Forwards are usually the players that get fans through the turnstiles, with their incredible eye for goal and licence to thrill making them one of the most valuable parts of any side.
The other departments of the ground can work their collective backsides off to get the ball to a scoring position, but if a team doesn't possess the personnel to hit the scoreboard, then all their efforts will be in vain.
A good forward line doesn't necessarily need to be stacked with key forwards - as Richmond displayed in 2017 - with the right game style suiting smalls who feed off packs to kick crafty majors and perform the heavy lifting of a tall.
With under a month left until the first round of the 2022 season kicks off, it's time to reflect on which forward lines are ranked.
Every AFL club’s forward line ranked: Part II
1. (18) North Melbourne
The Roos have an interesting attacking force, with a balance of tall timber and nimble smalls which complement each other nicely.
The likes of Nick Larkey and Cam Zurhaar are the main two targets that midfielders tried to pick out when lowering the eyes, however this year former Tiger Callum Coleman-Jones will be added to the mix to provide another big option inside 50.
Jaidyn Stephenson proved last season that he was a valuable asset for David Noble in attack, booting 17 goals in his first year at Arden Street. Tarryn Thomas too was handy for the Roos throughout his 21 games for the side, kicking 24 goals and coming up big in a couple of encounters. Youngster Curtis Taylor will look to have another season of improvement again in 2022, likely rotating between midfield and the forward line depending on the situation.
However, the main attraction for 2022 is Pick 1 at last year's draft Jason Horne-Francis, with the mid-forward hybrid set to light up the AFL with his freakish abilities. The enigmatic talent is set to play a key role in the Roos set-up and will only serve to elevate his side to another level as his career progresses.
