AFL Records Team of the century 2000-2025

[daysofourlives]

BACKS: Corey Enright (Geelong), Matthew Scarlett (Geelong), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
HALF-BACKS: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide), Alex Rance (Richmond), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn, Brisbane)
CENTRES: Adam Goodes (Sydney), Michael Voss (Brisbane), Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
HALF-FORWARDS: Dustin Martin (Richmond), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn, Sydney), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide, Geelong)
FORWARDS: Eddie Betts (Carlton, Adelaide), Matthew Lloyd (Essendon), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
FOLLOWERS: Max Gawn (Melbourne), Chris Judd (West Coast, Carlton), Gary Ablett (Geelong, Gold Coast)
INTERCHANGE: Joel Selwood (Geelong), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)

The end of the 2024 season also marks the end of the first quarter of the 21st century … 25 years of history that has seen the emergence of some of the game’s all-time great players.

With that in mind, we want to recognise the first quarter of the century, honouring it with a team comprised of the best players of the era.

This has proved an extraordinarily difficult task for several reasons. The No. 1 point of contention has been weighing superstars at the end of their careers in the early 2000s versus those who plied their trade entirely in the last 25 years.

We have set tight parameters to make this as streamlined as possible. We are only looking at what players achieved since 2000.

Stephen Silvagni made the AFL Team of the Century and did play in 2000 and 2001, but on our rules the former Carlton champion full-back can’t make this team given we would only be looking at the last two years of his career, as just an example.

Where this gets tricky is weighing, say, the last seven years of Nathan Buckley’s career versus the entirety of Scott Pendlebury’s. Nathan Fyfe might not have had as many years at the top as Joel Selwood, but how important were his individual achievements and peak?

Ultimately, we decided on three separators: longevity, peak and accolades. All weighted equally, but only factoring in the 21st century.

How long were they at the top of their craft? How highly were they rated at their absolute peak? And what did they achieve individually, and as part of a team, along the way?

From the backline, here is the AFL Record’s Team of the 21st Century after 25 years.

BACKS: Corey Enright (Geelong), Matthew Scarlett (Geelong), Jeremy McGovern (West Coast)
When you think of influential key defenders, Geelong champion Matthew Scarlett comes to mind before most. The father-son selection was the pillar the Cats built a dynasty around in the 2000s.

His partner in crime Corey Enright stands out as the clear star back pocket of the 21st century. Enright also made six All-Australian teams between 2008 and 2016 and won two best and fairests in premiership years.

Jeremy McGovern has been rated by Champion Data as the best key defender since Scarlett. Four consecutive All-Australian teams and a fighting comeback in 2024 after a few years of injuries capped off what has been a decade of dominance in West Coast’s back half.

HALF-BACKS: Andrew McLeod (Adelaide), Alex Rance (Richmond), Luke Hodge (Hawthorn, Brisbane)
How incredible it is that a player can win two Norm Smith Medals in the 1990s and still make the team of the 21st century. Andrew McLeod was just that good.

Arguably the most destructive half-back flanker of the era, McLeod made four All-Australian teams between 2000 and 2007, the last of which he was named captain.

Rance makes it despite lacking the longevity of some, but he clearly sits in Scarlett and McGovern’s bracket as key defenders. The Richmond champion made five consecutive All-Australian teams between 2014 and 2018, before injury ended his career at the peak of his powers.

And then there’s Luke Hodge, whose resume speaks for itself. Four flags (three as captain), two Norm Smith Medals and three All-Australian nods.

In all honesty, this was the easiest line to pick of any in the team. Three all-time greats who defined the pinnacle of the code in different ways.

Who was unlucky to miss out?

Tom Stewart and Dustin Fletcher were strongly considered as challengers for the last spot in the full-back line, but in the end McGovern’s resurgence in 2024 felt like the cherry on top of his 10-year run.

Gavin Wanganeen was also considered, but given his incredible career largely occurred in the 1990s, it made it tough to select him. Darren Glass also absolutely warrants a mention.

CENTRES: Adam Goodes (Sydney), Michael Voss (Brisbane), Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
This line speaks for itself and highlights the depth of talent in the early 2000s.

The period was dominated by incredible midfielders, though quite a few of them were bigger stars in the 1990s, making it difficult to narrow down the list. Ultimately, we settled on this trio.

Adam Goodes was always going to be in the team, but the question was where to place him? He could have been the ruckman, a forward, on-ball, anywhere in the starting 18.

A total of 372 games, two Brownlow Medals, four All-Australian blazers, three best and fairests, three-time Sydney leading goalkicker and two-time premiership player. What more needs to be said?

Michael Voss is the epitome of a leader. Arguably the defining captain of the 2000s, he lifted the premiership cup in 2001, 2002 and 2003, made the All-Australian teams in the same years and picked up two club best and fairests in flag seasons – arguably the highest honour in football.

