best afl players of the 21st century best afl players of the 21st century

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. The 100 greatest players of the 21st century, featuring Lionel Messi and Ronaldo By Kobe Tong Published Oct 18, 2019 The likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Xavi made the top ten Want. Gold Coast have a very impressive 19, four of whom won rising star awards in 2020. 15-11: Four Brownlow Medallists and the fifth deserves one, 10-6: Four game-changing freaks and a controversial legend. Debate about the best players of the 21st Century goes . New customers only. Nedved also captained his country to the final of Euro 2004, where they lost to Greece, and he opted to stay with Juve following their demotion to Serie B in the wake of the Calciopoli match fixing scandal, helping them go straight back up at the first attempt. Since breaking into Bara team at the age of 20, he has never made fewer than 40 appearances a season, he has been the rock on which Messi and co.s cathedral was built throughout the 2010s. Provides a lot of energy. These are guys you want to go out to battle with. Gavin Brown, a 254-game champion of the club, was added in 2002 five years after the league had extended the standard interchange bench . Then again, Buddy is no ordinary player or footy figure. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. Gary Ablett was arguably an even better player at the Suns. Its no coincidence that in his three years at an increasingly galactic Real Madrid, he picked up two La Liga titles and a Champions League, while the club had to wait another four years to lift another domestic title and 11 years to lift a European title once he left for Chelsea. After spending a few seasons on Richmonds list Polo finally broke through for his debut match in the famous Dreamtime at the G clash against the Bombers during the 2006 season. Modern-day forwards like him arent supposed to average 3.5 goals per game across multiple seasons. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. He is PSGs all-time top assist provider, while at Real Madrid his ability to morph into a central midfielder under Carlo Ancelotti helped the club win La Decima - their long-awaited 10th Champions League title. A complete striker, Aguero put beauty in ball-striking, making an art of finding space around the penalty area. AFL: The home of Australian rules football on Reddit, including the Australian Football 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 Civil Rights Movement displayed how the African Americans fought against the tremendous alienation that they had faced for centuries. The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Comment on stories, get exclusive content and submit your own articles! Falling just short of the best player of the century, Franklin deserves a podium finish for his astounding career-to-date. Posted below are The Independent's 100 best players of the 21st century. Pictures: Getty Images Defining the greats of any sporting era is a tough ask - but with the AFL on hiatus for. 1 and No. But Pirlo still found time and he never failed to discover space. The level of talent in this tournament -- especially among the top few teams -- is unprecedented. Oops! The surrounding blur and rush did not disrupt his tempo, nor impair his vision. The 21st century has provided a stage for new evolutions in the game of basketball. The former Brisbane captain played in four grand finals - winning three - while adding two Leigh Matthews Trophies, three Best and Fairests and three All-Australian selections all within his first 119 games of the new century. Cornes might not be a match-winner like some of his 2004 premiership teammates, but he has an unmatched resume for any Port Adelaide player this century. Former coach Leigh Matthews said his enduring image of Voss would be of him as a missile attacking the ball. His move to Carlton raised questions surrounding his ability to perform without a number of stars around him, but his critics were soon silenced. He dresses as he played, achieving class in the smart and the casual. That he's managed to force himself into conversations alongside the great Gerd Muller is testament to what a phenomenon he's become: that he's managed to break records Der Bomber set is scarcely believable. Yet the silverware he craved so much, a Collingwood premiership, eluded him until the end. 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. 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 Belgian was one of the most imperious centre-backs in Europe at his peak, adored by every manager who worked with him. 2010 - Collingwood vs St. Kilda. . He would win every ball, stride with purpose and could launch rockets from outside of the area. NY 10036. 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. Statistically, Black is one of the greatest midfielders to grace the game, leading the all-time count for games, disposals, tackles, inside 50's, clearances,contested possessions and Brownlow votes for the Lions alone. 