Respected media commentator Mike Sheahan has no doubts as to the greatest player of the last 25 years (between 1990-2014); the one and only Wayne Carey.
Sheahan’s analysis has divided opinion, but no-one can deny his impact.
Carey’s first season in 1989 is ineligible for consideration, but after just four games and 34 disposals in the number 40, it has little bearing.
From 1990-2004, Carey played 272 games (244 for North), kicked 727 goals and registered 127 Brownlow Medal votes.
Along the way, he racked up seven All-Australian gongs, four best and fairests, two AFLPA MVP awards, was named the club’s Team of the Century captain and played in two premierships – just to name a few of a long list of illustrious achievements.
At just 30 years of age and far from done, Gary Ablett junior is next, with his father Gary Ablett senior following close behind.
Jason Dunstall comes in fourth ahead of Tony Lockett, with Michael Voss and Chris Judd not far behind.
One of just 13 players in the top 50 still to be plying his trade, Brent Harvey is ranked 35th by Sheahan.
With 384 games under his belt, as well as five Syd Barker Medals, he’ll go down as one of the greats of all time.
Sheahan’s top 50 – 1990-2014
1. Wayne Carey (North Melbourne/Adelaide)
2. Gary Ablett Jr. (Geelong/Gold Coast)
3. Gary Ablett Snr. (Geelong)
4. Jason Dunstall (Hawthorn)
5. Tony Lockett (St Kilda/Sydney)
6. Michael Voss (Brisbane)
7. Chris Judd (West Coast/Carlton)
8. Greg Williams (Sydney/Carlton)
9. James Hird (Essendon)
10. Peter Matera (West Coast)
11. Robert Harvey (St Kilda)
12. Dean Cox (West Coast)
13. Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
14. Simon Black (Brisbane)
15. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
16. Nathan Buckley (Collingwood)
17. Lance Franklin (Hawthorn/Sydney)
18. Stephen Kernahan (Carlton)
19. Matthew Scarlett (Geelong)
20. Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)
21. Paul Roos (Fitzroy/Sydney)
22. Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)
23. Ben Cousins (West Coast/Richmond)
24. Paul Kelly (Sydney)
25. Glen Jakovich (West Coast)
26. Mark Ricciuto (Adelaide)
27. Adam Goodes (Sydney)
28. John Platten (Hawthorn)
29. Jason Akermanis (Brisbane/Western Bulldogs)
30. Gavin Wanganeen (Essendon/Port Adelaide)
31. Shane Crawford (Hawthorn)
32. Dustin Fletcher (Essendon)
33. Joel Selwood (Geelong)
34. Jonathan Brown (Brisbane)
35. Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)
36. Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)
37. Craig Bradley (Carlton)
38. Alastair Lynch (Brisbane)
39. Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
40. Chris Langford (Hawthorn)
41. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
42. Dane Swan (Collingwood)
43. Paul Salmon (Essendon/Hawthorn)
44. Darren Jarman (Hawthorn/Adelaide)
45. Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
46. Anthony Koutoufides (Carlton)
47. Warren Tredrea (Port Adelaide)
48. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
49. Nigel Lappin (Brisbane)
50. Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
