decade would be:

2000 - Scott West/Andrew McLeod
2001 - Jason Akermanis/Michael Voss
2002 - Michael Voss/Simon Black
2003 - Nathan Buckley/Mark Riccuito
2004 - Warren Tredrea/Nick Riewoldt
2005 - Ben Cousins/Daniel Kerr
2006 - Adam Goodes/Chris Judd
2007 - Gary Ablett/Jimmy Bartel
2008 - Gary Ablett/Lance Franklin
2009? - Gary Ablett/Chris Judd or Leigh Montagna (looks out of place doesn't he)

The only four players I didn't pick were Kerr, Bartel, Riewoldt and Franklin. Bartel and Franklin have really only been great for 2 years out of this decade. Kerr and Riewoldt would be in contention for the team of the decade but are behind others.
Ablett is the only player who has been in the top 2, in my opinion, for more than two years. Some would argue Judd was in the top 2 in 2004, but I thought Tredrea and Riewoldt were better.

agree with this list but in 2006 take out adam goodes and put in scott west. goodes was gifted that brownlow and wasnt half as good as scott west that year. one of the most disapointing results in the brownlow for years

 

[AG]

agree with this list but in 2006 take out adam goodes and put in scott west. goodes was gifted that brownlow and wasnt half as good as scott west that year. one of the most disapointing results in the brownlow for years

Goodes deserved his Brownlow. He was the main reason we made the top 4 and the GF. If you don't like him that's fine but don't say he didn't deserve his Brownlow.

 

[The_Eagles]

Wanganeen Scarlett Fletcher
McLeod Leppitsch Clement
Cousins Voss Buckley
Hird Tredrea Ricciuto
Akermanis Lloyd B Johnson

Cox Ablett Judd

Goodes Black Pavlich Riewoldt

 

[Claude Balls]

Probably. I thought Tredrea was clearly the best in 2004. Then Riewoldt just ahead of Judd. Goodes was good in 03 but I had Buckley and Ricciuto just ahead of him.

Yep, agreed. Tredrea was the best that year. Judd was the best midfielder, and Riewoldt was also extremely good, accruing well over 200 marks if my memories serves me correctly.

 

[In And Under Tiger]

Aussie Guns team is the best posted so far.

How can anyone consider not having Ablett in their side?

Compare him to say James Hird in this period who everyone has in their side.

Ablett - 154 games, 202 goals, 2 Player MVP's, 2 All-Australian, 1 best and fairest, 1 premiership

Hird - 145 games, 156 goals, 1 premiership, 1 norm smith, 1 All Australian, 0 Best and Fairests.

Only thing Hird has on Gary is a Norm Smith and it is arguable Gary should have won one last year.

 

[Spudregus_87]

B: C.Johnson - Scarlett - Fletcher
HB: McLeod - Leppitsch - Clement
C: Buckley - Voss (c) - Cousins
HF: Hird - Tredrea - Akermanis
F: B.Johnson - Lloyd - Riewoldt
R: Cox - Judd - Ablett

I: Primus - Pavlich - Goodes - SBlack

E: Ricciuto - West - Kerr

Coach : L.Matthews