Best team of the 2000s packed with superstars, but no room for Sam Mitchell
He’s a Brownlow medallist, five-time best and fairest, four-time premiership player and one of the best ball-winners of all time, yet he’s not in the team of the past two decades. How’d it happen? SEE THE TEAM
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
It’s a selection dilemma that no coach would rightly expect — do you pick Sam Mitchell?
Is there space in the best team of the 21st Century for the Brownlow medallist and four-time premiership Hawk?
That was the impasse arrived at by the Herald Sun’s expert panel when selecting a team of the “best of the best” from the past two decades.
To pick such a team we brought together a four-person panel to nominate the finest 22 of the 2000s.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE SACKED PODCAST
The panel consisted of four-time Hawthorn premiership players in Rodney Eade and Jordan Lewis, Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson and leading columnist Jon Anderson.
They went right back to the 2000 national draft, which produced champions Nick Riewoldt and Shaun Burgoyne.
All four agreed on Luke Hodge as captain and Alastair Clarkson as coach.
The panel were also unanimous in their support of Gary Ablett, Shaun Burgoyne, Dean Cox, Patrick Dangerfield, Corey Enright, Buddy Franklin, Nat Fyfe, Steve Johnson, Dustin Martin, Matthew Pavlich Scott Pendlebury, Alex Rance, Nick Riewoldt, Cyril Rioli and Joel Selwood.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE EACH SELECTOR’S TEAM
But they hit a roadblock when it came to Josh Gibson and Brownlow medallist Mitchell.
Lewis, a Hawk best-and-fairest and 2014 All-Australian, saw Mitchell and Gibson from close quarters during Hawthorn’s mighty rein and had both in his starting line-up. So did Robbo.
But Eade and Anderson left both out.
So when their teams had to be combined for one ultimate side, Eade was awarded the casting vote given his combined background of 259 games as a player and 377 as a coach.
Eade opted for Jeremy McGovern over Gibson in defence, plus Dane Swan and Jimmy Bartel over Mitchell.
* Players to have played senior AFL football before 2000 were ineligible - therefore stars such as Matthew Scarlett and Nathan Buckley were not considered.
Rodney Eade: The coach comes out in me in trying to pick balance as if we are going to play someone, rather than just the best player for the position.
As such I strongly considered Robert Murphy for defence due to his pace, even on the bench for some coverage down back. Corey Enright is the best mid/small defender, while Brian Lake had an uncanny ability to mark the ball one-on-one, placing him just ahead of Darren Glass who was a more predictable player, and a safer player who was so good at shutting down although he wouldn’t give you as much drive. I would love Jeremy McGovern’s interceptions.
With the onballers I would have Nat Fyfe, Chris Judd and Gary Ablett, with Patrick Dangerfield on a half-forward flank and Dane Swan competing against Joel Selwood and Jimmy Bartel for the a spot on the wing.
When considering small forwards we were able at the Bulldogs to shut down Stephen Milne and Eddie Betts, so I would select Cyril Rioli and Steve Johnson just ahead of Paul Chapman. I thought about Brodie Grundy but, like Patrick Cripps and Marcus Bontempelli, he probably
needs another four or five years.
Mark Robinson: I went with Alex Rance and Darren Glass as the key defenders. Glass was a magnificent footballer. A three-time best-and-fairest winner, four-time All Australian and one-time captain, and West Coast captain for seven years.
That allowed Josh Gibson, a two-time best-and-fairest winner in premiership years, to slot in the back pocket, and he would rebound with Corey Enright and Shaun Burgoyne.
Stevie J, Cyril Rioli and Patrick Dangerfield fill the small and mid forward roles, which meant Eddie Betts (600 goals), Stephen Milne (574 goals) and Paul Chapman (Norm Smith Medal, B&F winner and three flags) were unlucky to miss.
*** Stream every match of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
Always, the interchange bench is the most difficult area of the field to compose. Sam Mitchell has to make it, Dustin Martin might have played the best season since Leigh Matthews’ 1977, and Jimmy Bartel was clutch in so many games. Big games, too. Finals. Grand Finals.
The final position went to Matthew Pavlich ahead of Dane Swan. There’s no right or wrong, other than Pavlich was the Fremantle Football Club for so long.
Jordan Lewis: I like versatility, so BJ (Brendon Goddard) can clearly play that floating half-back, or if I need him on a wing, I can push him up there, and he can use the ball. With Hodgey on the other flank, who is a left-footer, it opens up both sides of the ground.
I picked Dustin Martin in the centre ahead of Chris Judd. Hands down the reason I put Dusty in the middle was his 2017 season. He was untouchable when he had the ball. He’s not the greatest defender, but he doesn’t need to be. They cover for him. Dusty bulldozes while Juddy figure-skates through with his speed and is also just about untouchable.
In the forward line, I just like Jimmy Bartel’s poise, as you need to have guys with footy smarts around that area of the ground.
My old teammate Sam Mitchell has to get a game. He’s one of the best users of the ball, either side of the body, he’s one of the best handballers I’ve seen, he could manipulate the game.
Bob Murphy made my bench. If you went to a game and just watched him play, you’d understand how good a player he was.
Jon Anderson: The easiest part was picking Luke Hodge as captain, Gary Ablett onball, Dean Cox in the ruck and the three tall forwards in Buddy Franklin, Jonathan Brown and Nick Riewoldt. You can add Corey Enright and Alex Rance to that equation.
Choosing between Brian Lake and Darren Glass at full-back was a toss of the coin, with Lake getting the nod due to his extra rebound. Then there was Jeremy McGovern or Josh Gibson as a third defensive tall. I don’t think I’ve seen a better intercept mark than McGovern.
Picking the onballers forced me to leave out a five-time best and fairest winner, four-time premiership player and three-time All-Australian in Sam Mitchell. Sacrilege in many ways, but the ability of Nat Fyfe, Dustin Martin and Patrick Dangerfield to go forward was compelling, meaning it was Dane Swan or Mitchell.
Matthew Pavlich has to be in the 22, and he could play anywhere, while Steve Johnson provides the X-Factor up forward, or on ball if required. Paul Chapman played too well in too many big games not to be selected
Originally published as Best team of the 2000s packed with superstars, but no room for Sam Mitchell