How the four AFL dynasties of 21st century dominated the competition, but which one was the best?

The first 20 years of the 21st century has witnessed four clubs build a dynasty in the AFL. Richmond’s recent dominance was this year rewarded with its third premiership in four years. Before the Tigers, Hawthorn won three straight flags from 2013 to 2015 after playing in the 2012 Grand Final. Brisbane also achieved the three-peat between 2001 to 2003 before falling short in the 2004 decider, while Geelong won its three premierships across five years (2007-09-11) and lost another Grand Final in 2008. Who is the best of the 2000s dynasty teams? Geelong: From ‘handbaggers’ to hunters At Geelong, it was all about the build. For forward Cam Mooney, it was the club’s ability – much like a cat itself – to land on its feet despite years of tough times and produce a period of dominance that was the envy of the competition that set it apart. “It really was built from the ground up,” Mooney told the Herald Sun. “It wasn’t just the premiership, but at the start of the 2000s, the club was heavily in debt, the stadium was falling apart, the list was ordinary … Bomber (Thompson) got the coaching job and along with some great people, they started building a team. “I got traded in, but then there was Joel Corey, Corey Enright, Cameron Ling and Paul Chapman (in one draft). Then two years later it was the Ablett, Bartel, Kelly and Johnson draft. “In the space of three years, half of the premiership team got drafted or traded in.” Cameron Mooney (right) holds the 2009 premiership cup with Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett. He said to go from “the handbaggers” to the hunted was testament to the club, helping to lift Geelong from “being the town down the road”. “To turn all that around and become one of the most dominant teams over 100 or 150 game period and to walk away with three premierships in five years, that story is just remarkable,” Mooney said. “Not just the premierships, but how the club turned around to be one of the most powerful and most respected clubs in the land.” And they didn’t just turn the club’s fortunes, in Mooney’s eyes. “We turned the game, really,” he said. “We just turned it into the most exciting brand of football than Geelong through those ‘07 to ’09 and ‘10. “Arguably we were the most exciting team ever to watch. It didn’t mean we were the best, but I thought we were the most exciting.” GEELONG DYNASTY 2007 premiership team 24.19 (163) d Port Adelaide 6.8 (44) B: 2.Tom Harley (c) 30.Matthew Scarlett 8.Josh Hunt HB: 4.Andrew Mackie 39.Darren Milburn 40.David Wojcinski C: 11.Joel Corey 3.Jimmy Bartel 44.Corey Enright HF: 20.Steve Johnson 21.Cameron Mooney 14.Joel Selwood F: 35.Paul Chapman 23.Nathan Ablett 27.Mathew Stokes Foll: 6.Brad Ottens 45.Cameron Ling 29.Gary Ablett Jr. Int: 1.Steven King 17.Shannon Byrnes 9.James Kelly 33.Max Rooke Coach: Mark Thompson 2009 premiership team 12.8 (80) d St Kilda 9.14 (68) B: 39.Darren Milburn 30.Matthew Scarlett 44.Corey Enright HB: 4.Andrew Mackie 7.Harry Taylor 2.Tom Harley (c) C: 11.Joel Corey 45.Cameron Ling 9.James Kelly HF: 3.Jimmy Bartel 21.Cameron Mooney 5.Travis Varcoe F: 20.Steve Johnson 26.Tom Hawkins 35.Paul Chapman Foll: 24.Mark Blake 14.Joel Selwood 29.Gary Ablett Int: 6.Brad Ottens 17.Shannon Byrnes 33.Max Rooke 40.David Wojcinski Coach: Mark Thompson 2011 premiership team 18.11 (119) d Collingwood 12.9 (81) B: 8.Josh Hunt 30.Matthew Scarlett 13.Tom Lonergan HB: 44.Corey Enright 7.Harry Taylor 40.David Wojcinski C: 14.Joel Selwood 3.Jimmy Bartel 4.Andrew Mackie HF: 20.Steve Johnson 26.Tom Hawkins 5.Travis Varcoe F: 12.Trent West 31.James Podsiadly 35.Paul Chapman Foll: 6.Brad Ottens 45.Cameron Ling (c) 11.Joel Corey Int: 9.James