Opinion wizzard400's Top 50 Best Players since 2000

[wizzard400]

Yep, it's another one of those lists. I had a boring Sunday at home by myself so decided to put together my top 50 players since the year 2000.

I'd like to preface this by saying this list (somewhat obviously) is about playing credentials only. Coaching is not taken into account - or really anything else for that matter. This list is purely based on playing ability and what they achieved as a player.

I'll also say that this list is based off everything the players achieved from the year 2000 onwards, in that everything they achieved prior to that year is not taken into account, hence why some players who would normally be mainstays in some top 10 lists are not there on this one. The achievements listed however will be from throughout their career.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy going through my list and hope you've got some decent thoughts on it, here goes...

* denotes player still currently playing


50. Alex Rance *
(Richmond)
161 games
3x All-Australian
2015 B&F

49. Cyril Rioli *
(Hawthorn)
185 games
273 goals
4x Premierships
2015 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
2009 Goal of the Year

48. Josh Kennedy *
(Hawthorn, Sydney)
185 games
125 goals
2012 Premiership
3x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x Brett Kirk Medalist
2016 Gary Ayres Award

47. Nathan Fyfe *
(Fremantle)
133 games
116 goals
2015 Brownlow Medal
2014 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2015 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2x Doig Medal
2x All-Australian
2x Geoff Christian Medal

46. Robert Harvey
(St. Kilda)
383 games
215 goals
1997 Brownlow Medal
1998 Brownlow Medal
1997 Leigh Matthews Trophy
8x All-Australian
4x B&F
2008 Madden Medal
3x Pre Season Premiership
2004 Michael Tuck Medal
3x E.J. Whitten Medal

45. Stephen Milne
(St. Kilda)
275 games
574 goals
4x St. Kilda leading goalkicker
2x All-Australian
2x Pre Season Premiership

44. Brett Kirk
(Sydney)
241 games
91 goals
2005 Premiership
2x B&F
1x All-Australian
2006 Robert Rose Award

43. Kane Cornes
(Port Adelaide)
300 games
93 goals
2004 Premiership
2x All-Australian
4x B&F

42. Aaron Sandilands *
(Fremantle)
254 games
92 goals
4x All-Australian
2x B&F
2009 Geoff Christian Medal
2x Ross Glendinning Medal

41. Brendon Goddard *
(St. Kilda, Essendon)
305 games
157 goals
2x All-Australian
1x B&F
2014 Yiooken Medal
2x Pre Season Premiership

40. Darren Glass
(West Coast)
270 games
2006 Premiership
3x B&F
4x All-Australian (1x Captain)

39. Brendan Fevola
(Carlton, Brisbane)
204 games
623 goals
2x Coleman Medal
3x All-Australian
2005 Michael Tuck Medal
7x Carlton leading goalkicker

38. Scott West
(Western Bulldogs)
324 games
104 goals
5x All-Australian
7x B&F

37. Shane Crawford
(Hawthorn)
305 games
224 goals
2008 Premiership
1999 Brownlow Medal
4x All-Australian
4x B&F
1998 Alex Jesaulenko Medal
1999 Pre Season Premiership

36. Simon Goodwin
(Adelaide)
275 games
162 goals
2x Premiership
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x Phil Walsh Medal
2007 AFLCA Player of the Year
2006 Michael Tuck Medal

35. Nigel Lappin
(Brisbane)
279 games
174 goals
3x Premiership
4x All-Australian
1x B&F

34. Matthew Scarlett
(Geelong)
284 Games
3x Premiership
6x All-Australian
1x B&F
2x Pre Season Premiership

33. Corey Enright
(Geelong)
332 games
3x Premiership
6x All-Australian
2x B&F
2x Pre Season Premiership

32. Paul Chapman
(Geelong, Essendon)
280 games
336 goals
3x Premiership
2x All-Australian
1x B&F
2009 Norm Smith Medal

31. Steve Johnson *
(Geelong, Greater Western Sydney)
287 games
508 goals
3x Premiership
3x All-Australian
2007 Norm Smith Medal
2x Geelong leading goalkicker
2x Pre Season Premiership

30. Patrick Dangerfield *
(Adelaide, Geelong)
194 games
219 goals
2016 Brownlow Medal
2016 Leigh Matthews Trophy
4x All-Australian
2x B&F