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. New customers only. And hes a Buddy legend. After three previous top-five finishes, he finally broke through to claim a maiden Brownlow Medal. Horrie Clover - 1920-1924 & 1926-1931 It was the first major honour of his career, but far from the last. The game's all-time leader for marks was the focal point for the Saints for over a decade, claiming five All-Australian selections, six best and fairests and four leading goal-kicker awards across 336 games for St Kilda. Best known for spells at Wigan and Rangers, Scotsman Lee McCulloch is the definition of a utility man, playing defence, midfield and up front. 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: The Ivorian was one of the most fearsome strikers ever. Share Lots of goals. Patrick Vieira was the beating heart of every side he led, winning the Euros with France, a double and unbeaten title with Arsenal and covering more grass than just about any other teammate. Click here to subscribe on iTunes If you havent, do yourself a favour. Sydneys Tom McCartin despite already playing 48 games and scoring 28 goals is ineligible as he was born two days before the calendar ticked over to the year 2000 as is Jordan Butts being born on New Years Eve 1999. Rounding off the top five are Brazilian icon Ronaldinho and Barcelona legend Andres Iniesta. 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. "In his prime; Falcao looked absolutely unstoppable: Chelsea fans still have traumatic memories of his impressive prone-trick in the first half of a 4-1 victory in the UEFA Super Cup for Atleti in 2012, he completed a report that carried some of the best things. Greene hasnt played in the AFL since 2018 but could be a valuable addition for the Hawks, who meet Essendon in round one. A key figure in the side's maiden AFL premiership success, Cornes is the club's only 300-game AFL player, won four best and fairests in seven years and was named in two All-Australian sides. 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. It just seemed he wasnt as dynamic at Carlton compared to his West Coast days, while his ability to hit the scoreboard declined. The top-scoring midfielder in Premier League history only tells a fraction of the story of Frank Lampard who incredibly had to be defended by his uncle Harry from disbelieving West Ham fans as a youngster getting into the first team. But their passion for their old club has not prevented them from having a very dim view of the season ahead. Thank you for signing up to Four Four Two. Perhaps somewhat controversially, Voss has usurped Judd here. He's one of England's finest players ever. Judd won another Brownlow in 2010 having averaged close to 27 disposals, 14-contested touches, 5.25 tackles and 6.50 clearances a game and would end his career after 279 games, winning six All-Australian selections and five Best and Fairests. The high-flying forward who was taken second overall had to wait until Round 5 to make his AFL debut, but he wasted no time playing a pivotal role in the Blues second win of the season. Premier League and Champions League victories have been the reward, while at international level the winger captained Egypt to their first World Cup in 28 years in 2018 and runners-up finishes in two Africa Cup of Nations. Hawthorn have won 11 wooden spoons in their history but the last time they ended up on the bottom of the ladder was in 1965. The Zero Hanger team recently undertook the major project of ranking the 15 AFL best players of the century in every position - defenders, forwards, ruckmen and midfielders. Former AFL forward Daniel Menzel has ranked his top seven AFL captains of the 21st century. Vincent Kompany joined Manchester City the same month as the Abu Dhabi United Group. 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. CHRIS JUDD (WEST COAST EAGLES/CARLTON), 2000-2020 stats: 279 games, 228 goals, 210 Brownlow votes, averaged 22.9 disposals, 2000-2020 CV: Eagles premiership captain, Norm Smith Medallist, two-time Brownlow Medallist, two-time AFLPA MVP, six-time All-All Australian (one as captain), five-time best and fairest. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, Picture: Ian Cugley, Michael Voss led his Lions to three straight premierships. 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. The Bombers all-time leading goal-kicker won his club's goal scoring tally in nine of the opening 10 season to start the decade and would end his career at the end of 2009 after 270 games and 926 goals. Menu . Thats why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert Harvey arent on the list. AFL 2020: Toughest players, Gladiator 20 years on, top ten footy gladiators, Jonathan Brown, Luke Hodge, Joel Selwood HOME AFL Yes, we are entertained: The AFL's top 10 gladiators since 2000 20 years on from the release of Gladiator, we rank the AFL's top ten hard men. 14. 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. 