Kelly 27.Mathew Stokes 28.Allen Christensen 22.Mitch Duncan (sub) Coach: Chris Scott Hawthorn: Setbacks drove players to top again Resilience born from setbacks in the lead-up to Hawthorn’s premiership three-peat shaped the team’s success, according to four-time premiership star Luke Hodge. The former captain and dual Norm Smith medallist said lessons learned from the team’s slide after its 2008 flag win coupled with preliminary and Grand Final losses in 2011 and 2012 had moulded the Hawks for their triple-premiership run. “I reckon we built up a lot of resilience through the setbacks that we had through 2011 and 2012,” Hodge told the Herald Sun. “You saw what we did in 2008 and then fell away quite quickly. And then you look at the team and I guess we learned a bit from 2008, going into 2009 and we put that into how we came back post-Grand Finals. “The main one was losing the 2011 prelim to Collingwood when we were in front at three-quarter time and then losing the granny to Sydney (in 2012) when we were tipped to be favourites. “I guess that opened our eyes and we were a lot more honest with our assessment of our own games and our game as a collective. “I guess that built up to some pretty honest discussions on the field and off the field over the next three or four years which held us in good stead.” Luke Hodge shows off the club’s silverware to the Hawks faithful at Glenferrie Oval. Picture: Michael Klein The Hawks claimed a premiership trifecta from 2013 to 2014 under coach Alastair Clarkson and Hodge at the helm as captain. Hodge, a Norm Smith medallist in 2008 and 2014, said the culture and standards within the team was “player driven” during their dynasty of success, which was as important as their experienced and cohesive line-up. “I know that after 2012 we got on Leading Teams and Clarko was a big push with Fages (former Hawks’ football boss Chris Fagan) and a few others that it had to be player driven,” Hodge said. “So a lot of the standards and expectations were driven by the players because out on the field, you guys are the ones that are controlling it and you guys are the ones that have to do the right things then and there so it makes sense for you to lead the culture and the standards the whole time. “As a group, we had a pretty experienced group that stuck together for a long time and I guess we just knew each other’s games and knew how to get the best out of each other.” HAWTHORN DYNASTY 2013 premiership side 11.11 (71) d Fremantle 8.14 (62) B: 24. Ben Stratton 17.Brian Lake 18.Brent Guerra HB: 9.Shaun Burgoyne 6.Josh Gibson 14.Grant Birchall C: 16.Isaac Smith 5.Sam Mitchell 3.Jordan Lewis HF: 22.Luke Breust 23.Lance Franklin 33.Cyril Rioli F: 28.Paul Puopolo 2.Jarryd Roughead 20.David Hale Foll: 39.Max Bailey 12.Brad Sewell 15.Luke Hodge (c) Int: 26.Liam Shiels 19.Jack Gunston 10.Bradley Hill 32.Jonathan Simpkin (sub) Coach: Alastair Clarkson 2014 premiership side 21.11 (137) d Sydney 11.8 (74) B: 14.Grant Birchall 17.Brian Lake 6.Josh Gibson HB: 4.Matt Suckling 24.Ben Stratton 5.Sam Mitchell C: 3.Jordan Lewis 29.Will Langford 10.Bradley Hill HF: 15.Luke Hodge (c) 2.Jarryd Roughead 16.Isaac Smith F: 7.Ben McEvoy 19.Jack Gunston 22.Luke Breust Foll: 20.David Hale 26.Liam Shiels 9.Shaun Burgoyne Int: 27.Matthew Spangher 33.Cyril Rioli 28.Paul Puopolo 8.Taylor Duryea (sub) Coach: Alastair Clarkson 2015 premiership side 16.11 (107) d West Coast 8.13 (61) B: 24.Ben Stratton 17.Brian Lake 12.James Frawley HB: 14.Grant Birchall 6.Josh Gibson 9.Shaun Burgoyne C: 10.Bradley Hill 5.Sam Mitchell 26.Liam Shiels HF: 33.Cyril Rioli 25.Ryan Schoenmakers 16.Isaac Smith F: 22.Luke Breust 2.Jarryd Roughead 28.Paul Puopolo Foll: 7.Ben McEvoy 15.Luke Hodge (c) 3.Jordan Lewis Int: 4.Matt Suckling 8.Taylor