29. Scott Pendlebury *
(Collingwood)
252 games
157 goals
2010 Premiership
2010 Norm Smith Medal
5x All-Australian
5x B&F
2x ANZAC Day Medal
2013 AFLCA Player of the Year

28. Dane Swan
(Collingwood)
258 games
211 goals
2010 Premiership
2011 Brownlow Medal
2010 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x ANZAC Day Medal
2010 AFLCA Player of the Year
2003 VFL Premiership

27. Jason Akermanis
(Brisbane, Western Bulldogs)
325 games
421 goals
3x Premiership
2001 Brownlow Medal
2x B&F
2004 Brisbane leading goalkicker
2009 Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker

26. Brad Johnson
(Western Bulldogs)
364 games
558 goals
6x All-Australian
3x B&F
3x Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker

25. Dean Cox
(West Coast)
290 games
169 goals
2006 Premiership
6x All-Australian
1x B&F
2006 West Coast Best Clubman Award
2000 WAFL Premiership
2000 Simpson Medal

24. Barry Hall
(St. Kilda, Sydney, Western Bulldogs)
289 games
746 goals
2005 Premiership
4x All-Australian
1x B&F
2x St. Kilda leading goalkicker
7x Sydney leading goalkicker
2x Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker
2010 Michael Tuck Medal

23. Matthew Richardson
(Richmond)
282 games
800 goals
3x All-Australian
1x B&F
13x Richmond leading goalkicker
Most goals kicked at MCG

22. Jimmy Bartel
(Geelong)
305 games
202 goals
3x Premiership
2007 Brownlow Medal
2011 Norm Smith Medal
2x All-Australian
2x Pre Season Premiership

21. Brent Harvey
(North Melbourne)
432 games
518 goals
1999 Premiership
4x All-Australian
5x B&F
1999 E.J. Whitten Medal
AFL Games record holder

20. Lenny Hayes
(St. Kilda)
297 games
95 goals
2010 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
3x B&F
2014 Madden Medal
2x Pre Season Premiership

19. Warren Tredrea
(Port Adelaide)
264 games
559 goals
2004 Premiership
4x All-Australian
4x B&F
1x Phil Walsh Medal
8x Port Adelaide leading goalkicker
2004 AFLCA Player of the Year

18. Matthew Lloyd
(Essendon)
270 games
926 goals
2000 Premiership
3x Coleman Medal
5x All-Australian
2007 Goal of the Year
2008 Mark of the Year
12x Essendon leading goalkicker

17. Jonathan Brown
(Brisbane)
256 games
594 goals
3x Premiership
2007 Coleman Medal
2x All-Australian (1x Vice-Captain)
3x B&F
5x Robert Rose Award
2013 Marcus Ashcroft Medal
2x AFLPA Best Captain Award
2002 Mark of the Year

16. Joel Selwood *
(Geelong)
243 games
144 goals
3x Premiership
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2007 Rising Star Award
2007 AFLPA Best First Year Player Award
2008 AFLCA Best Young Player Award
4x Robert Rose Award
2009 Michael Tuck Medal
1x Pre Season Premiership

15. Luke Hodge *
(Hawthorn)
301 games
193 goals
4x Premiership
2008 Norm Smith Medal
2014 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
2x B&F
2014 AFLPA Best Captain Award
2013 Hawthorn Best Clubman Award

14. Nick Riewoldt *
(St. Kilda)
332 games
713 goals
2004 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian
6x B&F
2002 Rising Star Award
4x St. Kilda leading goalkicker
2x Pre Season Premiership

13. Matthew Pavlich
(Fremantle)
353 games
700 goals
6x All-Australian
6x B&F
3x Geoff Christian Medal
3x Ross Glendinning Medal
8x Fremantle leading goalkicker
2016 Madden Medal

12. Ben Cousins
(West Coast, Richmond)
270 games
217 goals
2006 Premiership
2005 Brownlow Medal
2005 Leigh Matthews Trophy
6x All-Australian
4x B&F
1996 Rising Star
2001 Geoff Christian Medal
1999 Goal of the Year

11. Andrew McLeod
(Adelaide)
340 games
275 goals
2x Premiership
1997 Norm Smith Medal
1998 Norm Smith Medal
2001 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian (1x Captain)
3x B&F
2007 Phil Walsh Medal
2003 Pre Season Premiership
2003 Michael Tuck Medal
Indigenous Team of the Century
1x NEAFL Premiership

