Fyfe's Brownlow votes polling average is set at an astonishing 1.07 per game, meaning he is one of only two players to ever average getting into the best in every game he plays. Well before Tom Mitchell and Lachie Neale were racking up 40-plus disposals a game for fun, Buckley was the leagues true ball magnet in an era when possessions were harder to accumulate. THE NUMBERS: 32 disposals, 7 marks, 5 tackles A 58-year drought is on track to be broken, according to those close to the club. Horrie Clover - 1920-1924 & 1926-1931 Hawks great Dermott Brereton, who wore the same No. 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: 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. 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. A key component for Real Madrid's early 00s triumphs, the Portuguese was the statesman on home soil in 2004. Player Sponsorship . Franklin 3. Champion Geelong ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer was today named as captain of the indigenous team of the century. But the doomsayers have come hard this year after the club lost three stars and began a hard rebuild. 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. Ablett 2. In typical early 2000s fashion, Paul Haselbys first game of footy came in a Dockers loss. The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. 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. Ferdinand was a ball-playing defender of the European school, rather than the bruising centre-halves more associated with the English school of thought. 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. 2000-2020 stats: 346 games, 437 goals, 266 Brownlow votes, averaged 25.3 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Two-time premiership Cat, two-time Brownlow Medallist, five-time AFLPA MVP, eight-time All-Australian (one as captain), six-time best and fairest, three-time club leading goalkicker. He dresses as he played, achieving class in the smart and the casual. Di Maria has won league titles in Portugal, Spain and France, and finally added an international honour to his cabinet last year by scoring the only goal of the Copa America final against Brazil. But the major honours soon flowed in after he joined Bayern Munich, winning the league and cup double three times, while he claimed the Premier League crown with Chelsea in 2010. When you consider Franklin has kicked 944 goals as a key forward in an era where goals have never been harder to kick, its a truly remarkable feat. Credit: PA Dirk Nowitzki (basketball) 19. Share, or vent, your thoughts on Facebook or tweet us @FOXFOOTY. Source: FOX SPORTS David Zita from Fox Sports @DavidZita1 May 10th, 2020 6:57 pm By Seb Mottram 9 minutes ago Former AFL forward Daniel Menzel has ranked his top seven AFL captains of the 21st century. 10 goals, 10 finals, 10 trophies at club level. The Chelsea legend established a reputation as one of the Premier Leagues greatest-ever defenders during 19 years at Stamford Bridge. For the AFL world will never see players of the talent and calibre of Gary Ablett and Lance Franklin again. This devalues names like Robert Harvey, Scott West and Stephen Silvagni. From the moment he graced an AFL field wearing a No. The following players have been inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame. 14. Deutsch. (Weve also collated a 12-man list of snubbed players, which you can check out here.). Judd 4. 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. Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina. Burnett Bartolo Colon Dan. Greatest player of the 21st Century (so far)" thread, where we could all share some of our favourite stories of the great man. Bath He only won the AFLPAs best captain award once which is surprising, back in 2013. He captained Geelong to the one premiership, played in four but only captained one which is probably what held him back from giving him the number one or two title.. 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. 11. Buckley won a record six Copeland Trophies during his 15 season in the AFL, averaging above touches disposals in every year in the system. 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. The Belgians piles of goals and assists have fired the Citizens to three Premier League titles, five League Cups and the FA Cup, not to mention a bag of individual awards. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. AFLW Premier Partners. The former Magpies captain and now coach won a total of seven All-Australian selections, along with a Brownlow medal and Norm Smith following the turn of the century. Randomn but heading into the 2023 season I was thinking who would be stop the AFL Mt Rushmore of the 21st Century. Then again, Buddy is no ordinary player or footy figure. 1 and No. A player that worked harder than any other, Adam Goodes rise to stardom is a thing of beauty. As for the man himself, he told FFT in 2016 that it all came very naturally to me. 236K subscribers in the AFL community. Youll never tire of watching them. 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. Over the past few days, foxfooty.com.au has been counting down the Top 20 of the Past 20. While. Drew Brees (American football) 21. Debate about the best players of the 21st Century goes . When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. Lots of goals. A leader in defence like few had ever seen in the Premier League, Kompany embraced the club he defined, Mancunian twang and all. 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. Please gamble responsibly. AFL: The home of Australian rules football on Reddit, including the Australian Football Without further ado, it is time to unveil the All-21st-Century team through 2019. Slow succeeded in a fast environment thanks to the genius flashing behind his eyes. Menu . After three previous top-five finishes, he finally broke through to claim a maiden Brownlow Medal. His progression from left-back to to one of Europes most feared forwards at Spurs landed him the PFA Player of the Year, PFA Young Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year in 2012/13 (a feat only matched by Cristiano Ronaldo), as well as an 85m move to Real Madrid. He was irreplaceable when he left, too. Perhaps somewhat controversially, Voss has usurped Judd here. CB, CM, CF. At the very start of the 21st Century, Luis Figo committed the most controversial transfer that football had ever seen. An Italophile since growing up on a diet of Football Italia on Channel 4, he now counts himself among thousands of fans sharing a passion for Ross County and Lazio. Sachin Tendulkar (cricket) 17. