With our picks for the best defensive groups that never overlapped in the AFL era in the books, it is now time to shift our focus to the opposite end of the field.
When we think about the game's greatest highlights, it is usually the men in the goal square that acted as architects.
When we as fans cast our minds back to the first numbers we ever had stitched onto our replica jumpers, it was usually the full forward's digits that we selected.
They are the men that keep both the scoreboard and the turnstiles ticking.
With the AFL era now 32 years old (1990 to the present day), we here at Zero Hanger have decided to select a group of club greats on each line whose careers never overlapped.
As with our group of defenders, here are the ground rules for selection:
1. Three players must be selected from each club.
2. Even if they have played for multiple clubs, no player can be selected on the list of two teams.
3. All players must have played at least a portion of their careers from 1990 onwards.
4. As mentioned, no player can have played an in-season match with any of their colleagues during their time at their selected club.
For example, should Jason Dunstall be selected for Hawthorn, then all of his forward line friends from 1985 to 1998 will fail our criteria.
With that in mind, here is our best stab.
Let us know how we have gone and which clubs you feel have fared best.
St. Kilda
Tony Lockett – 1983-1994 (183 games and 898 goals)
Topped the tonne on three occasions in his time at Moorabbin.
Averaged 4.9 goals per game across his 12 seasons with the Saints.
The greatest goal kicker of all time.
There truly is only one Tony Lockett.
Nick Riewoldt – 2001-2017 (336 games and 718 goals)
As arguably the greatest Saint of all time, ‘St. Nick' was always going to fill one of our three forward slots.
After being taken with the first pick of the 2000 Draft, hopes and expectations were set high for Riewoldt, but after 17 seasons with St. Kilda, these were paid off a thousand-fold.
The Tasmanian tall made a name for himself with his supreme marking ability, but also grabbed six B&Fs, five All-Australians, four leading goalkicker awards, a Leigh Matthews league MVP and the 2002 Rising Star award over his 336 games.
Sadly, for Riewoldt, and long-suffering Saints fans, it proved that a flag was just out of his reach.
Max King – 2019-Present (18 games and 22 goals)
Now this may seem as premature as Linford Christie's pair of starts at the Atlanta games, but we have gone for another number 12 with our third pick.
After missing his first season of football due to injuries and rehab, Max King hit the ground running in 2020 and provided an outlet for St. Kilda's numerous, erratic inside 50s.
Although King's canvas has only just begun to be brushed, his 22 goals at better than one a game and contested marking ability last season offered us glimpses of what the future holds.