10. Simon Black
(Brisbane)
322 games
171 goals
3x Premiership
2002 Brownlow Medal
2003 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
3x B&F
2011 Marcus Ashcroft Medal

9. Sam Mitchell *
(Hawthorn, West Coast)
322 games
68 goals
4x Premiership
2012 Brownlow Medal
3x All-Australian
5x B&F
2002 J.J. Liston Trophy
2003 Rising Star Award

8. Nathan Buckley
(Collingwood)
280 games
284 goals
2003 Brownlow Medal
2002 Norm Smith Medal
7x All-Australian
6x B&F
2003 AFLCA Player of the Year
1992 Magarey Medal
1992 Jack Oatey Medal
1997 Alex Jesaulenko Medal
1992 SANFL Premiership

7. Mark Ricciuto
(Adelaide)
312 games
292 goals
1998 Premiership
2003 Brownlow Medal
8x All-Australian (2x Captain)
3x B&F
2x AFLPA Best Captain Award
3x Phil Walsh Medal
2006 Adelaide leading goalkicker

6. Adam Goodes
(Sydney)
372 games
464 goals
2x Premiership
2003 Brownlow Medal
2006 Brownlow Medal
4x All-Australian
3x B&F
1999 Rising Star Award
3x Sydney leading goalkicker
Indigenous Team of the Century

5. James Hird
(Essendon)
253 games
343 goals
2x Premiership
1996 Brownlow Medal
2000 Norm Smith Medal
5x All-Australian
5x B&F
3x ANZAC Day Medal
2x Essendon leading goalkicker
3x Pre Season Premiership

4. Michael Voss
(Brisbane)
289 games
245 goals
3x Premiership
1996 Brownlow Medal
2002 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2003 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x Brisbane Club Champion
4x AFLPA Best Captain Award
2001 Robert Rose Award

3. Lance Franklin *
(Hawthorn, Sydney)
264 games
837 goals
2x Premiership
3x Coleman Medal
6x All-Australian
1x B&F
6x Hawthorn leading goalkicker
3x Sydney leading goalkicker

2. Chris Judd
(West Coast, Carlton)
279 games
228 goals
2006 Premiership
2004 Brownlow Medal
2010 Brownlow Medal
2005 Norm Smith Medal
2006 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2011 Leigh Matthews Trophy
6x All-Australian
5x B&F
2002 AFLPA Best First Year Player
3x Ross Glendinning Medal
2006 Geoff Christian Medal
2005 Goal of the Year
2015 Madden Medal

1. Gary Ablett Jnr.
(Geelong, Gold Coast)
301 games
386 goals
2x Premiership
2009 Brownlow Medal
2013 Brownlow Medal
2007 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2008 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2009 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2012 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2013 Leigh Matthews Trophy
8x All-Australian
5x B&F
1x Geelong leading goalkicker
2x Gold Coast leading goalkicker
2x Marcus Ashcroft medal




There it is! controversial number 1 I know ...

anyway there's my list and a considerable amount of time wasted putting it together. If you feel the need to comment on it please do, would love feedback.

 

[Jootube]

Pretty great list, Kane Cornes the only one I think that maybe shouldn't be on the list.
West Coast bias says JJK is a little stiff. Has been the best/2nd best forward in the competition since 2014.

2 x All-Australian
2 x Coleman Medal
5 x Leading Goal Kicker

 

[adammania9]

I hate to be picky but it bugs me to a degree that you factored in players' successes before 2000 for Voss, Buckley, Hird and the like.

It's a top effort though, hard to disagree with much at all

 

[Jukesy85]

A great list mate well done, couple things I'm not a fan of though.

Firstly, I'd have Riewoldt much higher though - he'd be closer to 14th of all time imho been a superstar week in week out since he was drafted, I'd have him in the top four for sure with Judd, Buddy and Ablett.

Second, Dean Cox should be well higher I'd say. He'd be in the top handful of ruckmen of all time, very dominant for the eagles for a long time.

And like adammania said, it was always going to be hard to judge some players whose career was half pre-2000 and half post-2000 like Hirdy, Voss, Bucks etc which is why I'd be tentative to have those guys too high up the list - I'd probably stick to only guys who debuted since 2000 to make it a fair game.

Again, great job mate.

 

[AG]

Good list, the players look fine but obviously the order will be different for others.