Duryea 20.David Hale 19.Jack Gunston Coach: Alastair Clarkson It can get even better for Trent Cotchin and the Tigers. Picture: Phil Hillyard Richmond: Flag era not over yet Former Brisbane Lions champion Justin Leppitsch has been “pretty lucky” to be a part of two AFL dynasties. Leppitsch was a key defensive cog in the Lions’ premiership three-peat from 2001-2003 and, most recently, as an assistant coach alongside Damien Hardwick for Richmond’s three flags in the past four years. His flag experience has given him a unique perspective on what that sort of success takes and said the key ingredient in Richmond’s flag era, which he doesn’t think has ended, was the same knowledge as what he experienced at the Lions. “I’ve been pretty lucky to be in two good dynasties and Richmond’s is still going really and I’m sure they’re hopeful to nab that three in a row,” Leppitsch said. “The similarities of the groups when you get to this sort of level is probably the knowing, just the knowing that you’re good enough. “It provides calmness. Some people go into footy seasons hoping and others go in knowing and I think when you hit the area where Richmond is at now, you just know that your best is good enough to win it. “That can provide a real calm over the group and a real calm over yourself in games and in big games. “What it also means is you need a lot of evidence to prove that you’re not very good whereas sometimes when you are in the middle-to-the-bottom of the ladder, you’re looking for evidence to prove that you are good whereas where Richmond is right now, it takes a lot to think that maybe this is the end because you know that you’ve overcome so many obstacles. “So that’s probably the similarities of the two groups is that mindset.” Justin Leppitsch celebrates with Liam Baker after the Tigers won this year’s Grand Final against Geelong at the Gabba. Picture: Sarah Reed Leppitsch said the understanding of every player at Richmond to “play their role” had also been a key in the club’s flag success. “(Former Lions coach) Leigh Matthews used to use the term ‘Know your role, accept your role and perform your role’,” said Leppitsch, who departed the Tigers at the end of the 2020 season. “We didn’t use that exact phrase at Richmond, but they did that as good as what the Brisbane team did 20 years ago. “Accept what they need to do, accept the coaches are there for a reason, accept that the administration is there for a reason and everyone just plays their role. “Everyone knows their role, accepts it and performs it.” While acknowledging it helped having a player the quality of three-time Norm Smith medallist Dustin Martin to build around, the said the Tigers’ team didn’t have as much individual “star quality” the Lions boasted, but had more players better at fulfilling their job in the team. “Both teams obviously have wonderful players,” Leppitsch said. “I think the Brisbane team had better individuals as in star quality that I played with, but Richmond have more better role players.” RICHMOND DYNASTY 2017 premiership side 16.12 (108) d Adelaide 8.12 (60) B: 5 Brandon Ellis 18.Alex Rance 2.Dylan Grimes HB: 14.Bachar Houli 12.David Astbury 1.Nick Vlastuin C: 33.Kamdyn McIntosh 9.Trent Cotchin 21.Jacob Townsend HF: 23.Kane Lambert 4.Dustin Martin 22.Josh Caddy F: 40.Dan Butler 8.Jack Riewoldt 17.Daniel Rioli Foll: 25.Toby Nankervis 3.Dion Prestia 6.Shaun Grigg Int: 10.Shane Edwards 34.Jack Graham 35.Nathan Broad 46.Jason Castagna Coach: Damien Hardwick 2019 premiership side 17.12 (114) d GWS 3.7 (25) B: 12.David Astbury 35.Nathan Broad 2.Dylan Grimes HB: 14.Bachar Houli 1.Nick Vlastuin 15.Jayden Short C: 5.Brandon Ellis 3.Dion Prestia 22.Josh Caddy HF: 17.Daniel Rioli 9.Trent Cotchin (c) 23.Kane Lambert F: 11.Jason Castagna 