BA1 1UA. Thats why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert Harvey arent on the list. No player has polled more Brownlow Medal votes. But from that effervescent starlet grew a dependable leader: Spain's reliable backbone through three consecutive international trophies. Ferdinand was a ball-playing defender of the European school, rather than the bruising centre-halves more associated with the English school of thought. Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. Rahul Dravid (Ind) Key numbers (from Jan 1, 2000): 130 matches, 10,590 runs at 52.95 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26. 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. It just seemed he wasnt as dynamic at Carlton compared to his West Coast days, while his ability to hit the scoreboard declined. Every now and then, you get caught on YouTube watching freakish Judd highlights from the mid-2000s. 10 greatest AFL players of all time - Betting Site (Weve also collated a 12-man list of snubbed players, which you can check out here.). A 58-year drought is on track to be broken, according to those close to the club. AFL 2023: Melbourne Demons season preview, pre-season, analysis 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. That's 22.5% of the greatest sluggers of this century, even with testing in place for 17 of the 21 seasons. The four-time All-Australian would flex his versatility when called upon, in midfield, ruck or forward. He had an incredible blend of physical power, velvet touch and positional intelligence: the Gunners yearned for him for a decade after he departed. Hes a player you just wanted to play for. 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. Makeleles deep-midfield role helped both provide defensive cover for and unlock the attacking talents of his team-mates further up the field. Its hard to make a case against Barlows game as the best AFL debut since the start of the century and he didnt slow up recording 34 disposals the very next week against Essendon. Then again, Buddy is no ordinary player or footy figure. 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? Indigenous Sport Month: AFL greats name best team since 2000 - Heraldsun Best 20 AFL players of past 20 years list, Top 20 of 20: Rankings 10 to Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. Here are the 25 of the greatest players to ever play the great Australian game ranked from one to 25: 1. After three previous top-five finishes, he finally broke through to claim a maiden Brownlow Medal. He won Serie A, a Coppa Italia and the Champions League itself as part of one the most iconic Milan sides in history, and earned himself the Ballon dOr in 2004. 1 pick Sam Walsh with the Blues confirming he's a certain starter against Richmond. Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. King Kun arrived in the Premier League with promise: he left a hero. THE NUMBERS: 30 disposals, 7 clearances, 1 goal Trent Cotchin captained Richmond to nearly 200 games and in that time they won two thirds of those games, 130 of those 200 they won. 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. Become a member to join in Australia's biggest sporting debate, submit articles, receive updates straight to your inbox and keep up with your favourite teams and authors. The Collingwood great will go down in history as one of the clubs greatest onballers. Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City the same month as the Abu Dhabi United Group. 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. Haselby himself could hold his head high though with the former No. Regarded as one of the best big-game players in the game's history, Martin has his eye on more team and individual honours with the Tigers premiership window still wide open. 1 and No. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Bombers midfielder Jye Caldwell sent for scans, club hopeful of Round St Kilda wingman Dan McKenzie to miss start of 2023 season. Griezmann won the Golden Boot and player of the tournament at Euro 2016 as France reached the final, only to succumb to Portugal, but he made amends two years later by leading Les Bleus to their first World Cup victory in 20 years, winning man of the match in the final victory over Croatia. That's why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert . There were seasons in which Didier Drogba didn't live up to his humongous hype but that big game record alone is reason to see him as one of the greatest African players of all time. I dont want to put any pressure on the kids shoulders, but his debut is one of great anticipation, with some dubbing him a Brownlow chance (keep a lid on it) before the season has even begun. Official AFL Website of the Carlton Football Club Oops! Judd . Team of the Century | Collingwood Forever After being named as a co-captain in 1997 at 21 years of age, Voss lead the Lions to three successive premierships between 2001 and 2003. The long-legged Ivorian mastered the role of the box-to-box midfielder, capable of causing damage in the final third and winning the ball while protecting his defence. Stay tuned, and check out the other runners and riders. [1] Players and/or at least one of the player's parents or grandparents had to have been born in Italy. Falling just short of the best player of the century, Franklin deserves a podium finish for his astounding career-to-date. He was the Adelaide captain between 2001-2007, he won the AFLPAs best captain in 2005 and 2006. Luke Hodge is as hard as they come, as much of a leader you want to play for out of anyone and I found it hard not to put him at no.1. Top-12 quarterbacks in Ohio State history - Bucknuts Ablett 2. Horrie Clover - 1920-1924 & 1926-1931 Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. Wherever El Tigre has gone, goals have followed. Ahead of the 2020 Draft, ESPN decided to look back at the last 20 No. Greatest XI of the 21st century - Sportskeeda THE NUMBERS: 33disposals, 6 marks, 4 tackles, 4 clearances, 2 goals The Melbourne Team of the Century was selected in June 2000, by a panel that included Mike Sheahan, Percy Beames, Bill Guest, Lynda Carroll, Greg Hobbs, John Mitchell, Linda Pearce, Dudley Phillips and Steven Phillips. 