The lead-up to Dustin Martin’s 300th game has begged the question: where does he sit in the pantheon of modern AFL greats? Below are my top ten players that have debuted from 2000 and beyond. Each one had or has something special that defines them, and none can be argued with as a champion of the game. 1.
Gary Ablett Jr (Geelong / Gold Coast) Games: 357 (Geel 247, GC 110) Goals: 445 (Geel 321, GC 124) It can be easy to forget just how far ahead of the pack “The Little Master” was as the best player in the game during his peak years from 2007 until 2014, when his season was ruined with an injured shoulder in Round 16. The fact that some of his dominance happened off-Broadway due to joining the Gold Coast for its inception will always be something of a shame. He was the first one picked in eight consecutive All-Australian teams through the middle stages of his career, combining surety of ball-handling, impeccable balance and supreme skills, matched by the ability to get mountains of disposals and kick multiple goals whether playing for the best team in the league or the worst.
It's only fitting we celebrate Buddy's retirement with a flashback to that night at the SCG...
There will only ever be one Lance Franklin. #ThanksBuddy pic.twitter.
com/Z8Iu3bKvUD 2. Lance Franklin (Hawthorn / Sydney) Games: 354 (Haw 182, Syd 172) Goals: 1066 (Haw 580, Syd 486) There has probably never been a better pure athlete play AFL than “Buddy”, although there might be plenty of “Kouta”.
