"Champions" of the Modern AFL Era 2000-2014

[hawkstarcards15]

Glad this thread is coming up with great discussion and debate

 

[Matt26]

From a Swans perspective, hard to go past Goodes. Brownlows, Premierships 350+ games.....surely in the upper echelon of modern day players.

I'd say next year is his last year and it would be a fairy tale ending if he was to get another premiership!

 

[Jesse Dart]

Totally agree @Matt26 wood be great for Goodes to go out on a high. What about Kirk, I enjoy him as a player but I want to here other people's opinions.

 

[Tigers86]

Totally agree @Matt26 wood be great for Goodes to go out on a high. What about Kirk, I enjoy him as a player but I want to here other people's opinions.

Didn't Brett Kirk, former Swans B&F, retire in 2010 and make that documentary about AFL Around The World? And if no, which Kirk?

 

[Jesse Dart]

Didn't Brett Kirk, former Swans B&F, retire in 2010 and make that documentary about AFL Around The World? And if no, which Kirk?

Yes that is the Kirk.

 

[Tigers86]

He isn't playing anymore.

 

[Jesse Dart]

It says champions of the modern era 2000-2014. Kirk played in that time period as you yourself stated.

 

[Tigers86]

It says champions of the modern era 2000-2014. Kirk played in that time period as you yourself stated.

Oh yea.

 

[Jesse Dart]

 

[SWANS]

Totally agree @Matt26 wood be great for Goodes to go out on a high. What about Kirk, I enjoy him as a player but I want to here other people's opinions.

Kirk was amazing to watch back in the day. The way he went in hard for the ball and those tackles he'd make.
And since we're listing stats @Tigers86 , Kirk won the Swans Best and Fairest in 2005 & 2007, All-Australian 2004, Premiership Player 2005, Sydney Captain 2006 – 2010, League's Most Courageous Player Award in 2006, AFLPA Best Captain Award 2010, as well as holding the Swans record for the most consecutive AFL matches and has the fourth most tackles made by any AFL player.

 

[Tigers86]

Kirk was amazing to watch back in the day. The way he went in hard for the ball and those tackles he'd make.
And since we're listing stats @Tigers86 , Kirk won the Swans Best and Fairest in 2005 & 2007, All-Australian 2004, Premiership Player 2005, Sydney Captain 2006 – 2010, League's Most Courageous Player Award in 2006, AFLPA Best Captain Award 2010, as well as holding the Swans record for the most consecutive AFL matches and has the fourth most tackles made by any AFL player.

Yes, those are stats!

 

[jefferson]

Gary Ablett Jnr.

 

[Lazlow]

Yeah hard to go past Chris Judd

2× Brownlow Medal (2004, 2010)
West Coast premiership 2006
2× Leigh Matthews Trophy 2006, 2011
6× All-Australian team 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011
2× West Coast Best and Fairest 2004, 2006
3× Carlton Best and Fairest 2008, 2009, 2010
Norm Smith Medal 2005
Geoff Christian Medal 2006
AFLPA Best First Year Player Award 2002
AFL Rising Star nominee
3× Ross Glendinning Medal 2005, 2005, 2006
West Coast captain 2006–2007
Carlton captain 2008–2012

 

[footyfan13]

One for the Teamcoach fan: Simon Black. (2000-2013 perfect attendance, Midfielder for the Brisbane Lions. Very consistent. Just look at his career develop.)

Also, totally not being biased by the fact he is my only natural pull in a loose packet in 2007. He is a modern day champion by his own merit:





322 games

171 goals

One Club Player for the Brisbane Lions between 1998–2013 (And is a local to boot)

Part of the 1997 Superdraft

Brisbane Lions premiership squad: 2001, 2002, 2003

Brownlow Medal: 2002

Runner Up Brownlow Medal: 2007, 2008

Norm Smith Medal: 2003

All-Australian Team: 2001, 2002, 2004

Merrett-Murray Medal (B&Fs): 2001, 2002, 2006 (Lots of Top 5s as well, even in his twilight)

Brisbane Lions captain: 2007–2008




Funny thing is, he could've still played on and still be one of their best. Very underrated player (and the only one I liked out of that Brisbane midfield). He and Goodesy are birds of a feather. They've had very similar careers. Don't know how you can rate one without rating the other.

 

[Scotty_WCE]

I'd have to say, and I hope non-Eagles supporters would agree with me, Dean Cox. I'll put some stats up tomorrow but he is the prototype modern day ruckman. I'm sure when he retired you all heard the tributes, so I don't need to repeat them here, but he definitely deserves to be remembered as a Champion.

 

[Matty76]

Experienced judges talk about Coxy in the same breath as the likes of Polly Farmer and Simon Madden - that'll do me for a recommendation

 

[BLOWN8]

There are just so many players that in 10-15 years time could be elevated to official AFL legend status. I think Hodge, Judd, Black, Voss, Franklin etc could all fit that Legend mould with easy, but the one player that will be made a legend as soon as he is eligible is Gazza Ablett, the guys a freak. Best thing is because we all watch our own team more than any others we will all have different opinions about who is a champion, and a lot of us tend to be pretty bias on the subject. I think as AFL fans we have been pretty blessed with some true champs of the game since 2000. Wish I could be around in 2096 when the next team of the century will be announced, gonna be an awesome team.

 

[Aiden225]

Mark Riccutoo.

Has to be the greatest player to play at adelaide.

Lenny Hayes is one that springs to my mind also.