AFL team of the decade, 1990s to 2020s

Short answer: the strongest of our four teams of the decade is the 1990s side, Wayne Carey, Stephen Silvagni, Nathan Buckley, Michael Voss, James Hird, Jim Stynes, Jason Dunstall, Gary Ablett Sr and Tony Lockett, which goes 23-0 in about 71%of simulated seasons. Each side is the strongest legal nine from that decade’s cards, picked by the engine that scores the 23-0 draft. Computed, not voted, and not official.

Pick yours and play itSee all four sides

At a glance

  • 1990s: Wayne Carey, Stephen Silvagni, Nathan Buckley, Michael Voss, James Hird, Jim Stynes, Jason Dunstall, Gary Ablett Sr and Tony Lockett.
  • 2000s: Wayne Carey, Matthew Pavlich, James Hird, Chris Judd, Ben Cousins, Dean Cox, Michael Voss, Gary Ablett Jr and Nathan Buckley.
  • 2010s: Sam Mitchell, Alex Rance, Nat Fyfe, Gary Ablett Jr, Dustin Martin, Max Gawn, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin and Scott Pendlebury.
  • 2020s (so far): Tom Stewart, Harris Andrews, Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale, Clayton Oliver, Max Gawn, Marcus Bontempelli, Charlie Curnow and Patrick Dangerfield.
  • The strongest of the four is the 1990s side, which goes 23-0 in about 71% of 2,000 simulated seasons.
  • Wayne Carey (1990s and 2000s), Nathan Buckley (1990s and 2000s), Michael Voss (1990s and 2000s), James Hird (1990s and 2000s), Gary Ablett Jr (2000s and 2010s), Max Gawn (2010s and 2020s) and Patrick Dangerfield (2010s and 2020s) make more than one side.

Checked 21 October 2026 · statistics as of 15 September 2026

The four sides

The 1990s

  1. DEFWayne CareyDefender · North Melbourne
  2. DEFStephen SilvagniDefender · Carlton
  3. MIDNathan BuckleyMidfielder · Collingwood
  4. MIDMichael VossMidfielder · Brisbane
  5. MIDJames HirdMidfielder · Essendon
  6. RUCJim StynesRuck · Melbourne
  7. FWDJason DunstallForward · Hawthorn
  8. FWDGary Ablett SrForward · Geelong
  9. UTILTony LockettUtility · Sydney

Goes 23-0 in 71% · likely 23-0 · from 190 cards

1990s leaders and medallists

The 2000s

  1. DEFWayne CareyDefender · North Melbourne
  2. DEFMatthew PavlichDefender · Fremantle
  3. MIDJames HirdMidfielder · Essendon
  4. MIDChris JuddMidfielder · West Coast
  5. MIDBen CousinsMidfielder · West Coast
  6. RUCDean CoxRuck · West Coast
  7. FWDMichael VossForward · Brisbane
  8. FWDGary Ablett JrForward · Geelong
  9. UTILNathan BuckleyUtility · Collingwood

Goes 23-0 in 60% · likely 23-0 · from 212 cards

2000s leaders and medallists

The 2010s

  1. DEFSam MitchellDefender · Hawthorn
  2. DEFAlex RanceDefender · Richmond
  3. MIDNat FyfeMidfielder · Fremantle
  4. MIDGary Ablett JrMidfielder · Geelong
  5. MIDDustin MartinMidfielder · Richmond
  6. RUCMax GawnRuck · Melbourne
  7. FWDPatrick DangerfieldForward · Geelong
  8. FWDLance FranklinForward · Sydney
  9. UTILScott PendleburyUtility · Collingwood

Goes 23-0 in 61% · likely 23-0 · from 232 cards

2010s leaders and medallists

The 2020s (so far)

  1. DEFTom StewartDefender · Geelong
  2. DEFHarris AndrewsDefender · Brisbane
  3. MIDPatrick CrippsMidfielder · Carlton
  4. MIDLachie NealeMidfielder · Brisbane
  5. MIDClayton OliverMidfielder · Melbourne
  6. RUCMax GawnRuck · Melbourne
  7. FWDMarcus BontempelliForward · Footscray
  8. FWDCharlie CurnowForward · Carlton
  9. UTILPatrick DangerfieldUtility · Geelong