Agree with the poster who mentioned Hird, Buckley etc. If it's purely based on 2000 and onwards then they should be much further down. Scarlett should be in the teens at worst as well.

From the Swans, Kirk shouldn't be top 50.

I'd only have the below four, which you also have as well.

1. Franklin
2. Goodes
3. Hall
4. Kennedy

Maybe Dal Santo for Kirk. I'd probably swap Kane Cornes for his brother as well. Josh Kennedy (WCE) the other one I'd try and sneak in.

Overall good effort though.

 

[Maggsy]

Lenny Hayes is a great bloke and was hard at it,.. but there is NO chance in hell is/was a better midfielder than:
Swan, Fyfe, JPK, Dangerfield AND Pendlebury!!, to name just a few!

 

[MitchRobinson12]

You gotta lotta time on your hands mate.

 

[wizzard400]

You gotta lotta time on your hands mate.

Yeah it was a lonely Sunday

 

[iBeng]

You put Browny above Tredrea, way to trigger every Port supporter.

 

[Daniels Riches]

Great effort mate. I think Shaun Burgoyne definitely deserves a spot on that list though. I'd swap him for K Cornes. Well done

 

[Daniels Riches]

Lenny Hayes is a great bloke and was hard at it,.. but there is NO chance in hell is/was a better midfielder than:
Swan, Fyfe, JPK, Dangerfield AND Pendlebury!!, to name just a few!

I pretty much agree with u here, but Lenny has the 2nd most tackles of all time behind Matty Priddis. I'd probably have him just in front of JPK.

 

[Back One Out]

Adam Goodes at no.6 ???? Ahead of M.Ricciuto, N.Buckley, S.Mitchell, S.Black, A.McLeod, B.Cousins, M.Pavlich, N.Riewoldt, L.Hodge, J.Selwood, J.Brown, M.Lloyd, Tredrea, L.Hayes, B Harvey, J.Bartel, M.Richardson, B.Johnson, J.Akermanis, D.Swan, S.Pendlebury, P.Dangerfield and D.Martin ???

Goodes played his best footy (from 2005-2011) as an unaccountable attacking midfielder who averaged fewer than 20 disposals and 3 tackles per game. His disposal wasn't particularly damaging either. He usually just floated a 45m drop punt towards goal.

I think people tend to overrate him because he liked to hold onto the ball and run with it - he was an eye-catching player who racked up the Brownlow votes and stood out for a hard-working Swans side that was short on star quality. He would break the lines and take a bounce, or sprint inside fifty and kick a goal - that was probably his best attribute - but Goodesy was hardly in the Akermanis/Dangerfield/Martin class as a goalkicking mid.

He occasionally played in the key position, but he was rarely effective. Forgettable stints at CHB early in his career. Just average as a CHF/FF - I remember one game when he kicked 8 goals at the SCG, but this was an exception to the norm. He won a Brownlow as a ruckman in 2003 - but he wasn't a proper ruckman who dominated the hitouts, just a big oversized ruck-rover (like Blicavs) who contested and then beat his larger opponents with 2nd efforts once the ball hit the ground. Goodesey was really a ruck-rover. That was his forte, roam around the ground and pick up kicks.

I would place him much further down the list, somewhere in the 20's or 30's. A lot of people seem to rate him highly like you, but I don't think there was ever a single season where I would place him in the top 6 players in the AFL, let alone the top 6 from 2000-2017. He probably peaked in 2006 and had some good battles going head to head with Juddy - that was maybe the one season where he gave the Top 5 a nudge.

 

[AG]

Lol at Goodes should be ranked in the 30s. If you didn't have him in the top 6 players in 2006 then you simply didn't like him. He won the Brownlow and AFLCA player of the year.

In regards to his career, I can understand the arguments but don't go overboard and bump him down below about 30 other players. He has played the second? most amount of games since 2000 and didn't need 30 plus touches to influence a game. He should be no lower than the top 15 imo.

 

[Back One Out]

Lol at Goodes should be ranked in the 30s. If you didn't have him in the top 6 players in 2006 then you simply didn't like him. He won the Brownlow and AFLCA player of the year.

In regards to his career, I can understand the arguments but don't go overboard and bump him down below about 30 other players. He has played the second? most amount of games since 2000 and didn't need 30 plus touches to influence a game. He should be no lower than the top 15 imo.

