As you’ve likely both noticed and enjoyed over the last couple of weeks, Stats Insider has been releasing its team of the decade for all 18 AFL clubs.

The countdown has been intriguing, and which this week culminated in the Hawthorn Football Club being crowned the decade’s best according to our in-house Player Ratings, narrowly edging out Geelong.

With each club now audited, we turn our attention to the ‘Best of the Best’, proudly announcing our individual ‘Team of the Decade’. 

Unlike the club’s selection process which mandated a 50-game minimum for qualification, we’ve raised the bar to a minimum of 100 games this time, ensuring the team is not only populated by the very best, but making sure that class is consolidated by at least four seasons of elite football.

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Without further ado, let’s get to the team.

BACKLINE

KADE SIMPSON - CARLTON

A miserable couple of decades for the Blues, however Carlton’s 326-game veteran could always be found desperately trying to provide his team some drive. Curiously, Simpson is the only player in this team to have never made an All-Australian team. 

KEY STAT- Gary Ablett (4,806) is the only active player to have accumulated more uncontested possessions than Simpson (4,773), while the Giants’ Heath Shaw (956) is the only player to have amassed more bounces (628).

ALEX RANCE - RICHMOND

There’s an argument to be made that there was no single player more important to establishing the Tiger’s juggernaut than this phenomenal five-time All-Australian full back. Not only did Rance anchor the brilliant Richmond defence for a decade, but he very much helped change the position along the way owing to his sublime intercept abilities.

KEY STAT- Intercept possessions were publicly charted for the first time in 2015. In the first 4 years of the stat Rance ranked 1st, 3rd, 1st and 1st. 

RELATED: AFL Premiership Roadmap: The Richmond Blueprint

JOSH GIBSON - HAWTHORN

Two Hawthorn Best and Fairest Awards in two Hawk premierships (2013 and 2015) is indicative of just how vital this champion defender and former Kangaroo was to the Hawthorn dynasty. 

KEY STAT- Ranked #1 over 3 straight years between 2011 and 2013 for one-percent acts. He was the definition of gritty, effective determination.

LUKE HODGE - HAWTHORN

One of the greatest Hawks of all time, Hodge put together a remarkable resume during his 305 games at Hawthorn, captaining the club during its hat-trick of premierships while gaining All-Australian honours three times. An absolute immortal of the sport.

KEY STAT- Hodge is one of just 4 players in history along with Gary Ayres, Andrew McLeod and Dustin Martin to win multiple Norm Smith Awards. 

JEREMY MCGOVERN - WEST COAST

Jeremy McGovern has quietly emerged as perhaps the game’s very best defender, helping himself to 4-straight All-Australian gongs while playing an enormous role in the Eagle 2018 premiership.

KEY STAT- No active player in the league can claim to average more than McGovern’s 2.2 contested marks per game. A one-on-one beast.  

RELATED: What the Tim Kelly Trade Means For West Coast (and Geelong)

RORY LAIRD - ADELAIDE

From Rookie-List to two-time All-Australian and Adelaide Best and Fairest winner, Rory Laird is the embodiment of the modern, attacking defender.

KEY STAT- With 43 career Brownlow votes last decade there wasn't a single defender who caught the umpires attention more regularly.

MIDFIELD

MAX GAWN - MELBOURNE

It took a while for Max Gawn’s career to get going, however now it has, it’s taken on the appearance of a runaway train. The Demon’s skipper has already been crowned All-Australian on three occasions and won himself a couple of Melbourne Best and Fairest awards. 

KEY STAT- With an average of 35.4 hitouts per game, Gawn is the game’s active leader, while even more impressive is the 1.9 contested marks he averages which is a number bettered by just five players in the league. 

DANE SWAN - COLLINGWOOD

Along with Gary Ablett Jnr and Dustin Martin, Collingwood’s Westmeadows ‘Wild Child’ was one of just three players in our Team of the Decade to have won both a premiership and a Brownlow medal. 

KEY STAT- Swan averaged a phenomenal 26.9 possessions throughout his career which, outside of dual Brownlow medalist Greg Williams, is the most among any player to have registered at least 250 games.

JOEL SELWOOD - GEELONG

6 All Australians, 3 premierships, 3 Geelong B and F’s and without doubt the mantle of one of the most courageous players of all time. At 31 years of age Selwood is still producing at an elite level and in short time will also become Geelong’s games record holder.

KEY STAT- There are only three active players to have accumulated at least 4,000 uncontested possessions and 3,000 contested possessions. Those players are Garry Ablett Jnr, Scott Pendlebury and Joel Selwood.

RELATED: AFL | Stats That Matter: The 'Hard Ball'

SCOTT PENDLEBURY - COLLINGWOOD

Not only did Scott Pendlebury once play basketball, but he’s also been one hell of a footballer, earning All-Australian honours on 6 occasions, claiming Collingwood’s Best And Fairest 5 times while winning the Norm Smith medal in the Magpies’ only premiership of the last 30 years. He’s also set to become Collingwood’s games record holder. 

KEY STAT- Scott Pendlebury has averaged at least 25 touches per game for a ridiculous 11 straight seasons. 

GARY ABLETT - GOLD COAST

Inarguably one of the greatest to ever to play our sport. Once Gary Ablett Junior married up his freakish talents with intense drive it proved an overwhelming formula helping the Cats to a couple of flags, winning himself Brownlow medals at both Geelong and the Gold Coast and securing no less than 8 All-Australian selections in the process. An absolute all-time legend. 

