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News.com.au
2 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
What is the greatest AFL team of the 21st century?
It was the bone crunching hit that echoed around the MCG and footy conversations for years afterwards. When Collingwood's Scott Burns made a beeline for Michael Voss in the 2002 Grand Final and rammed into the Lions captain, you would have forgiven Voss for lying dazed on the turf. Instead he bounced back to his feet immediately and handpassed to Brownlow Medallist Simon Black, who kicked a goal as Brisbane won a thrilling decider against the Pies. It was a passage of play that epitomised the combination of sheer brutality and silky smooth skill that saw Brisbane win three premierships in a row and make the 2004 Grand Final. Nathan Buckley, Voss' direct opponent, won the North Smith Medal that day, but Voss' efforts in the dying stages of that game forced a change so voting is now completed after the final siren. Our 25@25 series will finally put to bed the debates you've been having at the pub and around dinner tables for years – and some that are just too much fun not to include. Ask most footy fans to name the best AFL team of the 21st century and even the most rusted on Victorians tend to nominate the Brisbane Lions under Voss and Leigh Matthews. The Lions had it all. The 'Fab Four' midfield of Voss, Black, Jason Akermanis and Nigel Lappin was as tough and talented as it gets. How many players today could kick goals from an impossible angle on their left or right foot like 'Aker'? Defenders Mal Michael and Justin Leppitsch were as tough as nails, and we wouldn't have wanted to get lost in a dark alley with the Scott twins, who were great players as well as masterful nigglers. The same goes for Jonathan Brown and Alastair Lynch. It's also easy to forget current Collingwood coach Craig McRae was a role player as a small forward in all three of Brisbane's flags. 'For me, I would always go Brisbane of the early 2000s,' Hawks great and Fox Footy commentator Jordan Lewis told 'They were stacked across every line, and it was a game where you really relied on individual battles and individual brilliance. 'When we (Hawthorn) were able to win, it was more sort of team defence and team offence. 'That side for me would stack up in any era and any decade as being the best team that has possibly ever played the game.' How would Hodge-Lewis-Mitchell have gone against Brisbane's Fab Four? 'It would have been a great duel,' Lewis said. 'Maybe we did play each other in the early 2000s, but we were certainly kids, and they were coming towards the end of their careers. 'I mean they're Hall of Fame quality players, and it's quite rare that you get so many in one team, which Brisbane had — All Australians, Coleman medallists, Norm Smith medallists. It was a rich era of football up in the northern state.' FOX FOOTY, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every match of every round in the 2025 Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE in 4K, with no ad-breaks during play. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited-time offer. Who is the best AFL team of this century? Let's break it down. Brisbane, Geelong, Hawthorn and Richmond are the four candidates given they each won three or more premierships in their dynasties. But we're crossing off Richmond given the lopsided grand final wins in 2017 and 2019 against Adelaide and GWS and the reliance on Dustin Martin. Dusty's performance in the 2020 Grand Final win over Geelong was as good as it gets — shrugging off Patrick Dangerfield in the forward pocket to snap a miraculous goal is legacy defining stuff. Hawthorn won four premierships (2008 and the 2013-15 three-peat) with six players featuring in all of those triumphs — Sam Mitchell, Luke Hodge, Jordan Lewis, Cyril Rioli, Jarryd Roughead and Grant Birchall. The Hawks under Hodge's captaincy are probably the toughest team this century along with the Lions. Speaking to Lewis said 'competitiveness' was the defining characteristic of that successful Hawthorn team that allowed them to reset and win back-to-back flags. 'You need the game plan, you need to be fit and healthy and everything to go right, but if you're not competitive, you can't sustain that long period of success,' Lewis told 'Players recognise that when they've been successful for one year and find it really hard to back it up. Then you really appreciate how good those teams that were able to stay at the top of their game and win multiple premierships in a row.' Each of those great teams had an iconic moment or two. Voss bouncing back from the Burns bump, Matthew Scarlett's toepoke to Gary Ablett Jr in the 2009 grand final and Hodge had a couple himself — an likely goal from the boundary in 2015 and planting a kiss on Buddy Franklin in 2014. Jarryd Roughead tackled Sydney's Dan Hannebery so hard in the 2014 Grand Final there might still be a dent in the MCG turf in the shape of Hannebery. The Hawks got revenge for the 2012 decider and blew Sydney away in a 63-point win — the first of four consecutive grand final defeats for the Swans. 