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? Our criteria was that players had to have played at least five seasons in the 21st century. Not only was it the only win he played in, McGrath kicked an unreal five goals from 12 touches in the Tigers triumph against the Western Bulldogs. Both Matthew Richardson and Luke Hodge have serious fears for Hawthorn in the 2023 season. After spending a few seasons on Richmond's list Polo. Plus tips on how to play better and interviews with the biggest names. Watch Foxtel in an instant. Or why not treat yourself? Greatest player of the 21st Century (so far)" thread, where we could all share some of our favourite stories of the great man. Player Sponsorship . 13-min read. Lee McCulloch. 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.. 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. Hes played with some of the best midfielder of any generation Xavi, Iniesta and Yaya Toure, to name a few and while his contributions may be less eye-catching, theres a reason he has spent more than a decade at the heart of Barcelonas midfield. Records have fallen, horizons have expanded, and fans have been treated to the best basketball yet. Hes a player you just wanted to play for. Eight current AFL players, including Andrew McLeod and Adam Goodes, have been included in the league's indigenous team of the century, announced today. Note that players must have played at least five seasons in the 21st century to meet the criteria and their body of work during the century is also key. Few deserved the accolade more. Pic: Getty. Gerard Healy thinks Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is already a "certainty" to be named the AFL player of the 21st century. Many would argue that Cech is the greatest Premier League goalkeeper ever, and there are good reasons why. Welcome. 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. 'Saint Nick' was everything a coach could ask for in a player. Get insight to top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment. Chris Judd was on a different level during the mid-2000s at the West Coast Eagles. August 1, 2005. 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. Please refresh the page and try again. I thought it was timely to pick a team of future champions who over the next decade will become the face of the AFL. 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. Alasdair Mackenzie is a freelance journalist based in Rome, and a FourFourTwo contributor since 2015. For the best odds on the game sign up with Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. 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. The 2023 AFL Season is just around the corner and the Zero Hanger Season Guide is back! He was at the very core of everything that would happen on Eastlands. Lloyd started the 21st century like no other, having two 100+ goal seasons in 2000 and 2001 and added a third Coleman Medal in 2003. 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. (Mackenzie) is a great kid. UNLUCKY DOZEN: The 12 AFL legends brutally snubbed from top-20 list, *Odds are current as of 4th March 2023, 6:03pm AEST. 2. Visit our corporate site (opens in new tab). Goodes is a two-time Brownlow Medalist, two-time premiership player and three time best and fairest with Sydney. 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. Still, were nit-picking. 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. Picture: Annette Dew, There are few better sights in footy than Lance Franklin in full flight. It had become too high in velocity, too intense. AFL Naming Rights Partner. His character and prowess was unmatched within the league, with Goodes ending his career after a club record 372 games in 2015, having spent 17 seasons in the AFL. Port Adelaide, who lead the competition from go to whoa during the home-and-away season last season have managed to blood three quality millenniums who in 2021 should all bring up their half-century of games: Connor Rozee (38 games), Zac Butters (36) and Xavier Duursma (35) while at Collingwood, rising star Isaac Quaynor played 15 games but only three other millenniums played only a handful between them. 2 pick recording 30 touches against Geelong way back at the start of the 2000 season. 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. He starred under the bright lights with his third and final goal of the game putting the Tigers in front with just a few minutes remaining. The following players have been inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame. featured alongside some of Australias most prominent sports journalists. He had an incredible blend of physical power, velvet touch and positional intelligence: the Gunners yearned for him for a decade after he departed. GAJ 2. Iker Casillas burst into the Real Madrid side as a kid, putting in a masterclass as a 19-year-old in a Champions League final. It will be an interesting exercise to look back at these players careers when another decade has passed. If names are anything to go by, we are in for a treat with surnames that whether or not they are in any way related mirror the surnames of former Brownlow Medalists, champion goal scorers and club champions both past and present. 