Western Bulldogs acknowledge that we reside on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation. The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 100-81 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 80-61 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 60-41 The 100 best players of the 21st Century: 40-26 The . Mine are Gary Ablett Junior Buddy Juddy Dusty Unlucky Hodge Selwood 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. In their predictions for the 2023 season, both Hodge and Burgoyne believe Hawthorn will finish rock bottom. Ive got Scott Pendlebury at 5. It just seemed he wasnt as dynamic at Carlton compared to his West Coast days, while his ability to hit the scoreboard declined. 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. Powerful yet graceful, explosive yet incredibly footy smart, Buckley at his best was the perfect midfielder. GAJ 2. Espaol. 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. Hes Buddy brilliant. The technically gifted winger is often less lauded than some of his illustrious team-mates for club and country, but hes been a consistent source of goals and assists throughout his career. Slow succeeded in a fast environment thanks to the genius flashing behind his eyes. 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. Left-footers like him arent supposed to have a better chance of kicking a goal from the boundary on the wrong side for a left-footer. 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 . Franklin 3. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. James Horncastles reflections on Andrea Pirlo remain unmatched: Many thought the regista was a relic consigned to the past. 1 picks, dating back to 2000, and rank them as players from worst to best. Italiano . But not all former Hawks are in agreement with the doom-and-gloom forecast. Create Account. The two-time Norm Smith medalist has reached unparalleled feats and continues to prove to be a one in a generation-type player. 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. Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. 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. New customers only. 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. Cameron Smith and Billy Slater were a key part of one the greatest NRL teams of the 21st century. And there's no doubt about it. The Chelsea legend established a reputation as one of the Premier Leagues greatest-ever defenders during 19 years at Stamford Bridge. Best Performance: Chanderpaul scored five hundreds against Australia including one remarkable out-of-the-box effort - the fifth-fastest Test ton of all time, from just 69 balls as West Indies chased down a world record 418 in Antigua, 2003. That's why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert . Sam Mitchell talks to the team during the AFL practice match between Hawthorn and Collingwood in Tasmania. Two Crows but which Hawks icon missed the cut? THE star forward of the 21st century, nobody has or will ever match the ability of Buddy Franklin. The double baulk and goal against Port Adelaide in 2007, the running goal from the impossible angle against Brisbane in 2008 and his ridiculous snap from the boundary for the Suns against the Cats in 2013 his first game back at Kardinia Park since moving. 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. Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide/Geelong). 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: The Civil Rights Movement displayed how the African Americans fought against the tremendous alienation that they had faced for centuries. Throughout of the rest of the noughties, he simply oozed more of the class he'd displayed in the 90s. The most anticipated AFL home-and-away games of the 21st century Jackson Mansell Roar Rookie 19th August, 2022 A A A 2 Join the conversation Advertisement Write for The Roar Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia's most prominent sports journalists. Youll never tire of watching them. 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. 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? Players whose careers began prior to the year 2000 . As well all know, Rutten served as a key defensive pillar for the Crows until his retirement in 2014, but with nine goals (including one with his last kick in footy) to his name from 229 games, his first three kicks are something Rutten wont forget anytime soon. You will receive a verification email shortly. THE NUMBERS:28 disposals, 6 marks, 3 goals, 3 Brownlow votes Get everything you need, from team lists, fixtures, statistics and a profile on every single player in the competition in our 2023 AFL Season Guide. Lionel Messi. In the back-end of 2000, he went on a ridiculous six-game streak where he averaged 31.2 disposals and polled Brownlow votes in five of the matches. 15-11: Four Brownlow Medallists and the fifth deserves one, 10-6: Four game-changing freaks and a controversial legend. 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. Round 13 and 14 rising stars Brandon Starcevich (Brisbane Lions) and Giant Jake Riccardi both miss the age barrier by less than six months but all the other rising star winners are in as are North Melbournes Tarryn Thomas, Bailey Scott and Jack Mahony, while Adelaides Chayce Jones and Fischer McAsey join Lachlan Sholl in the squad. Picture: Colleen Petch, Sign up to all of Foxtel Now with a 10-day free trial. 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. 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. FourFourTwo is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. All players have been selected and ranked based on their 21st century performances only, so any seasons prior to 2000 havent been considered. Then again, Buddy is no ordinary player or footy figure. In fact he probably became a wiser and more-rounded player at the Blues. Originally a striker, Roberto Carlos bombing runs, fierce shot and bending free-kicks made him possibly the most entertaining left-back the game has ever seen. The three-time German Footballer of the Year starred in Bayer Leverkusens remarkable runners-up treble of 2001/02, when they finished second in the Champions League, Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal, before losing the World Cup final to Brazil that summer. When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. 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. 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. Your first AFL game is a pretty monumental occasion, but Toby Greenes debut was different from others. Gavin Brown, a 254-game champion of the club, was added in 2002 five years after the league had extended the standard interchange bench . 