Goodes shared the AFLCA award in 2006 with Simon Goodwin. Other winners in recent years include Marc Murphy, Trent Cotchin, Robbie Gray, Scott Pendlebury and Dan Hannebery. The Coaches Award is hardly a definitive measure of the best player in the game. It's really more of an indication about which teams rely on one or two midfielders vs. which teams share the load, or have a bevy of stars around the ground.

I said Goodes would've given the top six a nudge in 2006, his best individual season. But I think it's debatable and not as conclusive as you make out. I doubt I'd have him in my top 10 for any other season. (FWIW, the best players of 2006: Judd, Kerr, B.Johnson, N.Riewoldt, Pavlich, West, Goodes, Hall, Fevola, Goodwin, Burgoyne, Lade, Cox, S.Black, Mitchell, Hodge, Chapman, Cousins, Didak, B.Harvey, McLeod)

In terms of sustained brilliance over a career, I think it's odd that people on Big Footy have always downgraded Brad Johnson and Brent Harvey. Both of them were better footballers than Goodes. All three were enduring champions. Longevity and durability certainly counts in my book.

Goodes was a phenomenal athlete and a v.good footballer, capable of destroying anyone when he was hot - I'd rate him as a champion of the game, a modern day Michael Tuck - a uniquely eye-catching flashy 6'4" ruck rover - but I think there were better champions from a pure footballing sense and what they delivered for 120 minutes of every game.

20 disposals, 3 tackles and 1 goal per game are good, but not great numbers from an attacking midfielder who played mostly on the short SCG. Agreed, he didn't need a lot of touches to influence a game, but I also think the influence of his touches was always overstated.

 

[sloppyjoespizza]

Cyril Rioli top 50? Please............
The inconsistent show pony wouldn't even be in Adelaide, Sydney or GWS's top dozen best players as we speak.

Scarlett is criminally underrated a well.
Top 10 as he spent his entire 20's as our number one full back and held the fort like only Silvagni could before him.

 

[Jcpdragonx]

Pendlebury should be much higher, higher than Selwood.

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Top 10

1. Franklin
2. Ablett Jnr
3. Judd
4. Hodge
5. Scarlett
6. Voss
7. S.Mitchell
8. N.Riewoldt
9. Bartel
10. Black

Agree with others Buckley , Lloyd etc had a large part of their careers pre-2000

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Yep, it's another one of those lists. I had a boring Sunday at home by myself so decided to put together my top 50 players since the year 2000.

I'd like to preface this by saying this list (somewhat obviously) is about playing credentials only. Coaching is not taken into account - or really anything else for that matter. This list is purely based on playing ability and what they achieved as a player.

I'll also say that this list is based off everything the players achieved from the year 2000 onwards, in that everything they achieved prior to that year is not taken into account, hence why some players who would normally be mainstays in some top 10 lists are not there on this one. The achievements listed however will be from throughout their career.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy going through my list and hope you've got some decent thoughts on it, here goes...

* denotes player still currently playing


50. Alex Rance *
(Richmond)
161 games
3x All-Australian
2015 B&F

49. Cyril Rioli *
(Hawthorn)
185 games
273 goals
4x Premierships
2015 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
2009 Goal of the Year

48. Josh Kennedy *
(Hawthorn, Sydney)
185 games
125 goals
2012 Premiership
3x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x Brett Kirk Medalist
2016 Gary Ayres Award

47. Nathan Fyfe *
(Fremantle)
133 games
116 goals
2015 Brownlow Medal
2014 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2015 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2x Doig Medal
2x All-Australian
2x Geoff Christian Medal

46. Robert Harvey
(St. Kilda)
383 games
215 goals
1997 Brownlow Medal
1998 Brownlow Medal
1997 Leigh Matthews Trophy
8x All-Australian
4x B&F
2008 Madden Medal
3x Pre Season Premiership
2004 Michael Tuck Medal
3x E.J. Whitten Medal

45. Stephen Milne
(St. Kilda)
275 games
574 goals
4x St. Kilda leading goalkicker
2x All-Australian
2x Pre Season Premiership

44. Brett Kirk
(Sydney)
241 games
91 goals
2005 Premiership
2x B&F
1x All-Australian
2006 Robert Rose Award

43. Kane Cornes
(Port Adelaide)
300 games
93 goals
2004 Premiership
2x All-Australian
4x B&F

42. Aaron Sandilands *
(Fremantle)
254 games
92 goals
4x All-Australian
2x B&F
2009 Geoff Christian Medal
2x Ross Glendinning Medal

