The Greatest AFL team of the last 30 years - Part 1 | Thebigtip

Who is the greatest side of the last thirty years? It's a question that probably cannot be answered but is a much debated topic. Over the next seven weeks I am going to try and answer this question with the help of thebigtip.com.au readers.

With Essendon and Carlton doing battle this Friday night, let’s remember some glory days of both proud clubs and put possibly the best two seasons in recent memory head to head. 

ESSENDON 2000

The mighty bombers took it all before them in the millennium year.  The round 21 clash with the Western Bulldogs was their only blemish on their outstanding season. Five games clear, 25% better than anybody, the highest scoring team, the best defensive team; the accolades go on for the 2000 bombers. After Dean Wallace was brought down by Carlton's Fraser Brown in the dying moments of the 1999 Preliminary Final, Essendon were always going to be the team with fire in their belly, cum season 2000.

With superstar James Hird leading the charge through the midfield, and Matthew Lloyd and Dustin Fletcher the ever reliable bookends; Season 2000 was a walk in the park for the Bombers. Master tactician Kevin Sheedy was at the helm of the 16th Premiership for the bombers.  The team were almost unbeatable, and showed that on Grand Final day. Apart from the Michael Long incident which resulted in an all in brawl early in the game, Essendon were in total control from the first siren.

Essendon took all before them that year, winning the Pre-season cup, minor premiership, and the Premiership.  Starting the year under the new Colonial Stadium roof, belting Port Adelaide by 94 points, Essendon won their first 20 games.  The round 21 loss was a wakeup call to the champion team, taking all before them in the finals series beating North Melbourne 125 points, and Carlton by 45 points before tearing Melbourne apart by 10 goals on Grand Final day. 

Due to salary cap restraints the 2000 Bombers reached the 2001 Grand Final against Brisbane but were not in the same class as the previous year.  History will show us that the Bombers were a champion team, but were they the greatest of all?

Won the Grand Final by 60 points vs. Melbourne

Win Loss: 24/1

All Australians: Four - Damien Hardwick, Dustin Fletcher, James Hird, Matthew Lloyd, Kevin Sheedy (Coach)

Club Best & Fairest: Dustin Fletcher

Leading Goalkicker: Matthew Lloyd (Also Coleman medallist)

Norm Smith Medallist: James Hird

CARLTON 1995

The star studded 1995 Carlton side was like nothing seen by Princes' Park since the late 80's. Kernahan, Silvagni, Williams, Koutoufides and Bradley - all household names - steered Carlton to a dominant 1995 Premiership.  Only a form slump which only lasted a fortnight cost Carlton an undefeated season.  Losing only two of twenty-five games for the entire year will ensure Carlton forever go down in the history books. 

Carlton started the 1995 in fine form defeating arch rivals Collingwood by 29 points in front of 87,119 at the MCG.  Round 9 saw the blues lose their last game of the year to St Kilda by 56 points (scoring only 3 goals), but recovered in the best possible way by trouncing Hawthorn by 102 points.  The Hawthorn result was the first of a sweet sixteen wins in a row for the all conquering team. 

Carlton went into the finals series four games clear of all pack, but almost stumbled at the first hurdle defeating Brisbane by 13 points.  After having a week off Carlton took Wayne Carey and his North Melbourne team to the cleaners, brushing them aside by 62 points.  Media pundits were promoting a very close and exciting Grand Final between Carlton and Geelong.  Geelong had won both their finals by over 80 points, and had been in two of the last grand finals.  The dominant Carlton side were all class on Grand Final day, Kernahan and Williams kicking 5 goals and Silvagni holding one of the games greats Gary Ablett Snr goalless as Carlton won by 61 points.

Won the Grand Final by 61 points vs. Geelong

Win Loss: 23/2

All Australians: Three Stephen Silvagni, Justin Madden, Anthony Koutourfides, David Parkin (Coach)

Club Best & Fairest: Brett Ratten

Leading Goalkicker: Stephen Kernahan (63) 

Norm Smith Medallist: Greg Williams

Who do you think was the better team, Carlton 1995 or Essendon 2000?  So many great battles would have been fought between the two teams Lloyd v Silvagni, Hird v Koutourfides, Kernahan v Fletcher.

Please comment on who you think was the better side, the team with the most reader comments will go through to the semi-final in weeks to come.

Next Week: Adelaide 1997-98 vs. Brisbane 2001-03