KEY STAT- Of players to had averaged at least 25 touches per game throughout their career, only 3-time Brownlow medalist Bob Skilton had more of a scoreboard impact than Ablett, averaging 1.74 goals per game to the Little Master’s 1.26.

NAT FYFE - FREMANTLE

A difficult to classify superstar who has taken his game to even greater heights despite his team’s serious troubles over the last few seasons. Just 28 years old and already in possession of 2 Brownlow medals and 3 All-Australian selections, it’s scary to think what he might achieve in the second half of his career. 

KEY STAT- The list of active players averaging at least 25 touches and 1 contested mark per game includes…. Nat Fyfe. 

FORWARD LINE

PATRICK DANGERFIELD - GEELONG

7 All-Australians and a Brownlow medal, this superstar and perhaps the sport’s very best right now, doesn’t need reminding that the only thing missing from his glittering resume is a premiership medallion. 

KEY STAT- Of the 13 active players to have amassed at least 6,000 total possessions, not only is Dangerfield the youngest, but he’s one of just three, along with Gary Ablett Jnr and Shaun Burgoyne, to have kicked at least 250 goals. 

NICK RIEWOLDT - ST KILDA

There aren’t too many players in AFL history who can legitimately claim to have changed the sport. However this legendary Saint did thanks to his extreme athletic ability, workmate and drive, revolutionising what was expected from a modern key forward. 6 St Kilda Best and Fairest awards and 5 All-Australians, his spot as our Team of the Decade’s centre half forward is richly deserved.

KEY STAT- Nick Riewoldt took 2,944 marks over his career. That’s the sport’s very highest return and a number that might well never be threatened. 

RELATED: AFL | Stats That Matter - The Changing Face of the Forward

DUSTIN MARTIN - RICHMOND

At just 28 years old, Dustin Martin’s imprint on our sport has been incredibly profound. A Brownlow medal, 2 Norm Smith medals in premiership teams and 3 All-Australian gongs. The second half of this star's career will be about cementing himself as one of the all-time greats. 

KEY STAT- The only active player to average at least a goal, 7 score involvements and 25 touches per game along with Martin is Gary Ablett Jnr.

ROBBIE GRAY - PORT ADELAIDE

One of the AFL’s very best small forwards of the last decade, Gray not only won 3 Port Best and Fairest Awards and gained All-Australian section 4 times, but Gray always stepped up in the biggest moments winning himself a record 5 Showdown Medals. 

KEY STAT- This is the list of players to have accumulated at least 1,500 score involvements, kicked at least 300 goals and amassed at least 4,000 touches: Gary Ablett Jnr, Lance Franklin and Robbie Gray. 

LANCE FRANKLIN - SYDNEY

An all-time great of the sport, Franklin has arguably been the sport’s most exciting since Gary Ablett senior. He’ll soon enough become just the 6th player to have kicked at least 1,000 goals. Franklin’s legacy as an AFL legend is already secure thanks to a couple of premierships, 8 All-Australians and 4 Coleman medals, a number bettered by just three players. 

KEY STAT- No active player averages more goals per game (3.1) or score involvements per game (8.4) than this living legend. 

RELATED: Did The Sydney Swans Botch Their Renovation?

STEVE JOHNSON - GEELONG

Of the most sublimely skilled players the sport has ever seen, Steve Johnson played a pivotal role in Geelong’s 3 premierships, winning himself a Norm Smith medal in the process and kicking himself 516 career goals as both a Cat and a Giant. 

KEY STAT- Johnson played in 4 Grand Finals, averaging 20 touches, 2.2 goals and 5 inside 50’s per game. 

ALSO READ: Can GWS Recover From Their Giant Grand Final Nightmare?

INTERCHANGE

JOSH KENNEDY- WEST COAST

One of the sport’s best key forwards over the last couple of decades, Kennedy has emerged as an Eagle’s legend, with 2 Best and Fairest awards, a couple of Coleman Medals and 3 All-Australian gongs. 

KEY STAT- Kennedy has kicked at least 5 goals in a match on 33 separate occasions. There are only ten players in the game’s history who’ve kicked a handful more regularly. 

SAM MITCHELL- HAWTHORN

Of the sport’s most skilled and cerebral players of all time, it’s unlikely the Hawks would have won 4 flags without their midfield general. 307 games for the Hawks and 5 Best and Fairest awards there is little doubt he’ll go down as one of the club’s all-time greats. 

KEY STAT- Mitchell is one of just 6 players in VFL/AFL history to have amassed at least 8,500 disposals. Of this select group, Mitchell has the highest average at 26.4 touches per game. 

JOSH KENNEDY- SYDNEY

An absolute beast of a midfielder who at 31 years of age and after 3 All-Australians and 3 Sydney Best and Fairest awards in still producing at insanely high level.

KEY STAT- With 1,034 career stoppage clearances Kennedy is not only the league’s clubhouse leader, but he’s amassed a staggering 117 more than the next best, Gary Ablett Jnr. 

PATRICK CRIPPS- CARLTON

Already a three-time Carlton Best and Fairest winner and two-time All-Australian Cripps is the game’s premier inside midfielder. 

KEY STAT- No active player in the league averages more than Cripps 15.6 contested possessions per game, 4.3 stoppage clearances per game or 3.2 centre clearances per game.

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