'The Roughhead tackle on Dan Hannebery where he crunched him at the stoppage was a big moment,' Hawthorn legend Jason Dunstall recalled. 'That bump on Michael Voss when, that's probably the one that stands out to me because that could sway the game either way. 'If he doesn't get up, Brisbane are in trouble. But if he gets up, all it's gonna do is inspire his teammates and that's exactly what happened. So that to me is probably the one that stands out.' Dunstall broke down the case for Geelong from a longevity point of view given the Cats have been contenders for most of the past 20 years. 'Brisbane and Geelong have been in six grand finals, Hawthorn in five, so I put Brisbane and Geelong ahead of them,' Dunstall told 'Then to separate those two, you have to go with Geelong because they played in 19 final series in 25 years. It's just ridiculous.' Geelong's team in 2007-2009 was astonishingly strong across the board, especially when Ablett was at the peak of his powers. In 2007 the Cats had nine, yes nine players named in the All Australian team. That outfit had dour defenders like Scarlett and matchwinners all over the park, including Ablett, Jimmy Bartel, Stevie Johnson, Corey Enright, Joel Corey and Paul Chapman. The Cats were so good they won a premiership in 2011 after Ablett left and the Hawks did the same in 2014 after Buddy Franklin's shock departure to the Sydney Swans. Asked to separate Geelong and Brisbane's dynasties, Dunstall chuckled: 'You're asking impossible questions now. I mean, you don't win three in a row unless you're an amazing team. 'But we've got to remember, Geelong won 07, 09, 11, and they were hot favourites in 08 as well and somehow lost to Hawthorn. So they could have won four in five years, such was their dominance. 'We're splitting hairs. They were just incredible sides.' Just imagine, how would prime Dusty have done against Voss back in the day? 'Gee it would have been a good clash. It would have been fun to watch because you're talking about a couple of raging bulls that would have gone at each other,' Dunstall said. 'Vossy was probably a little more 'inside' than Dusty was, whereas Dusty had that outside game as well. That would've been worth the price of admission watching those two go today.' If we're talking longevity, Collingwood is in the conversation simply by nature of their ability to also keep contending year after year. This century the Pies have two premierships (2010, 2023) and they could well make it a third this season based on how they're travelling on top of the ladder. Three grand final wins, along with four grand final losses (2002, 2003, 2011, 2018) would be a clear sign of a club that can stay at the top. They've also put the 'Collywobbles' behind them under coach McRae, so they don't quite have the grand final scarring of the Swans. Collingwood has an iconic grand final moment too — Heath Shaw's smother on Nick Riewoldt in the 2010 replay set the tone for the game — it's now being recreated by Shaw in the latest edition of Toyota's Legendary Moments series. Asked if Collingwood could be considered one of the great teams of the 21st century if they win this year, Dunstall said: 'Not yet. That'd be their third flag, so they're still playing a little bit of catch up there. But I love Craig McRae as a coach.' The ability to attract recruits year after year is another advantage the powerhouse Victorian clubs have. 'Those sides have a different way of thinking,' Lewis said of Geelong and Collingwood in particular. 'They've been able to attract really good talent, but where the improvements come from and where the ability to stay at the top of the ladder has come from is the recruiting staff have identified players that suit the way that they play, and they haven't given up much for them. 'So Collingwood would have been like this, Hawthorn would have been like this, Richmond to a lesser extent. They had to get Tom Lynch in, so they paid him big money. 'Geelong have really led the way in trying to build their list out through the draft and trade, and that's why they've been able to stay at the top. 'They haven't overpaid players. They've got the right players to fit the way that they want to play. 'That's the trap that other sides fall into. They think that spending big money on one player can solve their issues time after time.' Ultimately, we're giving the nod to Brisbane Lions of the early 2000s as the best AFL team of the century. There's also the factor that Brisbane came to the MCG and beat Victorian teams in all three grand finals in 2001, 2002 and 2003 — that's no mean feat. In the grand finals since Brisbane's three-peat, only two interstate teams have beaten a Victorian club in a grand final at the MCG (Sydney in 2012, West Coast in 2018). Some honourable mentions — St Kilda's 2009 team went undefeated in the first 19 games of the season before getting pipped by Geelong in the grand final. If it wasn't for a rogue bounce of the ball past Stephen Milne, the Saints may well have won in 2010. Instead, the grand final was drawn and Collingwood won by 56 points in the replay. West Coast and Sydney both have two premierships this century and they deserve a mention purely for the epic grand finals in 2005 and 2006, decided by a combined margin of five points.
