Now more than ever, a team's success is built on multiplying contributions to the scoreboard, whether that be from a defender, midfielder, ruckman, or more commonly, a forward.
We've crunched the numbers from the 2023 season so far to show where the goals are coming from for each AFL side.
*Rucks are also included as midfielders for this analysis. The numbers are correct as of the conclusion of Round 12.
Adelaide Crows
The ninth-placed Crows have slowly begun to put the league on notice that they're a dangerous team, particularly in the forward third.
Taylor Walker, Izak Rankine and Darcy Fogarty have all been large contributors to Adelaide's success and are threatening to single-handedly return them to the finals.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
15 (7.69%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
47 (24.1%) |
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FORWARDS |
133 (68.21) |
Brisbane Lions
Brisbane's forward line has now been proven to show how deadly it is with 11 games played and 124 goals kicked.
Their star-studded midfield has also been a factor, averaging around two goals a game, but many argue that could be more with Dunkley, Neale, and Ashcroft. Conor McKenna and Daniel Rich have paired up in becoming threats to the opposition to score whenever near the 50-metre arc, while Joe Daniher and Charlie Cameron have both been leading the charge for the Lions in attack.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
10 (6.37%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
23 (14.64%) |
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FORWARDS |
124 (78.98%) |
Carlton Blues
The Blues have had questions raised over their scoring but the table below shows a decent balance across the board.
However, fans are hoping that more goals can be kicked from outside of their two Coleman medallists in Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
7 (5.26%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
23 (17.29%) |
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FORWARDS |
103 (77.44%) |
Collingwood Magpies
Collingwood's rise to the premiership conversation has been no fluke, with one of the largest contributions of goals from the midfield in the entire league. Thus showing the aggression the Magpie midfielders have been playing with since the season started.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
14 (7.69%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
49 (26.92%) |
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FORWARDS |
119 (65.38%) |
Essendon Bombers
The Bombers are also pushing for a finals berth, sitting comfortably in sixth position. Overall, Essendon's goalkicking numbers are almost in line with the league average.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
10 (6.29%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
48 (30.19%) |
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FORWARDS |
101 (63.52%) |
Fremantle Dockers
The Dockers' midfielders and forwards are doing the bulk of scoring, whilst the defenders have only scored five goals from 11 matches. If the defenders get involved more, could there be a chance for Fremantle to reinstate themselves as one of the better teams in the competition?
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
5 (3.25%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
39 (25.32%) |
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FORWARDS |
111 (72.08%) |
Geelong Cats
The Cats have had a rollercoaster of a season so far, dominating some teams whilst also facing disappointing losses. But what fans won't be disappointed with is how Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron are playing, with both booting 30+ goals this season and powering the Cats' attack.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
15 (7.35) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
54 (26.47%) |
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FORWARDS |
135 (66.18%) |
Gold Coast Suns
The Suns' fantastic run in Darwin has given them strong hope of making the finals for the first time in the club's history. In comparison to other clubs, the Suns should be looking to see how they can get their defenders more involved in the game.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
3 (2.11%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
30 (21.13%) |
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FORWARDS |
109 (76.76%) |
GWS Giants
GWS are not having the season they would've hoped for, sitting 15th despite strong numbers across all positions. They've participated in plenty of high-scoring encounters this season so far to rank among the best scoring sides among the bottom half.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
14 (8.7%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
34 (21.12%) |
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FORWARDS |
113 (70.19%) |
Hawthorn
The Hawks' dash from half-back is certainly real, being one of the top teams for goals kicked by defenders. Whilst they are not threatening to make finals, it promises to be an exciting future and something to build on for the young team.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
16 (12.6%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
29 (22.83%) |
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FORWARDS |
82 (64.57%) |
Melbourne Demons
Melbourne's scoring has an equal spread and is very dangerous, coming from the midfield with the double rucks, and of course, one of the faces of the AFL, Christain Petracca, who has 11 goals to his name alone.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
8 (4.49%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
53 (29.78%) |
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FORWARDS |
117 (65.73%) |
North Melbourne
North's recent form doesn't show nicely in the numbers, but the club can be happy with the scoring coming from their midfield. Could a trade for a key forward be the difference for North?
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
9 (7.26%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
30 (24.19%) |
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FORWARDS |
85 (68.55%) |
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide has risen up to be one of the highest-scoring teams in the league and their numbers are impressive. High contributions across all three lines of the squad, having the highest amount of goals kicked by defenders in the league. The versatile Jeremy Finlayson has been a key to their success so far, while the long-kicking backmen in Dan Houston and Ryan Burton have shifted further up the field.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
26 (14.94%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
30 (17.24%) |
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FORWARDS |
118 (67.82%) |
Richmond
Richmond is another side struggling to meet expectations in 2023. With injuries lingering, scoring has well and truly been down this year as the Tigers usually play with the 'chaos ball' strategy for their forward line. Jack Riewoldt has been impressive in needing to hold up the forward line in the absence of Tom Lynch.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
15 (10.07%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
36 (24.16%) |
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FORWARDS |
98 (65.77%) |
St Kilda
The Saints' hot start to the year has opened up opportunities to score from all angles and avenues. With Max King being ruled out for a period of time, the Saints found other ways to score, which is visible from their midfield and defensive output on goal, with these players looking to be aggressive and score whenever they have the chance.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
18 (13.24%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
33 (24.26%) |
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FORWARDS |
85 (62.5%) |
Sydney Swans
Last year's grand finalists can be optimistic about where their goals are coming from, with the Swans' midfielders having a major impact on the scoreboard. However, more output needs to be done from their forwards to re-enter premiership contention.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
13 (9.03%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
37 (25.69%) |
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FORWARDS |
94 (65.28%) |
West Coast Eagles
The battered Eagles have had a season to forget so far with several large losses. A crucial factor is the lack of scoring from their forwards, with a league-low amount of goals kicked by forwards. There's Plenty of work to do for the Eagles, however Oscar Allen has to be appreciated for his efforts to be in the race for the Coleman Medal.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
9 (8.18%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
33 (30%) |
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FORWARDS |
68 (61.82%) |
Western Bulldogs
The Dogs have been renowned for being one of the top midfield groups in the league, and the numbers prove that. The dangers of Bontempelli, Smith, Macrae and Liberatore have combined to put the Dogs in a good position for the second half of the year.