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. Novak Djokovic (tennis) 18. 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. Another Champions League crown and the La Liga title came at Real Madrid, followed by three consecutive Bundesliga triumphs at Bayern Munich. Debate about the best players of the 21st Century goes . More importantly, three premierships, and I think he changed the way he was as a leader. He kicked 113.88 which included nine bags of six goals or more in a stunning solo campaign. For the best odds on the game sign up with Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. 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. I dont necessarily know a lot of these guys in terms of how they lead inside the four walls because I wasnt with them, so Ive gone off the way they act on the field.. At the very start of the 21st Century, Luis Figo committed the most controversial transfer that football had ever seen. Van Dijks 75m move to Liverpool from Southampton in January 2018 has often been pointed to as the moment Jurgen Klopp added the final piece to his Reds jigsaw, and you can see why. 20-16: Two Crows but which Hawks icon missed the cut? Personally, the late, long-range snap goal from a stoppage in the 2007 preliminary final against Collingwood stands out. Whilst most teams boast a clutch of these youngest players, the teams from lower down the ladder who have put their faith in rebuilding over time have the most. 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. The Best AFL Moments Of All Time - YouTube And there have been moments. There were devastating patches of brilliance. I thought it was timely to pick a team of future champions who over the next decade will become the face of the AFL. Ablett in full flight in the trademark words of Fox Footy caller Dwayne Russell is as good as it gets. Dean Polo is one such player. 12 - Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) Games: 181+. You could be forgiven for not remembering Martin McGrath. A Brief Summary Of Remember The Titans ' | ipl.org Here is our top 15 players of the century. Picture: Annette Dew, There are few better sights in footy than Lance Franklin in full flight. At the age of 36, McCulloch scored 17 goals in the 2013-14 season to bring Rangers back into the Scottish Premiership. Greatest player of the 21st Century (so far)" thread, where we could all share some of our favourite stories of the great man. This devalues names like Robert Harvey, Scott West and Stephen Silvagni. Posted below are The Independent's 100 best players of the 21st century. Pendlebury Good top 5. . Channel 7 AFL commentators Luke Hodge and Shaun Burgoyne are also Hawthorn icons and teammates of Mitchell. Italian Team of the Century - Wikipedia AFL: The home of Australian rules football on Reddit, including the Australian Football San Iker still holds the clean sheet record in the Champions League and racked up over 1,000 professional matches in a two-decade career. The wingers scorching pace, mind-bending trickery and ability to win games single-handedly make him a joy to watch, and a future Ballon dOr seems all-but inevitable already. Get the best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. You will receive a verification email shortly. Abletts rise to superstardom genuinely kickstarted in 2007 and mirrored Geelongs rapid rise. 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. The Hawks will take a lot of encouragement out of their practice match against Collingwood in Tasmania on Thursday, losing to last years preliminary finalists by just one goal. Australia's #1 independent AFL news source, Eddie McGuire tips Collingwood-Richmond blockbuster to reopen season, Jordan Lewis reveals he nearly went to Carlton after Hawks departure, Richmond confirm Jack Ross sidelined with injury, Forward or back? It had become too high in velocity, too intense. 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. 