The 7AFL Instagram page has been running polls this week to see who the public think is the greatest player from 2010 until now. These polls got me thinking about some of the great individual players this decade such as Garry Ablett, Nathan Fyfe and Trent Cotchin.
However, these polls do not address the great teams of this decade and how the individual clubs are making this league a true success. Therefore, I began to think about which club has truly been the best in all areas of the game and therefore which club is the best of this decade.
Now to figure this out I came up with a set of criteria to judge success. Premierships, finals series, individual players, signings and trades, fans and impact outside of the club has had on the game.
Realistically, to be the best club, you must have received the highest team accolade, an AFL premiership. Since 2010, Seven teams have won a premiership which instantly knocks out 11 of the other teams and makes my job a lot easier. Out of these seven teams, only Hawthorn has won multiple flags with titles in 2013, 2014 and 2015.
Therefore, Hawthorn takes an early lead in the contest.
The Hawks won the most premierships this decade. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
Secondly, playing finals is the primary goal for most AFL clubs and many teams this decade have been tormented by a lack of finals series. As there is genuinely no way to win a premiership than to firstly play finals, this may be a crucial criterion.
So out of the seven clubs left in the race, only one team has played all finals series between 2010-2018, the Sydney Swans. Despite not making finals in 2019, this is still an incredible feat and should not be underestimated.
Hawthorn and Geelong have only missed one series each which will be favourable for them further on.
Despite these clubs often playing in September, the Western Bulldogs have frequently missed out with only four finals series during these years. So as dramatic and heroic their 2016 premiership season was, it is not enough to make them the best club of this decade. Down to 6…
Old dog Dale Morris with young pup Bailey Smith. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)
I started this article by saying that these online discussions often only mentioned the great players instead of the great clubs, but it is rare that these great clubs do not also contain the most elite players.
When looking at these six clubs left in the race, there is no shortage of talent. Geelong have players like Steve Johnson, Gary Ablett, and Patrick Dangerfield. Sydney have Lance Franklin, Josh Kennedy and Adam Goodes. Hawthorn have Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead (and Franklin).
Even Collingwood and Richmond have seen outstanding players this decade in Dane Swan, Scott Pendlebury, and Dustin Martin.
With this category being so difficult to judge, it is near impossible to eliminate one club. Despite the West Coast eagles having some great players such as Matthew Priddis, they lack the depth of talent that other clubs have had this decade, therefore are eliminated from this competition.
With their list being one of the most impressive and deep in the 2019 season, maybe they can have more of an argument for the best team of the next decade.
Since its introduction in 2012, free agency has allowed clubs to improve their list and make changes in the hopes that it will bring them further success.
When looking at some of the great free agency moves, the five teams left in the debate have often been involved. For instance, Geelong’s signing of Patrick Dangerfield and Hawthorn signing of Tom Mitchell were both great moves for the club. But the one standout move for me is the signing of Lance Franklin to the Sydney Swans at the end of the 2015 season.
This move was shocking at the time and was a smart piece of business from the Swans. Franklin is arguably the greatest forward to play the modern game and bringing him to the Swans was incredibly impressive.
Can Lance Franklin inspire the Swans to victory over the Gold Coast? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
For Richmond and Collingwood though, free agency has been much quieter. Looking past the Tigers signing Tom Lynch and the Magpies signing Dayne Beams last year, moves have been few and far between.
So, when comparing these big free agency moves, I think that the Tom Lynch has already proven to be more of an asset for his club with 50 goals to date and Lynch has much more potential to grow as a player in the future. So, similar to last year’s grand final, Collingwood has fallen short at the last hurdle. Then there were four.
For the category of fans, membership numbers are always a key indicator and by latest numbers, there is a clear standout.
Richmond is the top of this list being the first club ever to gain over 100,000 members last year. But looking deeper than just membership numbers it was found by Roy Morgan research in 2019 that the Sydney Swans have over a million worldwide fans making them the most popular club in the AFL.
This may be due to the popularity of the city itself, the Swans AFL market dominance in Sydney or just due to the success of the club itself.