41. Brendon Goddard *
(St. Kilda, Essendon)
305 games
157 goals
2x All-Australian
1x B&F
2014 Yiooken Medal
2x Pre Season Premiership

40. Darren Glass
(West Coast)
270 games
2006 Premiership
3x B&F
4x All-Australian (1x Captain)

39. Brendan Fevola
(Carlton, Brisbane)
204 games
623 goals
2x Coleman Medal
3x All-Australian
2005 Michael Tuck Medal
7x Carlton leading goalkicker

38. Scott West
(Western Bulldogs)
324 games
104 goals
5x All-Australian
7x B&F

37. Shane Crawford
(Hawthorn)
305 games
224 goals
2008 Premiership
1999 Brownlow Medal
4x All-Australian
4x B&F
1998 Alex Jesaulenko Medal
1999 Pre Season Premiership

36. Simon Goodwin
(Adelaide)
275 games
162 goals
2x Premiership
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x Phil Walsh Medal
2007 AFLCA Player of the Year
2006 Michael Tuck Medal

35. Nigel Lappin
(Brisbane)
279 games
174 goals
3x Premiership
4x All-Australian
1x B&F

34. Matthew Scarlett
(Geelong)
284 Games
3x Premiership
6x All-Australian
1x B&F
2x Pre Season Premiership

33. Corey Enright
(Geelong)
332 games
3x Premiership
6x All-Australian
2x B&F
2x Pre Season Premiership

32. Paul Chapman
(Geelong, Essendon)
280 games
336 goals
3x Premiership
2x All-Australian
1x B&F
2009 Norm Smith Medal

31. Steve Johnson *
(Geelong, Greater Western Sydney)
287 games
508 goals
3x Premiership
3x All-Australian
2007 Norm Smith Medal
2x Geelong leading goalkicker
2x Pre Season Premiership

30. Patrick Dangerfield *
(Adelaide, Geelong)
194 games
219 goals
2016 Brownlow Medal
2016 Leigh Matthews Trophy
4x All-Australian
2x B&F

29. Scott Pendlebury *
(Collingwood)
252 games
157 goals
2010 Premiership
2010 Norm Smith Medal
5x All-Australian
5x B&F
2x ANZAC Day Medal
2013 AFLCA Player of the Year

28. Dane Swan
(Collingwood)
258 games
211 goals
2010 Premiership
2011 Brownlow Medal
2010 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x ANZAC Day Medal
2010 AFLCA Player of the Year
2003 VFL Premiership

27. Jason Akermanis
(Brisbane, Western Bulldogs)
325 games
421 goals
3x Premiership
2001 Brownlow Medal
2x B&F
2004 Brisbane leading goalkicker
2009 Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker

26. Brad Johnson
(Western Bulldogs)
364 games
558 goals
6x All-Australian
3x B&F
3x Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker

25. Dean Cox
(West Coast)
290 games
169 goals
2006 Premiership
6x All-Australian
1x B&F
2006 West Coast Best Clubman Award
2000 WAFL Premiership
2000 Simpson Medal

24. Barry Hall
(St. Kilda, Sydney, Western Bulldogs)
289 games
746 goals
2005 Premiership
4x All-Australian
1x B&F
2x St. Kilda leading goalkicker
7x Sydney leading goalkicker
2x Western Bulldogs leading goalkicker
2010 Michael Tuck Medal

23. Matthew Richardson
(Richmond)
282 games
800 goals
3x All-Australian
1x B&F
13x Richmond leading goalkicker
Most goals kicked at MCG

22. Jimmy Bartel
(Geelong)
305 games
202 goals
3x Premiership
2007 Brownlow Medal
2011 Norm Smith Medal
2x All-Australian
2x Pre Season Premiership

21. Brent Harvey
(North Melbourne)
432 games
518 goals
1999 Premiership
4x All-Australian
5x B&F
1999 E.J. Whitten Medal
AFL Games record holder

20. Lenny Hayes
(St. Kilda)
297 games
95 goals
2010 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
3x B&F
2014 Madden Medal
2x Pre Season Premiership

