Every AFL club's squad for the 2027 season is coming together, so how does each team's back, midfield and forward line stack up with their rivals?
We at Zero Hanger will be going through all 18 clubs, analysing and ranking them 1-18 across all three thirds of the ground. We started with the backline last week, and now it is time to rank the forwards.
While the draft, delisted free agent signing period and trial spots remain for clubs to recruit players, the majority of each team's starting 23 are in place.
Focusing on the players at their disposal, their style of football in 2026, and with a look forward to Round 1, 2027, this is how we ranked every club 1-18 for its attack.
Gold Coast
Forwards: Jed Walter, Christian Petracca, Ethan Read, Jake Rogers, Leo Lombard, Jamarra Ugle-Hagan, Elliott Himmelberg, Bailey Humphrey, Ben Long, Lachlan Gulbin, Aidan Schubert, Caleb Lewis, Jy Farrar
It might only be one out, but the Suns' forward line will look vastly different without Ben King sitting in the goal square.
The move may work in Gold Coast's favour and allow more flexibility with mobile key forwards Jed Walter and Ethan Read.
Walter looks primed for a breakout campaign in 2027 and could enjoy making the forward 50 his own after showing growth this season.
The Suns need to figure out the roles of Christian Petracca and Bailey Humphrey in terms of how much time they spend forward and in the midfield.
Gold Coast has decent pressure forwards in Ben Long, Jy Farrar, Leo Lombard and Jake Rogers.
Damien Hardwick's side does not lack much in its forward half, like the other two-thirds of the ground, which makes their 2026 so disappointing, but next season promising.
The young demographic of the club's key forwards in Walter, Read and Aidan Schubert could be problematic in a long season.