Neither Hawthorn nor Geelong lack fans but the Hawks have 15,000 more members than the Cats. There is no doubt that the small city of Geelong does disadvantage them but Cats fans all but make up for it in their fanatic support. But controversially, the Geelong Cats must be eliminated from this debate.
Impact outside of the game is a tough one to judge as there is no key indicators. Maybe in the growth of the clubs financially, but as the AFL as a whole is in their most successful period to date, it’s hard to judge who is doing best. However, the growth of the sport is one area that I can begin to differentiate the last three clubs.
Tim Kelly of the Cats (AAP Image/Julian Smith)
Hawthorn and Richmond have benefited from the Victorian market being so fanatical about football and invested and the sport of AFL. On the other hand, the Sydney Swans are in the difficult market of New South Wales where AFL is still viewed as a ‘challenger’ sport when it comes to participation.
This makes their work with grassroots level footy even more impressive as its extremely difficult to impact kids who are invested in other sports such as rugby.
Being from New South Wales myself, the impact the Swans have had on the sport in this state is immense and most discussion around the sport of AFL always involves the Swans.
This success off the field can be heavily attributed to success on the field as without this success, AFL would be irrelevant in the state of NSW. From the academy program to school visits, the Swans are really pushing to make AFL the top sport in this state.
Therefore, when assessing all of these criteria there is only one obvious winner for my best club of this decade, the Sydney Swans.
With a premiership in 2012, nine finals series, great players like Lance Franklin and Josh Kennedy, over 60,000 members and over a million worldwide fans, it was difficult to look past this club for the award even without their impact on grassroots footy.
But that is the point of difference between the Swans and the other 17 clubs, their ability to make an impact outside of the professional league.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Very well written. Just querying why you believe the Swans should have won in 2014? Both teams won 17 games in the home & away with the swans having a small 2 percentage margin advantage to take the minor premiership. What wasn't small was winning margin on Grand Final day of 67 points.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Masterpiece response Milo.
Mr Right
Roar Rookie
Jordan I found it interesting your first criteria was that the Club of the decade had to win at least 1 premiership & then a number of other boxes. In 2012 they did that by a very slim margin with the assistance from both Hawthorn & the AFL. Hawthorn kicked 4.10 from set shots inside 50 that day & the AFL with those infamous salary cap concessions. These concessions have correctly since been revoked. Without that slim victory in 2012 over the minor premiers Hawthorn, by your own criteria the Swans would not have even been included in your top six. Obviously this does not make any logical sense. BTW for a club that is considered the club of the decade in a city of 5 million people, I have seen some very poor attendances at the SCG.
Rhys
Guest
Tom Mitchell wasn't a free agent Patty Dangerfield isn't a free agent Buddy didn't go to Sydney Up in 2015 Please fact check before posting opinions.
Hughesy from Hawthorn
Guest
:laughing:
Matt W
Guest
In virtually every regard, including the ones you mention, Hawthorn clearly outperforms Sydney. Keep in mind Sydney has/had the COLA to assist in player retention and until recently exclusive access to academy talent. But Hawthorn (nor any other Vic club) does not receive 10% more salary cap than South Australian clubs due to Melbourne's higher cost of living than Adelaide or Brisbane. Geelong is slightly outside the timeframe of this debate, but in any case is also much better performed than Sydney in the previous decade. Thus, it is necessary to include subjective aspects like "growing the game" because by any of the tangible performance metrics Sydney simply does not compare with Geelong and Hawthorn. The AFL is fully aware that Sydney's financial success and popular support is directly tied to its on-field success. Start losing and the fans drop off, so even by the metrics you use their situation is fragile. Now here's an exercise for you to perform: take any two top-performing clubs. Give one of the clubs the other club's best player and let them go head to head and see what happens. Hawthorn by a mile fella!
Ben
Guest
Every team plays out the season knowing that the Grand Final is going to be played at the MCG. Any team has a chance to make a granny in any given season. Any team can make it, any team can win.
shifty
Roar Rookie
Maybe 2016 could be looked at as one you should have won but in 2014 swan's were smashed, belted, flogged. There's no way you can list that as one you should have won.