19. Warren Tredrea
(Port Adelaide)
264 games
559 goals
2004 Premiership
4x All-Australian
4x B&F
1x Phil Walsh Medal
8x Port Adelaide leading goalkicker
2004 AFLCA Player of the Year

18. Matthew Lloyd
(Essendon)
270 games
926 goals
2000 Premiership
3x Coleman Medal
5x All-Australian
2007 Goal of the Year
2008 Mark of the Year
12x Essendon leading goalkicker

17. Jonathan Brown
(Brisbane)
256 games
594 goals
3x Premiership
2007 Coleman Medal
2x All-Australian (1x Vice-Captain)
3x B&F
5x Robert Rose Award
2013 Marcus Ashcroft Medal
2x AFLPA Best Captain Award
2002 Mark of the Year

16. Joel Selwood *
(Geelong)
243 games
144 goals
3x Premiership
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2007 Rising Star Award
2007 AFLPA Best First Year Player Award
2008 AFLCA Best Young Player Award
4x Robert Rose Award
2009 Michael Tuck Medal
1x Pre Season Premiership

15. Luke Hodge *
(Hawthorn)
301 games
193 goals
4x Premiership
2008 Norm Smith Medal
2014 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
2x B&F
2014 AFLPA Best Captain Award
2013 Hawthorn Best Clubman Award

14. Nick Riewoldt *
(St. Kilda)
332 games
713 goals
2004 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian
6x B&F
2002 Rising Star Award
4x St. Kilda leading goalkicker
2x Pre Season Premiership

13. Matthew Pavlich
(Fremantle)
353 games
700 goals
6x All-Australian
6x B&F
3x Geoff Christian Medal
3x Ross Glendinning Medal
8x Fremantle leading goalkicker
2016 Madden Medal

12. Ben Cousins
(West Coast, Richmond)
270 games
217 goals
2006 Premiership
2005 Brownlow Medal
2005 Leigh Matthews Trophy
6x All-Australian
4x B&F
1996 Rising Star
2001 Geoff Christian Medal
1999 Goal of the Year

11. Andrew McLeod
(Adelaide)
340 games
275 goals
2x Premiership
1997 Norm Smith Medal
1998 Norm Smith Medal
2001 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian (1x Captain)
3x B&F
2007 Phil Walsh Medal
2003 Pre Season Premiership
2003 Michael Tuck Medal
Indigenous Team of the Century
1x NEAFL Premiership

10. Simon Black
(Brisbane)
322 games
171 goals
3x Premiership
2002 Brownlow Medal
2003 Norm Smith Medal
3x All-Australian
3x B&F
2011 Marcus Ashcroft Medal

9. Sam Mitchell *
(Hawthorn, West Coast)
322 games
68 goals
4x Premiership
2012 Brownlow Medal
3x All-Australian
5x B&F
2002 J.J. Liston Trophy
2003 Rising Star Award

8. Nathan Buckley
(Collingwood)
280 games
284 goals
2003 Brownlow Medal
2002 Norm Smith Medal
7x All-Australian
6x B&F
2003 AFLCA Player of the Year
1992 Magarey Medal
1992 Jack Oatey Medal
1997 Alex Jesaulenko Medal
1992 SANFL Premiership

7. Mark Ricciuto
(Adelaide)
312 games
292 goals
1998 Premiership
2003 Brownlow Medal
8x All-Australian (2x Captain)
3x B&F
2x AFLPA Best Captain Award
3x Phil Walsh Medal
2006 Adelaide leading goalkicker

6. Adam Goodes
(Sydney)
372 games
464 goals
2x Premiership
2003 Brownlow Medal
2006 Brownlow Medal
4x All-Australian
3x B&F
1999 Rising Star Award
3x Sydney leading goalkicker
Indigenous Team of the Century

5. James Hird
(Essendon)
253 games
343 goals
2x Premiership
1996 Brownlow Medal
2000 Norm Smith Medal
5x All-Australian
5x B&F
3x ANZAC Day Medal
2x Essendon leading goalkicker
3x Pre Season Premiership

4. Michael Voss
(Brisbane)
289 games
245 goals
3x Premiership
1996 Brownlow Medal
2002 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2003 Leigh Matthews Trophy
5x All-Australian
3x B&F
2x Brisbane Club Champion
4x AFLPA Best Captain Award
2001 Robert Rose Award