Daily Record
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
The two part Rangers transfer plan as continental 'stardust' targeted after Rothwell, Coady and more
Scott Burns reveals what he expects at Rangers this window in today's live transfer Q&A Rangers fans can expect a summer transfer window in two parts – with continental "stardust" targeted after they've bulked out Russell Martin 's squad with some signings closer to home. It's been a naturally busy window at Ibrox as the 49ers look to rebuild things but so far, most of the noise has been around UK-based players. Max Aarons is officially in the door, Conor Coady is expected to follow, and it's emerged that Joe Rothwell, who spent last season at Leeds and has a history with boss Martin, is being targeted to bolster the midfield. In the latest Record Sport Transfer Q&A, Scott Burns was asked if there is a plan to widen the net at any stage in the window. And for fans hoping for a bit more foreign policy in the months ahead, we've got some good news. Fan Louise Wise wrote in to ask: Will Rangers go to different markets and buy younger players instead of just going to the English one? And our man Burns said: "Sporting director Kevin Thelwell has taken the decision to go for more experienced players from England. That will provide the core of Russell Martin's squad. They will then look abroad for a bit of stardust in terms of the attacking areas." Hamza Igamane's protracted Lille saga will of course inform how much there is to spend on transfers, and it may be that the Ibrox board are dealing in the budget signings now – like Aarons on loan and Coady on a free – before the big money signings arrive later in the window when the budget is more iron-clad. With that in mind it would make sense to focus in more on UK-based sure things in the short-term before the risks come later. Rangers were just one element of today's Q&A, of course. Burns also told of the four signings Aberdeen are expected to make, Dundee United's pursuit of a new winger, and the priority at Hearts with Lawrence Shankland's contract ticking down. You can read the Q&A in full as it happened on today's transfer blog, and tune in next time as Burns takes questions on the comings and goings from every club in Scotland. You can get all the news you need on our dedicated Rangers and Celtic pages, and sign up to our newsletters to make sure you never miss a beat throughout the season. We're also on WhatsApp where we bring all the latest breaking news and transfer gossip directly to you phone. Join our Rangers community here and our Celtic community here.
Yahoo
16-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
J.J. Spaun's Surprise U.S. Open Win Lands Him $4.3M Top Prize
J.J. Spaun won his first U.S. Open by two strokes over Robert MacIntyre on Sunday. The 34-year-old will take home the major championship's $4.3 million prize for what is just the second PGA tournament win in his career. Spaun's $4.3 million in winnings from Oakmont matched the 2024 U.S. Open's top prize secured by Bryson DeChambeau. And the $21.5 million in total prize money for the 2025 U.S. Open field also equaled the 2024 pot—still the highest for a major championship. Advertisement More from Spaun won the 125th U.S. Open after falling back in rounds two and three after sitting atop the leaderboard after day one. The Los Angeles native played a sterling first round Thursday, where he shot a 4-under-par 66. He fell back Friday and Saturday by a couple of strokes to Louisiana native Scott Burns, who led into the start of his fourth round Sunday only to falter on the back nine. Burns finished at 3-over-par for the weekend, tied for seventh place. MacIntyre, who notched both of his two career PGA Tour wins last year, had a more consistent four days than many of the other contenders, but fell two strokes short overall. His 2-under-par for the rain-interrupted fourth round left him at 1-over-par for the tournament. For Spaun, the victory's $4.3 million top prize is by far his largest single tournament win to date. According to Spotrac, he had won $17.7 million in his 19-year career entering today. Advertisement Spaun made the PGA Tour 11 years ago, winning his first and, until Sunday, only PGA event in 2022, at the Valero Texas Open. That result netted him about $1.5 million. With his victory at Oakmont, the 34-year-old also gains a place in all four majors for each of the next five years and entries in the U.S. Open for the next decade. This year's U.S. Open was the 10th held at Oakmont, the most of any course and among the most difficult, according to its players. Best of Sign up for Sportico's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
The 5 positions Celtic want to fill this summer as Parkhead transfer insider predicts a signing frenzy