Brian
Guest
Surely its the Suns. To get an AFL license without a good reason and then hold it when it proves the case, its genius.
Dean
Guest
Sydney had the COLA rort and academy scam along with them been gifted the extra days rest they didnt earn for the prelim finals in 2012. Hawks were the top team in 2012 and were forced to play their prelim a day later than Sydney. So factor in all that in and Sydney don't win a single premiership.
Eddy Jay
Guest
Sydney has won the most games between 2010-2019, but it’s the premierships that matter. Hawthorn played in four grand finals, Sydney played in three, but Hawthorn won three, Sydney just the one. All the other criteria mentioned are valid, but Hawthorn is the club of the decade, ahead of Sydney. The Sydney team between 2012-2016 is possibly more talented than the Hawthorn team of 2011-2015, but it all gets back to premierships won. And that has to be Hawthorn.
Mark
Roar Rookie
Hawthorn is not as obvious a choice as many are suggesting. Their 3 premierships were all against non victorian teams who were at a significant disadvantage considering home ground advantage being gifted to the Hawks for 2 of those games that they didn’t earn. Had 2014 been played in Sydney and 2015 in Perth (who both finished higher on the ladder) then the Hawks would likely have 1 flag and West Coast and Sydney 1 more each. Any genuine sports supporter (yes, including Victorians) would agree the current MCG contract compromises the integrity of the game.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
Pathetic.
michael RVC
Roar Pro
What you suggest has been done a few times, as you may know. No one from Vic is going to give Sydney the recognition they deserve. Yes, such assessments are pretty subjective, which is another way of saying ˋdepends on your point of view´. To say that sides that get to play in their home city 15 times or more per season and most of those the GF venue have ˋfar better performed´ is a bit disingenuous in my view.
ChrisH
Roar Rookie
I like where you're coming from, Jordan. A lot of folks miss the point you're talking about "best club" not "best team". Altho, that's no surprises because you get into a tangle and interchange the terms. Clearly, the Hawks have been the best team. I do wonder, though, if your result is biased by the order of elimination. If you had've left onfield success til last, then your best club would have had to have been Hawthorn. However I do think - even as a biased Swans fan - that we have been a standout as a club and a team. We did pinch the 2012 flag but we should have won the 2014 one - we just didn't bring any intensity. So all square on those two. And 2016... wish the AFL waited one more year to introduce the pre-season bye. Have we been the best *club* of the last 10 years? I think we're right up there with Cats and Hawks. But how you split them is subjective.
Nolzie
Roar Rookie
By the only measure that should matter in terms of off field success, money. Premierships should be the only measure on field. Just like money should be for off field. Everything that is done at these football clubs is to achieve 2 things, make money and win flags.
Larrikin
Roar Rookie
Since when has either WA club had 7 or weeks at home in a row in any season like cuddly AFL kids of hawks,tigers and c/wood? Never. If west coast were given love cuddles of 7 weeks in a row at home the sooks of vic would be calling for a public hanging, but its always ok for the 3 vic clubs mentioned. Babies
Aus in Engerland
Guest
I think the cultural change at WC from 2009 to 2018 gives a fair tick to the WC part of Nolzie's post. Certainly the club that has done the most to clean itself up. BUT... that is not what the article is really about and very secondary to the main point. The further I got in the article, the more it read like a case of adjusting the criteria until the pre-determined result had been obtained. That's like locking a cane toad in a box with only cotton boll weevils to eat, then declaring it a success when cane toad eats weevil to avoid starvation. Poor methodology. And look at how that turned out in the real world! The most successful club (best) of the past decade is... roll drums... take a deep breath.. actually I'm not even going to say it. It's just too obvious. And on that note I'm off for a poo and a wee.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
“Off field success WCE are streets ahead of anyone”?! By which measure? Quite a few non-WCE clubs have been making great strides in these areas for some time now. You really believe you’re something special?
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Hawthorn won 3 premierships which is two more than anyone else. That’s where this article should start and end.