3. Lance Franklin *
(Hawthorn, Sydney)
264 games
837 goals
2x Premiership
3x Coleman Medal
6x All-Australian
1x B&F
6x Hawthorn leading goalkicker
3x Sydney leading goalkicker

2. Chris Judd
(West Coast, Carlton)
279 games
228 goals
2006 Premiership
2004 Brownlow Medal
2010 Brownlow Medal
2005 Norm Smith Medal
2006 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2011 Leigh Matthews Trophy
6x All-Australian
5x B&F
2002 AFLPA Best First Year Player
3x Ross Glendinning Medal
2006 Geoff Christian Medal
2005 Goal of the Year
2015 Madden Medal

1. Gary Ablett Jnr.
(Geelong, Gold Coast)
301 games
386 goals
2x Premiership
2009 Brownlow Medal
2013 Brownlow Medal
2007 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2008 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2009 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2012 Leigh Matthews Trophy
2013 Leigh Matthews Trophy
8x All-Australian
5x B&F
1x Geelong leading goalkicker
2x Gold Coast leading goalkicker
2x Marcus Ashcroft medal




There it is! controversial number 1 I know ...

anyway there's my list and a considerable amount of time wasted putting it together. If you feel the need to comment on it please do, would love feedback.

pretty good but Mitchell & Hodge for starters have been better post 2000 than a few ie, Buckley on the list !!

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Pendlebury should be much higher, higher than Selwood.

agree I dislike the Magpies more than Cats but Pendelbury is much better than Selwood and does not cheat !!

 

[wizzard400]

I can see that there are some objections. I'm planning on doing a revision at some point (when I can be arsed), and everyones opinions regarding the players careers pre-2000 will be taken into account.

 

[stew23]

Overall a very good list. Always hard when you have a cut-off date, but I think when you're listing players (eg. Robert Harvey) it's more logical to have their entire careers taken into account. Otherwise don't list them at all and explain that they're ineligible.

 

[Procrastinator35]

Shaun Burgoyne should be in there.

 

[Saintsone]

Goodes shared the AFLCA award in 2006 with Simon Goodwin. Other winners in recent years include Marc Murphy, Trent Cotchin, Robbie Gray, Scott Pendlebury and Dan Hannebery. The Coaches Award is hardly a definitive measure of the best player in the game. It's really more of an indication about which teams rely on one or two midfielders vs. which teams share the load, or have a bevy of stars around the ground.

I said Goodes would've given the top six a nudge in 2006, his best individual season. But I think it's debatable and not as conclusive as you make out. I doubt I'd have him in my top 10 for any other season. (FWIW, the best players of 2006: Judd, Kerr, B.Johnson, N.Riewoldt, Pavlich, West, Goodes, Hall, Fevola, Goodwin, Burgoyne, Lade, Cox, S.Black, Mitchell, Hodge, Chapman, Cousins, Didak, B.Harvey, McLeod)

In terms of sustained brilliance over a career, I think it's odd that people on Big Footy have always downgraded Brad Johnson and Brent Harvey. Both of them were better footballers than Goodes. All three were enduring champions. Longevity and durability certainly counts in my book.

Goodes was a phenomenal athlete and a v.good footballer, capable of destroying anyone when he was hot - I'd rate him as a champion of the game, a modern day Michael Tuck - a uniquely eye-catching flashy 6'4" ruck rover - but I think there were better champions from a pure footballing sense and what they delivered for 120 minutes of every game.

20 disposals, 3 tackles and 1 goal per game are good, but not great numbers from an attacking midfielder who played mostly on the short SCG. Agreed, he didn't need a lot of touches to influence a game, but I also think the influence of his touches was always overstated.

It's not all about stats and who gets the most kicks etc. as a neutral,I reckon Goodes influenc d as many games as most in the top,ten.

 

[Donakebab]

Top 10

1. Franklin
2. Ablett Jnr
3. Judd
4. Hodge
5. Scarlett
6. Voss
7. S.Mitchell
8. N.Riewoldt
9. Bartel
10. Black

Agree with others Buckley , Lloyd etc had a large part of their careers pre-2000

Voss played more of his career games pre-2000 than Buckley or Lloyd.

 

[The Blue Baggers]

Voss played more of his career games pre-2000 than Buckley or Lloyd.

Voss was better , triple premiership captain this century.

BOG in the 2002 GF even though he did not win NSM !!