19.Tom Lynch 8.Jack Riewoldt Foll: 25.Toby Nankervis 10.Shane Edwards 4.Dustin Martin Int: 29.Shai Bolton 47.Ivan Soldo 48.Liam Baker 50.Marlion Pickett Coach: Damien Hardwick 2020 premiership side 12.9 (81) d Geelong 7.8 (50) B: 12.David Astbury 2.Dylan Grimes 21.Noah Balta HB: 7.Liam Baker 1.Nick Vlastuin 14.Bachar Houli C: 33.Kamdyn McIntosh 3.Dion Prestia 50.Marlion Pickett HF: 23.Kane Lambert 11.Jason Castagna 4.Dustin Martin F: 19.Tom Lynch 8.Jack Riewoldt 17.Daniel Rioli Foll: 25.Toby Nankervis 10.Shane Edwards 9.Trent Cotchin Int: 34.Jack Graham 29.Shai Bolton 15.Jayden Short 35.Nathan Broad Coach: Damien Hardwick Brisbane: Three-peat result of winning trifecta Physicality, trust and star power. Even 20 years on, a trifecta of attributes added to become what set Brisbane apart in its dynasty era, according to triple-premiership former Lion Alastair Lynch. “It was almost what they do at Richmond and are so good at … knowing their role,” Lynch said. “It’s clichéd, but it’s just having the system in place. “Our system wasn’t probably as complex as theirs or what they do in modern football, but we 100 per cent knew what each other were going to do all the time, and trusted each other.” The depth of talent, particularly through the midfield, was a true X-factor, Lynch said. “Physically, we were a fairly big and strong side, through the midfield especially, and had game breakers on pretty much every line,” he said. Alastair Lynch holds the 2003 premiership cup aloft. “We had guys like Marcus Ashcroft and Chris Scott that had been club champions in the midfield who were then playing back flank or back pocket — that was the depth of talent that could be rotated through the midfield but weren’t required. “They could be redeveloped into elite defenders. “We were extremely confident once we got up and going of our game plan and the people around us. “I think that’s what made us so hard to beat.” BRISBANE DYNASTY 2001 premiership side 15.18 (108) d Essendon 12.10 (82) B: 2.Chris Johnson 23.Justin Leppitsch 33.Darryl White HB: 44.Nigel Lappin 22.Chris Scott 10.Marcus Ashcroft C: 12.Jason Akermanis 3.Michael Voss (c) 30.Robert Copeland HF: 32.Shaun Hart 16.Jonathan Brown 6.Luke Power F: 36.Daniel Bradshaw 11.Alastair Lynch 13.Martin Pike Foll: 27.Clark Keating 20.Simon Black 5.Brad Scott Int: 43.Beau McDonald 4.Craig McRae 8.Tim Notting 15.Mal Michael Coach: Leigh Matthews 2002 premiership side 10.15 (75) d Collingwood 9.12 (66) B: 2.Chris Johnson 22.Chris Scott 23.Justin Leppitsch HB: 6.Luke Power 15.Mal Michael 10.Marcus Ashcroft C: 32.Shaun Hart 3.Michael Voss (c) 13.Martin Pike HF: 1.Des Headland 16.Jonathan Brown 44.Nigel Lappin F: 12.Jason Akermanis 11.Alastair Lynch 33.Darryl White Foll: 27.Clark Keating 20.Simon Black 5.Brad Scott Int: 43.Beau McDonald 4.Craig McRae 8.Tim Notting 34.Aaron Shattock Coach: Leigh Matthews 2003 premiership side 20.14 (134) d Collingwood 12.12 (84) B: 2.Chris Johnson 15.Mal Michael 33.Darryl White HB: 6.Luke Power 23.Justin Leppitsch 44.Nigel Lappin C: 12.Jason Akermanis 3.Michael Voss (c) 13.Martin Pike HF: 9.Ashley McGrath 16.Jonathan Brown 30.Robert Copeland F: 4.Craig McRae 11.Alastair Lynch 36.Daniel Bradshaw Foll: 27.Clark Keating 20.Simon Black 32.Shaun Hart Int: 19.Jamie Charman 1.Blake Caracella 10.Marcus Ashcroft 14.Richard Hadley Coach: Leigh Matthews Lynch, who became a Bear and then a Lion after beginning his career in 1988 at Fitzroy, said for the majority of his playing days had considered premierships to be “things that happened to other people” before the eventual three-peat. “They were incredible times,” he said.

How the four AFL dynasties of 21st century dominated the competition, but which one was the best?

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