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. His heroics earned McGrath a game in the next three rounds, where he combined to record just 19 possessions and one goal. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. At the time, Bradd Dalziells 32 touches were the most ever recorded in an AFL debut. Aged 24, Mbappe is already a World Cup winner, only the second player to net a hat-trick in the final, a Golden Boot winner as well as being widely considered among the best current players in the world. Reserved. Birthplace: Rosario, Argentina. Sun Sign: Cancer. Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. . In their predictions for the 2023 season, both Hodge and Burgoyne believe Hawthorn will finish rock bottom. (One of the Greatest Football Players of All Time) 1096. A two-time premiership player with Geelong, Ablett had notched up close to 200 games for Geelong before leaving for the Gold Coast, winning a Brownlow Medal, four All-Australian selections, two best and fairests, three AFLCA Player of the Year awards and three Leigh Matthews trophies before 2011. Your first AFL game is a pretty monumental occasion, but Toby Greenes debut was different from others. A subscription makes a thoughtful gift for both family and friends. The outstanding performer for Germany in Brazil in 2014; the steady metronome during Real Madrid's Threepeat. Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. 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: There arent many players that can claim they were the best player on the field in their first AFL game. The 280-game Collingwood star had the archetype like no other. AFL: Best 22 of the Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond dynasties, Mark Robinson | Herald Sun afl tigers - blues - 17/03 Fri 1:40AM cats - magpies - 17/03 Fri 7:45PM kangaroos - Eagles - 17/03 Fri 10:35PM power - lions - 18/03 Sat 1:25AM demons - bulldogs - 18/03 Sat 2:00AM suns - swans - 18/03 Sat 7:10PM giants - crows - 18/03 Sat 9:20PM Dean Polo is one such player. The dual Brownlow medalist has been the star of the Dockers for some time, transforming into the league's best contested possession player of the past decade. Lance Franklins famous match-winning goal against Adelaide in 2007 elimination final. 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. CB, CM, CF. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 19. The argument for Bale falls into three categories: his astonishing rise at Tottenham, his performances in finals for Real Madrid, and his unwavering commitment to Wales. Andrew McLeod (Adelaide) 18. This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. 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. Analysis, local footy and the biggest moments, Seven and 7plus are the home of footy shows for every fan. (We've also collated a 12-man list of snubbed players, which you can check out here.) As for the man himself, he told FFT in 2016 that it all came very naturally to me. 0. 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! 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. He got awarded the AFLPA best captain four times that just shows what his peers thought about him. REAL MADRID Is Toni Kroos one of the best midfielders of the 21st century? 10 greatest AFL players of all time. 245 games as captain, the most games as captain, the most wins as captain. Novak Djokovic (tennis) 18. King Kun arrived in the Premier League with promise: he left a hero. Randomn but heading into the 2023 season I was thinking who would be stop the AFL Mt Rushmore of the 21st Century. And there's no doubt about it. A star midfielder, an unstoppable forward and overall legend for the Bombers. Espaol. Hes one that if you ran out there beside him, you know what youd get from him every single time.. After drawing in the first game, at 68 points each, St. Kilda and Collingwood met again a week later to determine a winner. While. We want to see it. 22. It recognises the role of Italian Australian players in the sport. 20-16: Two Crows but which Hawks icon missed the cut? The Cats start kick-off our list as a deserving candidate with a stelar record to his name. Today, we reveal the top five. Come the turn of the century, his standing in the game grew as he inspired the Magpies to a genuine premiership tilt. LISTEN TO THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE DEBATE DAVID KING, DERMOTT BRERETON AND TOM MORRIS ON WHETHER CUTTING LIST SIZES WILL BE GOOD OR BAD FOR FOOTY, IF YOURE ON A MOBILE, TAP HERE TO LISTEN, 15. Playing Career: 1982, 1984-96 (Haw 1982, Geel 1984-96) Games: 248. New York, The Colombians football odyssey has taken him to seven different countries, with his most successful spells coming at Porto, Atletico Madrid and Monaco.