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TOTAL GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
15 (10.71%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
44 (31.43%) |
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FORWARDS |
81 (57.86%) |
AFL total goal breakdowns
| Goals by defenders (%) | Goals by midfielders (%) | Goals by forwards (%) | Total | ||
| Geelong | 15 (7.35%) | 54 (26.47%) | 135 (66.18%) | 204 | |
| Adelaide | 15 (7.69%) | 47 (24.1%) | 133 (68.21%) | 183 | |
| Collingwood | 14 (7.69%) | 49 (26.92%) | 119 (65.38%) | 182 | |
| Melbourne | 8 (4.49%) | 53 (29.78%) | 117 (65.73%) | 178 | |
| Port Adelaide | 26 (14.94%) | 30 (17.24%) | 118 (67.82%) | 174 | |
| GWS | 14 (8.7%) | 34 (21.12%) | 113 (70.19%) | 161 | |
| Essendon | 10 (6.29%) | 48 (30.19%) | 101 (63.52%) | 159 | |
| Brisbane | 10 (6.37%) | 23 (14.64%) | 124 (78.98%) | 157 | |
| Fremantle | 5 (3.25%) | 39 (25.32%) | 111 (72.08%) | 155 | |
| Richmond | 15 (10.07%) | 36 (24.16%) | 98 (65.77%) | 149 | |
| Sydney | 13 (9.03%) | 37 (25.69%) | 94 (65.28%) | 144 | |
| Gold Coast | 3 (2.11%) | 30 (21.13%) | 109 (76.76%) | 142 | |
| Western Bulldogs | 15 (10.71%) | 44 (31.43%) | 81 (57.86%) | 140 | |
| St Kilda | 18 (13.24%) | 33 (24.26%) | 85 (62.5%) | 136 | |
| Carlton | 7 (5.26%) | 23 (17.29%) | 103 (77.44%) | 133 | |
| Hawthorn | 16 (12.6%) | 29 (22.83%) | 82 (64.57%) | 127 | |
| North Melbourne | 9 (7.26%) | 30 (24.19%) | 85 (68.55%) | 124 | |
| West Coast | 9 (8.18%) | 33 (30%) | 68 (61.82%) | 110 |
AFL average goal breakdowns
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GOALS KICKED: |
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DEFENDERS |
12 (7.84%) |
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MIDFIELDERS |
37 (24.18%) |
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FORWARDS |
104 (67.97%) |
Teams below/above average for goals kicked by defenders:
Adelaide Crows - Above average
Brisbane Lions - Below average
Carlton Blues - Below average
Collingwood Magpies - Above average
Essendon Bombers - Below average
Fremantle Dockers - Below average
Gold Coast Suns - Below average
Hawthorn - Above average
Melbourne Demons - Below average
North Melbourne - Below average
Port Adelaide - Above average
Richmond - Above average
St Kilda - Above average
Sydney Swans - Above average
West Coast - Below average
Western Bulldogs - Above average
Teams below/above average for goals kicked by midfielders:
Adelaide Crows - Above average
Brisbane Lions - Below average
Carlton Blues - Below average
Collingwood Magpies - Above average
Essendon Bombers - Above average
Fremantle Dockers - Above average
Gold Coast Suns - Below average
Hawthorn - Below average
Melbourne Demons - Above average
North Melbourne - Below average
Port Adelaide - Below average
Richmond - Below average
St Kilda - Below average
West Coast - Below average
Western Bulldogs - Above average
Teams below/above average for goals kicked by forwards:
Adelaide Crows - Above average
Brisbane Lions - Above average
Carlton Blues - Below average
Collingwood Magpies - Above average
Essendon Bombers - Below average
Fremantle Dockers - Above average
Gold Coast Suns - Above average
Hawthorn - Below average
Melbourne Demons - Above average
North Melbourne - Below average
Port Adelaide - Above average
Richmond - Below average
St Kilda - Below average
Sydney Swans - Below average
West Coast - Below average
Western Bulldogs - Below average
Teams that are ranked above/below average in all three categories:
BELOW AVERAGE: Carlton Blues, North Melbourne, and West Coast Eagles.
ABOVE AVERAGE: Adelaide Crows and Collingwood Magpies.