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. Skip to main content. The towering Dutchman, who combines immense strength with impressive acceleration, was the defensive rock behind Champions League and Premier League victories in his first two full seasons at Anfield. There arent many players that can claim they were the best player on the field in their first AFL game. 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. 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. AFL Naming Rights Partner. 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. 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. 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. Across his stellar two-club career, 'Buddy' has also added four Coleman Medals, two premierships and a best and fairest from his 300-game career. Thats why the likes of Wayne Carey and Robert Harvey arent on the list. AFL: The home of Australian rules football on Reddit, including the Australian Football The 280-game Collingwood star had the archetype like no other. Not only was he playing the first game of his career, but his debut coincided with the first game in GWS Giants history. His 2016 campaign will go down as one of the greatest seasons in recent history, collecting a then-record 35 Brownlow votes, both AFLPA and AFLCA awards and a Carji Greeves medal to cap off a record breaking debut season with Geelong. A player that worked harder than any other, Adam Goodes rise to stardom is a thing of beauty. The Belgian was one of the most imperious centre-backs in Europe at his peak, adored by every manager who worked with him. Philip Rivers (QB) San Diego Chargers and Indianapolis Colts - First year: 2004 - Drafted:. They also had to have played at least one game at . He captained them to four Grand Finals, three of them were premierships. Arsene Wenger once claimed that he only really won the Arsenal players' trust when he arrived in England because they could see he'd brought a top player with him. 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. Hawks great Dermott Brereton, who wore the same No. 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. 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. Arguably the game's greatest ever full-back, Matthew Scarlett's dominance over the league is yet to be reached by any there player since his retirement. Available now! Please refresh the page and try again. Come the turn of the century, his standing in the game grew as he inspired the Magpies to a genuine premiership tilt. 10 greatest AFL players of all time. 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. 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.. Voss played through most of the 90s, but his durability and elite consistency across the first seven years of the 2000s mustnt be forgotten. 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. Horrie Clover - 1920-1924 & 1926-1931 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. 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. Champion Geelong ruckman Graham "Polly" Farmer was today named as captain of the indigenous team of the century. Ablett 2. 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'. 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. Make sure you keep up to date with the latestAFLand AFL Fantasy articles andfollow my fan pages onFacebook,TwitterandInstagramto never miss a minute of the action! 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. Footballers of Franklins size arent supposed to cover the ground as quickly and athletically as he does. He had an incredible blend of physical power, velvet touch and positional intelligence: the Gunners yearned for him for a decade after he departed. 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. Get insight to top players, instructions & drills and extensive coverage of equipment. For the best odds on the game sign up with Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. 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. "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. Few have put the fear of God into quite so many defenders. Michael Barlow looked composed beyond his years against the Crows to start 2010 as he effortlessly chalked up 33 touches, becoming a Freo fan favourite from day one. Years active: 2010 - current. 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). In 2002, he broke both those records again when he moved to Man United for 30m. Please refresh the page and try again. Still, were nit-picking. Buddy 3. Hazard captained Belgium to a third-place finish and won the Silver Ball at the 2018 World Cup, his countrys best-ever finish. 236K subscribers in the AFL community. JESSE HOGAN. 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. Martin boasts two best and fairest honours, three All-Australian selections and 251 goals from his 225 game career. Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury, When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. More importantly, three premierships, and I think he changed the way he was as a leader. Pictures: AFL Photos DOMINANT tap specialist or athletic around-the-ground option? Lots of goals. The 8 Best AFL Debut's of the 21st Century TONIGHT AFL and Carlton fans alike will get their first look at prized No. 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. These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire career. HIGHLIGHTS Watch the best of Team of the 21st Century back pocket, Dylan Grimes AFL career averages Kicks: 6.2 Handballs: 5.3 Disposals: 11.5 Marks: 3.8 Rebound-50s: 1.7 Contested possessions: 4.6 Uncontested possessions: 6.8 Intercepts: 4.2 Score involvements: 1.4 Tackles: 2.5 One-percenters: 4.9 Metres gained: 88.8 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. He was acrobatic, dramatic and exciting to watch. 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. But hes only won the AFLPAs best captain once, which is why I didnt give him the number one spot.. 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. But the doomsayers have come hard this year after the club lost three stars and began a hard rebuild. Adelaide has 16 and the other cellar dweller (North Melbourne) has 14. 1. Alastair Clarkson told a female reporter "your . 100 greatest NFL players of the 21st century Aug 21, 2020 at 11:05 am Expand Autoplay 1 of 100 100. He kicked 113.88 which included nine bags of six goals or more in a stunning solo campaign. 