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Judd won his first Brownlow at 21-years-old and was soon a premiership star in 2006 with the Eagles, leading the club alongside the likes of Ben Cousins, Daniel Kerr and Dean Cox. He was the Adelaide captain between 2001-2007, he won the AFLPAs best captain in 2005 and 2006. UNLUCKY DOZEN: The 12 AFL legends brutally snubbed from top-20 list, *Odds are current as of 4th March 2023, 6:03pm AEST. 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. Best known for spells at Wigan and Rangers, Scotsman Lee McCulloch is the definition of a utility man, playing defence, midfield and up front. Over the last decade, he has done exactly what was needed for every manager, providing an almost unrivalled passing range, superb positioning and moments of genius in abundance. He would win every ball, stride with purpose and could launch rockets from outside of the area. Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) 18. THE NUMBERS: 33disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 goals Yet the silverware he craved so much, a Collingwood premiership, eluded him until the end. Atletico Madrids flamboyant Frenchman has inspired club and country to success in the last decade. Greene hasnt played in the AFL since 2018 but could be a valuable addition for the Hawks, who meet Essendon in round one. He was acrobatic, dramatic and exciting to watch. 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. Between 2001 and 2003, Voss won two AFLPA MVP awards, two best and fairests, three best captain titles and All-Australian honours on three occasions (including twice as the captain). Hawthorn draftee Cam Mackenzie had an eye-catching performance, picking up 24 disposals, one goal and two assists, while James Worpel returned to his best with a 30-possession game. Individual awards: 2 x Brownlow Medal, 3 x Doig Medallist. Selwood 5. 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. It shouldnt take away from his outstanding Blues stint, which netted him a second Brownlow Medal and three best and fairests. Get insight to top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 80-61, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 100-81, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 25-11, The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 10-1, Roberto Firmino makes stunning choice on Liverpool future: 'It's decided', Liverpool signing Mason Mount from Chelsea could be a LOT more realistic than you realise, Why Sir Alex Ferguson thinks Anfield has the best atmosphere in the country, Father of Manchester United's potential new owner Sheikh Jassim criticises bid for club: 'I dont like this investment', Manchester United target Victor Osimhen openly reveals that a dream Premier League move is his 'ambition'. Franklins sensational switch to Sydney, after two flags with the Hawks, was bold on many fronts. He may not have enjoyed the same level of success in an England shirt, but Terry was at least the only English player to earn a place in the 2006 World Cup team of the tournament. Get the best features, fun and footballing frolics straight to your inbox every week. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide/Geelong). Week by week Scarlett would claim a new scalp from the oppositions best forward, using his high-level footballing IQ and unrivalled consistently to do so. He earned legend status over 11 years at the Bernabeu and remains the foreigner with the most appearances for the club. The greatest player of the last 20 years. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium (opens in new tab) Page 4 of 6: Picture: Colleen Petch, Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. 22. The issue for his opponents, though, was he was anything but buddy-like to them on the field. THE NUMBERS: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals And while the no.10 broke through in the 90s, the 21st Century was paved in gold for him. As we near the last Saturday in September, to help whet your appetite for the big day, here are the 10 Best AFL Grand Final Moments of the 21st Century in chronological order. Picture: Phil Hillyard. 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. 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. Language. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: the greatest Ballon d'Or hoggers, serial winners and cult heroes since the turn of the millennium. He is the very embodiment of the football club. We want to see it. Dean Polo is one such player. This year has been one of especially deep, painful . Please refresh the page and try again. Create your own Fantasy AFL team and compete for daily prizes on Draftstars its free to join so why not check it out? Throughout of the rest of the noughties, he simply oozed more of the class he'd displayed in the 90s. Heres how it works. They also had to have played at least one game at . A combination of icy cold finishing and red-hot drive through the centre of the pitch made him utterly unstoppable at his best. Pictures: Getty Images Defining the greats of any sporting era is a tough ask - but with the AFL on hiatus for. Today, we're able to reveal the players you considered to be the greatest bassists of the 21st century (so far). Share Official Western Bulldogs App. He shows real poise and is able to scan and find targets, Hawthorn assistant coach Chris Newman said. The Manchester United legend ranks among the greatest English midfielders of all time, and has earned praise from illustrious quarters. Comment on stories, get exclusive content and submit your own articles! We select the best ruckman at your club from 2000-onwards By Staff writers on May 1, 2020, 1:00pm Best ruckman of the 21st century (L-R): Brendon Lade, David Hille, Aaron Sandilands, Darren Jolly. BA1 1UA. He won the 2002 World Cup winner with Brazil, earning a place in the All-Star team with his performances, and his 21st-century trophy haul also includes two Champions League and three La Liga titles with Real Madrid. Pictures: AFL Photos DOMINANT tap specialist or athletic around-the-ground option? Available now! Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 'Dusty' brings a level of aggression to the game like nobody before him. 2 was the easiest part of the gig. King Kun arrived in the Premier League with promise: he left a hero. And hes a Buddy legend. Erick W. Rasco/Sports Illustrated. His decision to throw his Norm Smith Medal an award won for his scintillating 32-disposal display during the 2002 Grand Final in his sock immediately after the Magpies loss to Brisbane proved just how highly he valued the ultimate AFL honour. Get the best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. 23 jumper Franklin did, wrote in the Herald Sun during that season that Franklin was drawing people to the football again for the first time since Gary Ablett Sr. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26. Philip Rivers (QB) San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts - First year: 2004 - Drafted:. Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. Sit back and relax, as we take a look at the greatest, the best, the most iconic, the most memorable, the most spectacular and the most sensational . 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. 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. The Hall of Famer was a staple in Geelong's three premierships between 2007 and 2011, with Scarlett adding six All-Australian selections and a Carji Greeves Medal from his 284-game career. The Colombians football odyssey has taken him to seven different countries, with his most successful spells coming at Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco. This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. We offer our respect to the Elders of these traditional . 4. 245 games as captain, the most games as captain, the most wins as captain. GAJ 2. Hazard captained Belgium to a third-place finish and won the Silver Ball at the 2018 World Cup, his countrys best-ever finish. Walker nearly took a Mark of the Year contender on Andrew Embleys shoulders in that game too, highlighting every exciting aspect of his game from the moment he stepped onto the field. Unfortunate to miss out on a premiership medallion, Riewoldt will forever go down as one of the game's greatest centre-half forwards. 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. The versatile forwards creativity and reliable goal return - hes hit double figures in eight of the last nine La Liga seasons for Real Sociedad, Atleti and Barcelona - have helped him earn domestic accolades like La Liga Best Player in 2015/16. But when Brisbane was in the midst of its premiership dynasty, Voss was at the peak of his powers both as a player and, subsequently, as a leader. 1 picks, dating back to 2000, and rank them as players from worst to best. Gold Coast have a very impressive 19, four of whom won rising star awards in 2020. At his peak, Falcao looked utterly unstoppable - Chelsea fans might still have traumatic flashbacks to his stunning first half hat-trick in a 4-1 UEFA Super Cup victory for Atleti in 2012. 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. Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City the same month as the Abu Dhabi United Group. A strong, tough-tackling defender, Terrys leadership was behind five league titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups, a Europa League crown and a Champions League title. The 8 Best AFL Debut's of the 21st Century TONIGHT AFL and Carlton fans alike will get their first look at prized No. 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. Top 20 AFL players of 21st Century. Champions League and La Liga titles with barcelona are also on his honours list, while he captained the Ivory Coast to long-awaited Africa Cup of Nations glory in 2015 after twice finishing as a runner-up. His last 10 minutes of the 2002 Grand Final when he controlled the game, he took it from a 50/50 to getting the Lions the win, probably should have own the Norm Smith as well. The WA-born prospect had to toil to break into the Lions side, but he was rewarded with seven straight games late in the 2008 campaign going on to average over 26 touches in those matches. 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? Courageous, humble and dedicated. He was also a dangerous goalkicker, punctuated by his 36-goal season in 2002 and a seven-goal haul against Adelaide in early 2004. THE NUMBERS:12 disposals, 5 marks, 5 goals The Ivorian was one of the most fearsome strikers ever. With the NRL season shut down and no footy to . His first game against the Eagles who picked up Dalziell a few short years later was something to marvel at though recording more touches than then teammates and greats of the game like Luke Power and Simon Black in his first pro outing. Please refresh the page and try again. This varies slightly from the Last Word On Baseball All-Decade teams list which took the best individual seasons. Former AFL forward Daniel Menzel has ranked his top seven AFL captains of the 21st century. He captained Collingwood in 184 games, he captained them to a Grand Final, he was twice the AFLPAs best captain he is a silky footballer, he got it done. 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. Since that year it has been a freefall down the ladder. Tom Harley led Geelong to the 2007 premiership and the 2009 premiership, they were coming off a premiership drought since 1963, so it was a long time. But from that effervescent starlet grew a dependable leader: Spain's reliable backbone through three consecutive international trophies. Because Judds explosive best during a four-year period at West Coast (2004 to 2007) was better than any players optimum output on this 20-man list. There was a problem. Since then, the Swans have made two Grand Finals but havent won a flag. If you havent, do yourself a favour. AFL Club Essendon Other Teams Coburg Lions, All Boston sides Dec 19, 2022 #352 1. The criteria was a player had to play more than 50 games from 2000 onwards. 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. It recognises the role of Italian Australian players in the sport. 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. In 2000, Rio Ferdinand became the most expensive defender in the world and the most expensive British footballer ever when he moved to Leeds for 18m. The Brownlows, All-Australians, best and fairests and flags flowed, even after he sensationally walked away from the Cats at the end of 2010 to become new club Gold Coasts marquee player. Where Robben was direct, obvious, powerful and bold, Ribery was deft, thoughtful and capable of the unexpected. 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