Does Mark Ricciuto’s career fly under the radar? He was named captain of the All-Australian side in back-to-back years (2004 and 2005), made five of his eight All-Australian teams in the 2000s, captained the Crows from 2001 to 2007 and won the 2003 Brownlow Medal.

FOLLOWERS: Max Gawn (Melbourne), Chris Judd (West Coast, Carlton), Gary Ablett (Geelong, Gold Coast)
No two players were locked into this side quicker than Gary Ablett and Chris Judd and it was clear they would be the followers of the 21st century team.

Does any player in the last 25 years have a better resume than Ablett? Two flags, two Brownlow Medals, five Leigh Matthews Trophies, eight All-Australian blazers, six best and fairests across two clubs and was Gold Coast’s inaugural captain.

If not for untimely injuries, Ablett could have been a three or four-time Brownlow medallist. Winning five AFLPA Player of the Year awards between 2007 and 2013 sums that up.

Judd was maybe the closest player to Ablett’s tier across the late-2000s. He had two separate peaks at two different clubs as well, starring early on at the Eagles with his speed, power and goalkicking. Judd then dominated at Carlton as an inside midfielder, winning a Brownlow Medal with the Blues (2010) to sit alongside the one he won at the Eagles in 2004.

And then there’s Max Gawn in the ruck (and we’ll get to the 50-50 call here in a moment). The Melbourne star has been the defining ruckman of the past decade and had a near monopoly on the All-Australian ruck spot since 2016.

Who was unlucky to miss out?

So, why Gawn over Dean Cox? How do you split two players who are both six-time All-Australians, both known for their ruck prowess and ability to win the footy around the ground, both premiership players and both stars of different eras?

Frankly, there was nothing in it. Gawn’s status as a premiership captain was the one aspect that split the two in the end. It felt like the biggest 50-50 call of the entire team.

As stated, the players who cut across the 1990s and the 2000s were slightly disadvantaged, but Voss and Ricciuto edged out the others because of their achievements in the early years of the century.

Both Voss and Ricciuto had extraordinary careers in the 2000s alone, putting them slightly ahead of champions such as Nathan Buckley and James Hird.

Of the more recent generation, cutting Fyfe might be the decision that caused the most angst. The lack of longevity in the prime of his career ultimately saw us go in a different direction.

Let’s not forget Simon Black, Sam Mitchell, Ben Cousins, Jason Akermanis, Lachie Neale … cutting the midfield down to size was extraordinary difficult.

HALF-FORWARDS: Dustin Martin (Richmond), Lance Franklin (Hawthorn, Sydney), Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide, Geelong)
Patrick Dangerfield has been named on the half-forward flank in five All-Australian teams, so we felt it only fitting we name him here too.

What’s made Dangerfield’s career special is the combination of longevity and ceiling, to go with a long list of individual accolades. Few players have had a better season than ‘Danger’ did in 2017, averaging 30 disposals a game, kicking 45 goals and polling 33 Brownlow Medal votes.

But as good as Danger was in 2017, the player on the other half-forward flank put together a season to remember.

Dustin Martin’s ascent to greatness during Richmond’s era of dominance saw him pip Dangerfield for the 2017 Brownlow Medal and he is the only player to win three Norm Smith Medals.

His peak may have been shorter than some, but few players in the game’s history have ever burned brighter across a five-year run than ‘Dusty’ did between 2016 and 2020.

And then there’s Lance Franklin, the team’s easiest magnet to place. He may be the last player to ever kick 1000 career goals across two incredible careers at Hawthorn and Sydney.

### FORWARDS: Eddie Betts (Carlton, Adelaide), Matthew Lloyd (Essendon), Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)

The quintessential small forward of the era, Eddie Betts achieved remarkable things for both the Blues and Crows. He made three consecutive All-Australian teams, was a club leading goalkicker on six occasions and, naturally, won Goal of the Year four times with his ridiculous ability to score from anywhere.

The key forward positions on this team were tricky. However, Matthew Lloyd was impossible to overlook. He began the century by kicking 100-plus goals in successive seasons and followed it up with 90-plus in 2003 and 2004. He led the Bombers’ goalkicking nine times post 2000, made three All-Australian teams, won three Coleman Medals, captained Essendon and sits eighth all-time for goals kicked.

Nick Riewoldt may not have kicked as many goals as some across the 21st century, but there were absolutely stretches of his career where he felt like the best player in the game, backed up by winning the Leigh Matthews Trophy in 2004.

Riewoldt made five All-Australian teams across 10 years and won St Kilda’s best and fairest on six occasions. He was the No. 1 pick in the 2000 National Draft. It almost feels fitting that he’s made this team.

Who was unlucky to miss out?
Just scroll down the goalkicking table. Tom Hawkins, Jack Riewoldt, Barry Hall, Matthew Richardson, Josh Kennedy, Stephen Milne, Jeremy Cameron … the list goes on.

