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.”

21 - Hawthorn (2008)

“This is the young Hawks who had an average age of 22.7 which was one of the youngest lists.

“Buddy Franklin was 21 and kicked 100, they had two All-Australians - Luke Hodge and Franklin.

“It was the first year of the revolutionary Clarko’s Cluster.

“They beat Geelong and were $3.75 in a two-horse race to win that game. It was the start of the dynasty they would go on, but definitely ahead of their time.

“Young, Renouf, Ellis, Guerra, Ladson, Gilham, Campbell, these are some of the names that won a premiership in this year.”

20 - Sydney (2012)

“The Hawks were hot favourites and Sydney were outsiders.

“They only had two All-Australians, Ted Richards was an unlikely All-Australian, and Josh Kennedy was a star.

“Adam Goodes was 33 this year so it wasn’t the prime version of him.

“Hawthorn’s inaccuracy hurt them kicking 11.15 after being the minor premiers and the highest scoring team so they would feel like that was one that got away.

“When you look at the Swans’ names - Smith, Johnson, Mattner, Malceski, Jack, Roberts-Thomson, McGlynn, Pyke, Bird, Fosdike, Morton.”

19 - West Coast (2018)

“I give extra credit for interstate teams, particularly if you come from Perth, and you win a premiership. Should be worth one and a half premierships I reckon.

“They conceded the first five goals, then Jack Darling dropped an easy mark and you thought that this moment had got a bit too big for them.

“Andrew Gaff, Nic Naitanui and Brad Sheppard all missed the Grand Final so you’ve got to factor that in. They had the two All-Australians that played - Gaff was AA this year, and they had Jeremy McGovern and Shannon Hurn.

“Some of the names - Schofield, Jetta, Cole, Redden, Hutchings, Vardy, Venables.”

18 - Melbourne (2012)

“It was another interesting year which was still affected by COVID.

“The themes of what I’ve been doing so far to this point is that’s been a lot of role players, but this team was built on stars.

“They had five All-Australians that year - Clayton Oliver in his prime, Christian Petracca in his prime, Max Gawn was captain of the AA team, Jake Lever and Steven May just sensational.

“It was Kozzy Pickett and Luke Jackson’s first year, so great drafting from the Demons. First premiership in 57 years.

“I probably took a couple of points off because it was a weird year, whether that’s fair or not…”

17 - Port Adelaide (2004)

“Added points for knocking off the three-time champs going for four (Brisbane Lions).

“Two All-Australians in that year. Warren Tredrea was the best centre half-forward in football for four years in a row - a destructive force who was absolutely in his prime. Chad Cornes got his first AA playing a new role across centre half-back.

“Some players that were stars but through injury or whatever reason probably didn’t get the accolades they deserved. Roger James was a star footballer, Stuey Dew in his absolute prime, Byron Pickett won the Norm Smith Medal.

“The team was built around some recruits like Damien Hardwick, Darryl Wakelin and Brett Montgomery. We were without Josh Francou and Matthew Primus, and Brendon Lade was really under the weather leading in.

“We knocked off the champs and we were dominant force throughout a four-year period. In the home and away season.”

16 - Brisbane (2024)

“They went 14-8-1. They finished fifth and became only the second team to win the premiership from outside the top four.

“It was a remarkable season. They had a couple of All-Australians in Neale and Zorko, but they had injuries everywhere, mainly ACLs.

“Coleman, Doedee, Gardiner and McCarthy were injured, and it was all about the comeback in the finals series. “They were 44 down midway through that third term in the semi against the Giants and then four goals down against Geelong in that prelim before smacking Sydney in the Grand Final.

“But they were so talented.”

15 - Collingwood (2023)

“At 15, I’ve got Collingwood of 2023.

“Nick Daicos was injured in Round 21, and he only came back for the prelim final and was able to fit pretty well straight back in. He had had 28 in the prelim final and had nearly 30 in the Grand Final.

“They had three All-Australians, Darcy Moore, and both of the Daicos boys.

“The home and away was strong. They finished 1st at 18-5.

“They were the Globetrotters. They moved the ball so freely off halfback. We loved the way that they played, and Craig McCrae captivated us by his new age coaching style.”

14 - Geelong (2011)

“At 14, I've got Geelong in 2011, that it was their 3rd Premiership in 5 years.

“It was the first year of Chris Scott. They had three All-Australian selections with Scarlett, Enright and Kelly.

“They won the first 13 games of the season in that year and were a dominant home and away side.

“They ended up finishing second at 19-3 and they were the only side that Collingwood lost to for the whole year.

“It was also the first year without Gaz, so to be able to dot hat without him was a remarkable effort.”

13 - Brisbane (2025)

“At 13, I've got Brisbane last year.

“It's amazing when you looked at their emergencies on the Grand Final day last year. That's why they were prepared to roll the dice with Lachie Neale, because they had no one left.

“They were without Answerth, Coleman, Doedee, Hipwood, McCarthy and Payne.

“Neale had his battles, and no Daniher who was in his first year of retirement. There was no one left. They were depleted.

“They went into the Grand Final underdogs, but they were able to get it done.

“They went 16-6-1 in the home and away season to finished third. But for them to be able to back up and do what they did, there is absolutely extra points for this amazing Brisbane side, which is chock full of young and old talent.

“They have great resilience, this team.”

12 - Geelong (2022)

“At 12, I've got Geelong of 2022.

“They were a dominant home and away team at 18-4. they finished first, and they were destroying teams in the finals series.

“They beat Brisbane by 71 in a prelim and they then smashed Sydney in the Grand Final by 81.

“They won 16 straight to finish the season, this Geelong side, and they were the third oldest Grand Final team.

“They had five All-Australians in Tom Hawkins, Tyson Stengel, Jeremy Cameron, Mark Blicavs and Tom Stewart.

“They were a remarkable team, and it is a credit to them to be so high on this list.”

The countdown will continue next week.