Premiership rankings: Cornes rates the last 26 AFL premiers

Kane Cornes has ranked every premiership team since 2000.

These rankings are based on who Cornes believes simply had the best list, the best group of players, the best team.

The romantic storylines and the fairytale nature of some of these Grand Final triumphs have not been considered.

The teams have been ranked from 26 to 1 and will be compiled over the course of the next few days.

Cornes’ premiership rankings

26 - Western Bulldogs (2016)

“A remarkable story to break a 62-year drought,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.

“But they only had two All-Australians that year, both on the bench - Matt Boyd and the Bont.

“They just had role players everywhere - Hamling, Biggs, Picken, Cordy, McLean, Roberts, Dahlhaus, Roughead, Dickson.

“There was no doubt they were favoured by the umpires in the Grand Final win over Sydney.”

25 - Sydney (2005)

“I don’t know how they won a premiership looking through this list of 22 that played on that day.

“They broke a 72-year premiership drought. They beat West Coast in an epic Grand Final after averaging 68 points in the finals series.

“This speaks to what a master coach Paul Roos was and how well drilled and tough they were.

“But with names like Saddington, Roberts-Thomson, Bolton, Mathews, Fosdike, Buchanan, Jolly, Schneider, Dempster, Ablett.

“Other than Adam Goodes and Barry Hall at this stage of their careers - Ryan O’Keefe, Nick Davis and Micky O’Loughlin were excellent players - but the star factor was Hall and Goodes.

“It was remarkable that this team won a premiership. They played contested and accountable, but barely any stars anywhere.”

24 - Richmond (2017)

“They also broke a drought, 37 years, off the back of a 13th placed finish win 2016.

“They had two All-Australians (Alex Rance and Dustin Martin) that year and it was the emergence of one of the greatest players we’ve ever seen with one of the best individual years (Martin).

“Hosted a Qualifying Final when they didn’t deserve it and beat Geelong. They definitely had some fortune to have that game played in front of 70 per cent of your fans on your home deck.

“The year was built off swarming front-half pressure, almost revolutionised the game with that tactic and everyone tried to copy it.

“It’s remarkable that this group won. A different story as they went on to build this dynasty but when looking through the names - Astbury, Grimes turned out to be an excellent player but at that stage probably wasn’t, Ellis, Grigg, Lambert, Butler, Caddy, Edwards, Broad, Graham, McIntosh - a lot of role payers.

“A great story because it was a pivotal moment for the club. But in terms of superstars throughout the lineup at that stage in 2017, they weren’t there, other than the emergence of Dusty.”

23 - Richmond (2020)

“That was a strange year.

“At the Gabba in that Grand Final Dustin Martin turned it on again.

“But I don’t think they were the best team that year.”

22 - Collingwood (2010)

“They won the premiership in a rematch after drawing with St Kilda.

“They actually had four All-Australians that year - Heritier Lumumba, Alan Didak, Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury.

“They won a lot of games but I think if you’re looking through their lineup and the journeyman and the role players - Brown, Toovey, Ben Johnson, Jolly, Macaffer, Wellingham, Goldsack.

“I don’t think that was a strong lineup, and if the ball had bounced a different way then they may not be premiers.

“I think it’s the right ranking for them. They played 18 games at the MCG that year including the last 11 so I just deduct points for that.”

Kane’s list will continue on SEN Breakfast on Thursday.