All would have been warranted a spot in this side on sheer goalkicking output alone, but they also had a big impact on their respective teams.

The toughest player to cut was Brisbane great Jonathan Brown, whose impact on the game felt on par with those we selected.

Cyril Rioli, Steve Johnson and Milne were all considered for the small forward position as well.

INTERCHANGE: Joel Selwood (Geelong), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle), Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs)
If you could have the career of any player of the last 25 years on paper, would you pick anyone other than Joel Selwood? He stepped into one of the great teams of the modern era in 2007, capped it off with a premiership as captain in his final game 15 years later – and his side barely missed the eight at any point in between.

Scott Pendlebury could go down as Collingwood’s greatest ever player and given he is still playing incredible footy at 36, he is every chance to surpass Brent Harvey as the all-time AFL/VFL games record holder.

Matthew Pavlich is another who could have been named in any position on this team. Fremantle’s greatest player, Pavlich won six best and fairests, made six All-Australian teams and captained the Dockers for nearly a decade.

The final spot goes to Marcus Bontempelli who has arguably held the belt as the best player in the game for four or so years now and has six best and fairests and six All-Australian blazers to his name.

He feels like a sure-fire bet to be on this team when it is put together again in another 25 years, given all he has achieved before turning 29.


I reckon they have this pretty spot on.
The only one im dead against even getting close to this team is Betts. Never got a kick against us.
IMO Rioli, Steve J and Paul Chapman are miles in front of him, all done it on the big stage. Bias aside i think id lean towards Rioli, a team that won 4 flags in this time probably needs more than 2 reps. Geelong already well represented.
Would lean to Cox over Gawn too.
Fletcher is much better than McGovern.

[The Dark Knight]

I like this!
Fletcher very stiff not to be in that team I reckon, I'd have instead of Rance, hard to argue with the rest.

[daysofourlives]

I like this!
Fletcher very stiff not to be in that team I reckon, I'd have instead of Rance, hard to argue with the rest.

They havent really gone with a CHB have they, Scarlett, Rance and McGovern all essentially last line.
Not sure who the best "CHB" has been in that time, struggling to come up with one, Chad Cornes was 2 x AA in 04 and 07.
I tend to agree with Fletcher over Rance

[amber_fluid]

Bloody good team.
I’d have Pavlich over Rance.
Buckley over Pendlebury
Rioli over Betts
And 2 time Brownlow medallist Cripps over the Bont(yes I’m being biased here)

[LaughingKookaburra]

Hard to argue with that side. I’d personally have Ben Cousins in over Scott Pendlebury, however that’s subjective to say the least.

[amber_fluid]

Hard to argue with that side. I’d personally have Ben Cousins in over Scott Pendlebury, however that’s subjective to say the least.

It’s easy to forget how good Cousins actually was with all his battles he’s had.

[mighty_tiger_79]

Hard to argue with that side. I’d personally have Ben Cousins in over Scott Pendlebury, however that’s subjective to say the least.

It’s easy to forget how good Cousins actually was with all his battles he’s had.

He was sublime
Always good to watch

[LaughingKookaburra]

Hard to argue with that side. I’d personally have Ben Cousins in over Scott Pendlebury, however that’s subjective to say the least.

It’s easy to forget how good Cousins actually was with all his battles he’s had.

He was sublime
Always good to watch

Absolutely elite. Single handedly cost us a Grand Final appearance in 2006. Goes under the radar when it comes to all time greats because of his drug issues.

[Lightning McQueen]

I hope you copied & pasted that!

[Lightning McQueen]

I’d have to squeeze Fyfe and Stevie J in

[FlyingHigh]

Agree amber about Rioli. Only reason for Betts over Rioli would be length of career.

And Cousins and Fyfe are stiff too.

Lloyd? I'd have Buddy at FF and Brown at CHF.

And is McGovern really all that much better than some other tall defenders in that time?

[Rik E Boy]

How many goals did Lloyd kick this century? I would have had Hawkins or Riewoldt over him. Reckon Simon Black is pretty stiff as well absolute gun that bloke.

regards,

REB

[PatowalongaPirate]

How many goals did Lloyd kick this century? I would have had Hawkins or Riewoldt over him. Reckon Simon Black is pretty stiff as well absolute gun that bloke.

regards,

REB

681 @3.6 per game.

[amber_fluid]

How many goals did Lloyd kick this century? I would have had Hawkins or Riewoldt over him. Reckon Simon Black is pretty stiff as well absolute gun that bloke.

regards,

REB

Forgot about Black.
He’d be nearly first picked in my team(even before Cripps)

[tigerpie]

How many goals did Lloyd kick this century? I would have had Hawkins or Riewoldt over him. Reckon Simon Black is pretty stiff as well absolute gun that bloke.

regards,

REB

Forgot about Black.
He’d be nearly first picked in my team(even before Cripps)

Blacks kicking was laser accurate that's why I'd have him over Cripps.