Goes 23-0 in 60% · likely 23-0 · from 215 cards

2020s leaders and medallists

Stat leaders by decade

The leader for each stat in each decade, every club combined. The 2020s run to 15 September 2026.
Stat1990s2000s2010s2020s
GamesJohn BlakeyNorth Melbourne · 221Adam GoodesSydney · 232Josh KennedySydney · 233Charlie CameronBrisbane · 171
GoalsTony LockettSydney · 892Matthew LloydEssendon · 681Lance FranklinSydney · 639Jeremy CameronGeelong · 374
DisposalsRobert HarveySt Kilda · 5,670Simon BlackBrisbane · 5,398Scott PendleburyCollingwood · 6,376Lachie NealeBrisbane · 4,494
MarksStewart LoeweSt Kilda · 1,701Nick RiewoldtSt Kilda · 1,640Harry TaylorGeelong · 1,351Harris AndrewsBrisbane · 1,184
TacklesTony LiberatoreFootscray · 953Brett KirkSydney · 1,150Matt PriddisWest Coast · 1,262Jack SteeleSt Kilda · 1,066
Hit-outsScott WyndFootscray · 2,939Jeff WhiteMelbourne · 4,003Todd GoldsteinNorth Melbourne · 7,389Max GawnMelbourne · 4,749

Quick answers

  • Of our four teams of the decade, the 1990s side is the strongest: it goes 23-0 in about 71% of simulated seasons, against 61% for the 2010s, 60% for the 2020s and 60% for the 2000s. The 1990s side→
  • Our AFL team of the 1990s is Wayne Carey (North Melbourne), Stephen Silvagni (Carlton), Nathan Buckley (Collingwood), Michael Voss (Brisbane), James Hird (Essendon), Jim Stynes (Melbourne), Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn), Gary Ablett Sr (Geelong) and Tony Lockett (Sydney). The 1990s page→
  • Our AFL team of the 2000s is Wayne Carey (North Melbourne), Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle), James Hird (Essendon), Chris Judd (West Coast), Ben Cousins (West Coast), Dean Cox (West Coast), Michael Voss (Brisbane), Gary Ablett Jr (Geelong) and Nathan Buckley (Collingwood). The 2000s page→
  • Our AFL team of the 2010s is Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn), Alex Rance (Richmond), Nat Fyfe (Fremantle), Gary Ablett Jr (Geelong), Dustin Martin (Richmond), Max Gawn (Melbourne), Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong), Lance Franklin (Sydney) and Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood). The 2010s page→
  • Our AFL team of the 2020s so far is Tom Stewart (Geelong), Harris Andrews (Brisbane), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Lachie Neale (Brisbane), Clayton Oliver (Melbourne), Max Gawn (Melbourne), Marcus Bontempelli (Footscray), Charlie Curnow (Carlton) and Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong). The 2020s page→
  • 7 players make more than one of our sides: Wayne Carey (1990s and 2000s), Nathan Buckley (1990s and 2000s), Michael Voss (1990s and 2000s), James Hird (1990s and 2000s), Gary Ablett Jr (2000s and 2010s), Max Gawn (2010s and 2020s) and Patrick Dangerfield (2010s and 2020s). Compare the sides→
  • Most goals in the 1990s: Tony Lockett (Sydney, St Kilda), 892. Top ten→
  • Most goals in the 2000s: Matthew Lloyd (Essendon), 681. Top ten→
  • Most goals in the 2010s: Lance Franklin (Sydney, Hawthorn), 639. Top ten→
  • Most goals in the 2020s so far: Jeremy Cameron (Geelong, Greater Western Sydney), 374. Top ten→
  • You can pick your own team of any decade from the game's cards and play it against ours over the same 2,000 seasons. Pick yours→

Common questions

What is the best AFL team of each decade?

Ours are computed, not voted: for each decade since 1990, the strongest legal nine from that decade's cards in the 23-0 draft game, picked by its engine. They are not official teams and are not endorsed by the AFL.

Which decade has the strongest side?

The 1990s. Its side goes 23-0 in about 71% of 2,000 simulated seasons against the game's All-Star opponents.

Is the 2020s side final?

No. The 2020s are in progress, so that side and its stat leaders are as of 15 September 2026 and will change as the game's cards and the data are updated.

Why does it start in 1990?

The game's cards and our statistics both cover 1990 on, so the 1990s is the first decade we can compute a side and stat leaders for.

Sources

  • Season player statistics, 1990 to 2026, from AFL Tables (afltables.com).
  • Medal winners checked against Wikipedia’s Brownlow, Coleman and Norm Smith Medal lists.
  • Our team of the decade: computed by Unbeaten Season’s draft-game engine from the game’s own player cards. It is not an official team and is not endorsed by the AFL or any club.
  • Statistics as of 15 September 2026. Facts compiled from public records; no text is copied from either source.

Now draft one for real

In the game you don’t get to pick from a whole decade. Each spin deals one club and one decade, you take one player from it, and your nine has to survive 23-0.

Play the 23-0 draftOr draft today’s sideHow to go 23-0→

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