2. He captained Brisbane to the 2001, 2002, 2003 premierships and even in the 2004 Grand Final. Haselbys high possession style of play was a feature of his game throughout his Rising Star award-winning season, and he continued it for 208 games in purple before hanging the boots up in 2010. 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. 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. 1 and No. This was a massive reason as to why they had success and he led them to that success.. 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. The 2023 AFL Season is just around the corner and the Zero Hanger Season Guide is back! Courageous, humble and dedicated. Unfortunate to miss out on a premiership medallion, Riewoldt will forever go down as one of the game's greatest centre-half forwards. Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions) 20. He is electric. 13-min read. Franais. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn) 19. Heres how it works. Hawthorn are bracing for a world of pain in the 2023 AFL season, according to two of their most decorated players. Posted below are The Independent's 100 best players of the 21st century. 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. These players have all played at some point throughout 21st century, however based on their entire . Pendlebury Good top 5. . But Pirlo still found time and he never failed to discover space. Former coach Leigh Matthews said his enduring image of Voss would be of him as a missile attacking the ball. A star midfielder, an unstoppable forward and overall legend for the Bombers. The Cats start kick-off our list as a deserving candidate with a stelar record to his name. Today, we reveal the top five. Over the past few days, foxfooty.com.au has been counting down the Top 20 of the Past 20. 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. Since then, the Swans have made two Grand Finals but havent won a flag. He may well be the Ballon d'Or's greatest miss, too. 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. He dresses as he played, achieving class in the smart and the casual. 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. During Collingwoods stint at the bottom of the ladder in the late 1990s, Buckley was a rare shining light. Records have fallen, horizons have expanded, and fans have been treated to the best basketball yet. The Ivorian was one of the most fearsome strikers ever. 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? 245 games as captain, the most games as captain, the most wins as captain. Pele said if I played with him, I wouldve scored many more goals, Thierry Henry described Scholes as the greatest Premier League player ever, and Xavi called him a role model. The rock within the Lions dynamic and star-studded midfield. No one will ever forget the exhaustion and disappointment of the players as the final siren rang and neither team could claim victory. Without further ado, it is time to unveil the All-21st-Century team through 2019. 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 NUMBERS: 7 disposals, 4 marks, 3 goals When not pulling on the FFT shirt, he can be found at Reuters, The Times and the i. 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. 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. Sachin Tendulkar (cricket) 17. Login. All these players are shoo-ins for the early call of the team of the century as are Sydneys Nick Blakey, James Rowbottom and Justin McInerney. He would win every ball, stride with purpose and could launch rockets from outside of the area. A 58-year drought is on track to be broken, according to those close to the club. It had become too high in velocity, too intense. Comparing different eras in football is a thankless task . Random. Ribery was vital to Bayern Munich's ascension to becoming a superpower once more and at his peak, there have been few wingers as beguiling to watch since 2000. The midfield wizard behind Manchester Citys recent successes, De Bruyne has developed into one of the worlds most complete midfielders under Pep Guardiola. 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. 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. As we are now a fifth of the way through the new millennium and the babies born in the first few years of the 2000s are beginning to make a name for themselves on the players lists at all 18 AFL clubs. The level of talent in this tournament -- especially among the top few teams -- is unprecedented. THERE aren't many players that can claim they were the best player on the field in their first AFL game. There were devastating patches of brilliance. Ahead of the 2020 Draft, ESPN decided to look back at the last 20 No. Share Watch Foxtel in an instant. All rights reserved. Europes biggest prize, the Champions League, still eludes De Bruyne and his club-mates, but for how long? Click here to subscribe on iTunes Buckleys 2003 campaign was arguably the finest of his career. Rahul Dravid (Ind) Key numbers (from Jan 1, 2000): 130 matches, 10,590 runs at 52.95 12 votes, 77 comments. 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. The nicknames he inspired over the course of his playing career, il Maestro and lArchitetto, capture Pirlos appreciation for composition, design and set-pieces.. 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. His move to Carlton raised questions surrounding his ability to perform without a number of stars around him, but his critics were soon silenced. Or why not treat yourself? A complete striker, Aguero put beauty in ball-striking, making an art of finding space around the penalty area. Franck Ribery more than lived up to the billing. Last season the Hawks finished thirteenth (or sixth last) which was, in fact, a slight improvement on their previous seasons. The Collingwood great will go down in history as one of the clubs greatest onballers. A combination of icy cold finishing and red-hot drive through the centre of the pitch made him utterly unstoppable at his best. 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. Gerard Healy thinks Richmond superstar Dustin Martin is already a "certainty" to be named the AFL player of the 21st century. At the very start of the 21st Century, Luis Figo committed the most controversial transfer that football had ever seen. 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. Hes one that if you ran out there beside him, you know what youd get from him every single time.. Cristiano Ronaldo named best player of the 21st century at Globe Soccer Awards | Marca Globe Soccer Awards Beat out Messi, Ronaldinho and Salah Cristiano Ronaldo named best player of the. The club's CEO at the time, John Anderson acted as non-voting chairman of the panel.