The ultimate triple-premiership winning team of the 21st century

With Hawthorn joining the Brisbane Lions and Geelong Cats in winning three premierships this century, I have assembled the ultimate triple-premiership winning team.

Six players became triple-premiership winning Hawks following their 63-point win over Sydney in Saturday’s grand final: Luke Hodge, Sam Mitchell, Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Grant Birchall and Cyril Rioli.

They join the elite company of players across the AFL who have become triple-premiership winning players for any one club this century.

Sixteen players played in each of the Brisbane Lions’ hat-trick of flags between 2001 and 2003, while twelve featured in each of the Cats’ 2007, 2009 and 2011 flags.

The Cats’ and Hawks’ third flags (2011 and 2014 respectively) came twelve months after they lost star players to other clubs, and in the case of the Cats, their coach Mark Thompson.

Gary Ablett Jr and Lance Franklin missed the chance to become triple premiership-winning players for their respective clubs when they defected to the Gold Coast Suns and Sydney Swans at the end of 2010 and 2013.

Buddy had the chance to become the first man in almost 90 years to win consecutive premierships with two different clubs, but his Swans were on the receiving end from the Hawks in this year’s grand final.

Ablett, on the other hand, led the fledgling Suns through their first season and while his old side basked in the glory of their third premiership in five years, his new club finished their inaugural season with the wooden spoon.

After featuring in both the Brisbane Lions’ 2001 and 2002 premiership sides, twin brothers Chris and Brad Scott both missed the 2003 side due to injury. Therefore neither of them, Ablett or Buddy qualify for the team.

Certain criteria had to be met for qualification in the team.

• Each player selected must have played in each of their club’s three premierships.
• Norm Smith Medallists were automatically selected in the side, and where possible, Brownlow and Coleman Medallists.
• Michael Voss is the captain as he led all three of the Lions’ premiership sides, while Luke Hodge is the vice-captain (led their last two sides). Sam Mitchell and Cameron Ling, who skippered the 2008 Hawks and 2011 Cats sides respectively, also start.
• Jordan Lewis starts as the sub.
• Leigh Matthews was chosen as the coach, with Alastair Clarkson the assistant coach. The Cats’ three premierships involved two coaches (Mark Thompson in 2007 and 2009 and Chris Scott in 2011).

In the backline I have Matthew Scarlett at fullback, with Grant Birchall and Justin Leppitsch in the back pockets. That is followed by an all-Brisbane half-back line containing Luke Power, Mal Michael and Nigel Lappin.

In the midfield I went with Michael Voss in the centre, with Jimmy Bartel and Sam Mitchell on the wings. Clark Keating starts as the ruckman, with Cameron Ling and Luke Hodge also at the centre square.

The half-forward line consists of 2007 Coleman Medallist Jonathan Brown with the Norm Smith Medallist from that year Steve Johnson, and Shaun Hart, the 2001 winner, on the half-forward flanks. Up forward, Alastair Lynch starts at full-forward, with Jarryd Roughead and 2009 Norm Smith Medallist Paul Chapman in the forward pockets.

Finally, the interchange bench is made up of Simon Black, Joel Selwood, Martin Pike, Cyril Rioli and Shaun Hart, while Jordan Lewis is the sub.

A few whom I considered to be unlucky: Craig McRae, Marcus Ashcroft, David Wojcinski, Corey Enright and Brad Ottens, to name a few. However, I have listed them as the emergencies.

Backs: Grant Birchall, Matthew Scarlett, Justin Leppitsch
Halfbacks: Luke Power, Mal Michael, Nigel Lappin
Centre: Jimmy Bartel, Michael Voss (c), Sam Mitchell
Half-forwards: Jason Akermanis, Jonathan Brown, Steve Johnson
Forwards: Jarryd Roughead, Alastair Lynch, Paul Chapman
Ruck: Clark Keating, Cameron Ling, Luke Hodge (vc)
Interchange: Simon Black, Joel Selwood, Martin Pike, Cyril Rioli, Shaun Hart
Substitute: Jordan Lewis

Emergencies: Craig McRae, Marcus Ashcroft, David Wojcinski, Corey Enright, Brad Ottens

Coach: Leigh Matthews
Assistant coach: Alastair Clarkson

Is there anyone that you think I may have left out? Also notice that I have utilised a six-man bench instead of the usual four.

Breakdown by team
Geelong Cats: 6
Brisbane Lions: 12
Hawthorn: 6

Th team has seven Norm Smith Medals: Luke Hodge in 2008 and 2014, Shaun Hart in 2001, Simon Black in 2003, Steve Johnson in 2007, Paul Chapman in 2009 and Jimmy Bartel in 2011.

Three Brownlow Medals: Jason Akermanis in 2001, Simon Black in 2002 and Jimmy Bartel in 2007.

Two Coleman Medals: Jonathan Brown in 2007 and Jarryd Roughead in 2013.

Memorable moments
2002: With less than five minutes to go, Brisbane’s Jason Akermanis snaps a goal on his left foot to put the Lions more than a goal ahead of Collingwood, and ultimately win the club’s second (of three) premiership. Watch the moment, here.

2003: Simon Black’s 39 possessions is the most by anyone in the grand final, as the Lions became the first team since Melbourne in 1955-56-57 to win three consecutive premierships, defeating Collingwood by 50 points in the decider. Watch the moment, here.

2008: In their first grand final meeting since the classic 1989 decider, Hawthorn upsets the heavily-favoured Geelong by 26 points to win their first premiership since 1991, and prevent the Cats from claiming consecutive premierships. Watch the moment, here.

2009: With less than five minutes to go, Geelong’s Matthew Scarlett kicks the ball off the ground after St Kilda’s Zac Dawson spills an attempted mark from Gary Ablett. The ball lands in that year’s Brownlow Medallist’s hands, he then kicks it forward and sets up Paul Chapman for the match and premiership-winning goal. Watch the moment, here.

2014: As the underdogs, Hawthorn produces the ultimate masterclass to defeat the Sydney Swans by 63 points and cement themselves as one of the greatest Hawthorn sides of all time. Watch the moment, here.