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.
Western Bulldogs
Danny Del-Re – 1990-1994 (62 games and 139 goals)
Despite being another name that is likely to leave those under voting age consulting a search engine, Danny Del-Re posted some reputable numbers in his time at the Western Oval.
In both the 1992 and 1993 seasons, Del-Re, a man with measurements more akin to the modern-day midfielder, led the Dogs for goals.
It was the former year that proved Del-Re's finest at the elite level, with a final tally of 70.36 from 22 starts.
Brad Johnson – 1994-2010 (364 games and 558 goals)
Although beginning his brilliant career whilst Del-Re was still a Bulldog, Brad Johnson never lined up with his permed predecessor.
Another ‘no brainer', Johnson's stacked resume over seventeen seasons at the kennel included six All-Australian selections, five club goalkicking awards, a trio of Sutton medals and a place in the Pup's Team of the Century.
With an average of a goal and a half a game, the stocky forward also finished his career with the second most goals in the club's history.
Jake Stringer – 2013-2017 (89 games and 160 goals)
With his eye catching, yet still enigmatic, play, Jake Stringer was dubbed the ‘Package' by overzealous caller Brian Taylor.
Even though his time in a red, white and blue guernsey ended under a sky of storm clouds, Stringer still fills our 54th and final slot on our list.
Despite never surpassing 100 games with the Bulldogs, the Maryborough man left Footscray fans with a lengthy highlight reel that included three leading goalkicker awards, an All-Australian blazer in 2015 and a place in immortality as an integral part of the club's second Premiership team.