Scott Burns believes it will be at least four or five incoming at Celtic this summer Celtic will be in the market for at least four or five signings this summer as Brendan Rodgers kicks things up a gear. That's according to our transfer insider Scott Burns who took your burning questions in today's big transfer Q&A. The Hoops are looking to strike while the iron is hot after landing another two trophies last season but coming up short in the hunt for the Treble underpinned Rodgers' belief that he needs to freshen things up this summer. Outgoings could yet influence how many are signed but our man expects to see four or five coming in the door. "That would be a left-back, if Greg Taylor does go, a central midfielder, a defensive midfielder, a right winger and possibly another striker." Elsewhere Dundee United fan Blair Millar wanted to know if his team are planning to pick up the pace with European qualifiers coming up soon. Burns replied: "United are very active. They are an advanced stage with two or three options. I expect it will be a busy summer at Tannadice, ahead of their European return." We know Declan Gallagher is leaving United and Burns believes he may well end up in the Championship with Ross County. Asked for an update on County comings and goings, he said: "I understand that County are keen on a move for former Dundee United defender Declan Gallagher. He is a free agent but also has Premiership and Championship options." Premiership new boys Falkirk are interested in signing Brian Graham from Partick Thistle, after the Partick Thistle captain insisted he'd find it hard to step back into the dressing room if it wasn't as permanent manager. Burns said: "Falkirk are keen to land him. It is up to the player whether he wants another crack at the Premiership or stays in the Championship. I suspect he might end up at Falkirk." And who could the Jags replace him with? Burns teased: "They are keen on an experienced Premiership striker but face a bit of competition." Tune in to Hotline Live every Sunday to Thursday and have your say on the biggest issues in Scottish football and listen to Record Sport's newest podcast, Game On, every Friday for your sporting fix, all in bitesize chunks.
Daily Record
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Celtic could shatter £11m transfer record and Rangers summer won't be straightforward – Scott Burns' transfer diary
Our man Scott Burns took your questions live and here's the headlines from what he had to say Livingston's playoff promotion to the Premiership means the SPFL season 2024/25 is officially behind us. But transfer season is only just getting started. A Double had to do for Celtic after their Scottish Cup Final shocker at the hands of Aberdeen and that will only underline Brendan Rodgers' publicly-held belief that his squad needs freshened this summer. The Hoops took front and centre today as our resident transfer guru Scott Burns took over our LIVE blog with a blockbuster Q&A. And he reckons it could be another record-breaking summer at Parkhead – with three specific signings lined up to kick things off. He said: "I think there is every chance that Celtic will break their transfer record. " Brendan Rodgers wants to move forward and make further progress in the Champions League. Celtic will also want to try and continue their dominance domestically after losing the Scottish Cup Final. "The Celtic board know the positions that the manager wants to strengthen and it is up to them to land them. "To take things to the next level will take decent money, to bring in the two midfielders and winger that their manager wants in the first instance." As for Rangers, fan John Williams wrote in to ask how data-driven their approach will be in the new era after their San Francisco 49ers-backed takeover is rubber-stamped. Burns said: "Rangers is going to be interesting this summer. "They have identified a number of targets from their existing scouting operations but they have all been put on hold until sporting director Kevin Thelwell gets a handle on them. "There is also the added complication of who the new manager will be. Data will play a big part in the recruitment but Thelwell also likes to get boots on the ground as well." One target we know is Josh Mulligan and a Dundee fan asked if there's any chance of them keeping hold of the midfielder. Burns though isn't betting on it. "The midfielder is out of contract at Dundee but still hasn't agreed anything elsewhere yet," he said. "Rangers have held talks but most transfer business is on hold until they sort their next manager. "A number of English Championship clubs are also interested, including newly-promoted Charlton Athletic. That could now become a major option. "Salford City are another team who like Mulligan, so he has options. If I was a betting man I would expect he would be moving on from Dens Park." Livi meanwhile are back in the top flight at the first time of asking and David Martindale said after their thrilling playoff final victory that it saved him having to replace several players who had automatic release clauses if they failed to bounce back. When asked if any of the Livi players are expected to leave now, Burns said: "There are three or four, who thanks to the promotion, who have triggered extensions, including keeper Jerome Prior. "Davie Martindale also has a few out-of-contract that he is set to lose. " Record Sport understands that midfielder Stephen Kelly is set for a move to America with Orange County. The former Rangers youngster is poised to move to the USL side. In terms of incomings they have deals close for Cammy Kerr and Zak Rudden."