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. Franklin 3. Martin's 2017 season is arguably the most dominant by any midfielder of the past decade, winning almost every honour possible and stamping his authority as the competitions best. Along with Hodge and Burgoyne, Richmond legend Matthew Richardson, AFLW trailblazer Daisy Pearce, former Geelong captain Cameron Ling, and 7NEWS football reporter Ryan Daniels also believe that the Hawks are on track to break a 58-year wooden-spoon drought. They put him in there because they knew he was a cool head, a calm head and could get the best out of his team and I think he is a massive reason as to why Geelong has had sustained success for such a massive period of time.. Skip to main content. Hawthorn legends turn on former club with serious fears for 2023 One of only four players to win two Norm Smith medals, Hodge was another match winner and showcase player, lighting up the biggest of stages with his professionalism alone. With his technical ability and intelligence, he would still slot into elite teams in the modern game, many years after he left his six-Premier League title-winning career behind him. Champion Geelong ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer was today named as captain of the indigenous team of the century. Enjoy! Top 5 AFL Grand Final Games of the 21st Century The club also lost its much-loved captain and No.1 ruck Ben McEvoy, who decided to hang up the boots, and 255-game veteran Liam Shiels also retired (but then found his way to North Melbourne). There was a problem. 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. Even if you go back to the summer of 1933, when The Sporting News hailed baseball's first official . He was a fast skilful, accurate, hungry and strong onballer for both the Cats and Suns, proving he can lead a team of stars and one with next-to none. Three hundred and ninety-one career goals cant be wrong. Commentators also will have fun with pronouncing or making fun of Mosquito, Tsapatolis, Lukosius, Oea, Bosenavulagi and Uosis. Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. The most experienced millennium at the end of 2020 was Western Bulldogs Bailey Smith, who had played 41 games and starred in his 42nd game in the season opener against Collingwood, followed by Carltons Sam Walsh (39) and Gold Coasts Jack Lukosius (38). New customers only. His time with the Suns proved he could do it with any side, winning a second Brownlow in 2013 and even winning the club's leading goal-kicking tally in 2012 and 2013. Former coach Leigh Matthews said his enduring image of Voss would be of him as a missile attacking the ball. Buckleys 2003 campaign was arguably the finest of his career. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. The 8 Best AFL Debut's of the 21st Century - SportsbyFry AFL 2020: Toughest players, Gladiator 20 years on, top ten footy Luis Gonzalez Matt Kemp Jason Kendall Mike Lowell Hideki Matsui Brandon Phillips Gary Sheffield Grady Sizemore Jason Varitek Vernon Wells Pitchers Bronson Arroyo A.J. Franck Ribery more than lived up to the billing. Hawks great Dermott Brereton, who wore the same No. I think that holds a lot of weight, if your players and your peers vote you as the best captain it shows what they think about you. AFL: This century's best midfielders - North Melbourne Football Club 5. 12 votes, 77 comments. 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. The four selectors picked their separate teams, from which the final team was named. Lionel Messi. 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. THE NUMBERS:27 disposals, 5 clearances, 5 tackles Dennis Comettis call of cometh the moment, cometh the man the son of the man was so apt, as it was a goal when his team needed him most in its most important win of the season. Few have put the fear of God into quite so many defenders. Top 20 AFL players of 21st Century - JetPunk The former Groningen, Celtic and Saints stoppers importance to those achievements didnt go unnoticed, as he won the UEFA Mens Player of the Year award for 2018/19 - the only defender to have done so - and finished as the Ballon dOr runner-up in 2019. Team of the Century - Hawthorn Football Club The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. 25 of the best 'utility players' of the 21st century: Milner, Young 1 pick Sam Walsh with the Blues confirming hes a certain starter against Richmond. Chelsea didnt take long to pounce and it was at Stamford Bridge that the dynamic winger established a reputation as one of the best in the business, scoring 110 goals over seven seasons with the London club and wining a stack of individual awards to go with two Premier League and two Europa League titles. A key component for Real Madrid's early 00s triumphs, the Portuguese was the statesman on home soil in 2004. 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. Today, we're able to reveal the players you considered to be the greatest bassists of the 21st century (so far). 22. Brian Taylor makes outrageous Nick Daicos call for 2023 AFL season, AFL star heartbroken after losing best friend in freak accident, Indore pitch rated poor with excessive and uneven bounce after Aussies win, Shane Warnes children remember cricket legend on first anniversary of his death, UFC champion Valentina Shevchenko reveals unique training camp, Penrith Panthers teammates involved in heated argument after shock loss, Knights star fuming after being dragged from the field: Im literally fine, practice match against Collingwood in Tasmania on Thursday. NRL: We pick the best rugby league team of the 21st century - Yahoo! 2 pick recording 30 touches against Geelong way back at the start of the 2000 season. Ive got Scott Pendlebury at 5. Across his 174-game career, Fyfe has won both All-Australian selections and a Doig Medal on three occasions as well as the Leigh Matthews Trophy twice. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Pies recruits sizzle in pre-season clash with Hawthorn. Smith, Kelly, Hird, Fyfe, Mitchell and Bedford may take the AFL trophy this century and Coleman, Young, Carroll and Rowell may be leading goal-kickers and what supporter would not want another Rioli, King, Stephens, Weightman, West, Neale, Walsh, Hamill, Serong, Clark or Evans playing again? 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. Hall of Fame legend Barry Cable and Norm Smith medal winners, Michael Long and Peter Matera, were invited to join Mark Robinson in picking the best team of players. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. He dresses as he played, achieving class in the smart and the casual. Get the best features, fun and footballing frolics straight to your inbox every week. Team of the Century | Western Bulldogs He was probably stiff not to win Buckleys 2002 Norm Smith Medal too. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). A player that worked harder than any other, Adam Goodes rise to stardom is a thing of beauty. AFLW Premier Partners. The club's CEO at the time, John Anderson acted as non-voting chairman of the panel. Europes biggest prize, the Champions League, still eludes De Bruyne and his club-mates, but for how long? And while the no.10 broke through in the 90s, the 21st Century was paved in gold for him. But their passion for their old club has not prevented them from having a very dim view of the season ahead. The most anticipated AFL home-and-away games of the 21st century - The Roar These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire career. Ranking the Top 100 players of the century (5-1) - HoopsHype He captained them to four Grand Finals, three of them were premierships. Tonight, AFL and Carlton fans alike will get their first look at prized No. Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. Our criteria was that players had to have played at least five seasons in the 21st century. 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. Menzel played under Cameron Ling and Joel Selwood at the Cats, while the Swans were led by Josh Kennedy, Dane Rampe and Luke Parker in his time at the club. 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. There was a problem. Burnett Bartolo Colon Dan. 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. Cam Mackenzie was a standout for the Hawks during the practice against Collingwood in Tasmania. LANCE FRANKLIN (HAWTHORN/SYDNEY SWANS), 2000-2020 stats: 300 games, 944 goals, 170 Brownlow votes, averaged 15.5 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Two-time premiership Hawk, eight-time All-Australian (one as captain), one best and fairest, four-time Coleman medallist, 11-time club leading goalkicker. Mt Rushmore of 21st Century | BigFooty Forum The fact he actually improved as a player when he moved north his first four years at the Suns, numerically, were the finest of his career to join an expansion club that was always going to start slowly is a testament to his drive, professionalism and talent. REAL MADRID Is Toni Kroos one of the best midfielders of the 21st century? 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. The 15 best AFL players of the century in EVERY position Please refresh the page and try again. 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. During Collingwoods stint at the bottom of the ladder in the late 1990s, Buckley was a rare shining light. The Western Bulldogs Official App is your one stop shop for all your latest team News, Videos, Player Profiles, Scores and Stats delivered LIVE to your smartphone or tablet! Chris Judd - Greatest player of the 21st Century (so far) Dean Polo is one such player. Players whose careers began prior to the year 2000 . Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Salah: The top 100 players of the 21st century ranked Football Football Messi, Ronaldo, Mbappe, Salah: The top 100 players of the 21st century ranked By. 38 Hawthorn jumper for all the trivia buffs playing along at home the Buddy nickname stuck. The midfielder is quiet, understated and perhaps the ultimate German footballer. Healy's "certainty" for the AFL player of the 21st century Western Bulldogs acknowledge that we reside on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. 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. My Top 5 players drafted since 2000. Since then, the Swans have made two Grand Finals but havent won a flag. His ability to dominate within the middle of the ground as well as lead as a key target in the Bombers forward line gave Hird the label as one of the best utility players to stop foot on a footy field. Its remarkable to reflect on what Mbappe has already achieved in his short career so far - and consider what might still be to come. Create. He's still the only player to score in four FA Cup finals and he practically won Chelsea their first Champions League on his todd. Franklins sensational switch to Sydney, after two flags with the Hawks, was bold on many fronts. 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. Michael Voss The star of the Lions three-peat dynasty, Voss would add to his already stellar career with record breaking season after season following the conclusion of the 20th century. His heroics earned McGrath a game in the next three rounds, where he combined to record just 19 possessions and one goal. Throughout of the rest of the noughties, he simply oozed more of the class he'd displayed in the 90s. You must provide an email address to create a Roar account, When using Facebook to create or log in to an account, you need to grant The Roar permission to see your email address, By joining The Roar you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.