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 in 2017 displayed - 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. This final part will reveal who has the best forward line in the competition, with the final six teams ranked.
Every AFL club’s forward line ranked: Part I
Every AFL club’s forward line ranked: Part II
1. Brisbane
The Lions attack is the most potent in the league going off of last year’s stats, with Chris Fagan’s side averaging the most goals per game out of the entire competition, with four stars managing to boot over 30 goals for the year.
Charlie Cameron proved once again he is the best small forward in the game at the minute, kicking a whopping 55 goals from 24 games in 2021. The 27-year-old has slotted double the majors in Brisbane than he did in the same amount of time when he was at the Crows, symbolising how much he has come alive since being back in his home state.
2021 recruit Joe Daniher had one of his best seasons to date after moving from the Bombers, booting 46 goals for the year and not once failing to register a major in a single home and away match. There is no doubt that if he can stay fit and healthy this year, then the 27-year-old will be in with a great shout in the Coleman Medal race.
Lincoln McCarthy and Zac Bailey both had career-best years as well, with their roles across half-forward proving fruitful as they finished third and fourth respectively on the club’s goalkicking leader board. The latter of the pair is looking like he will be thrown into midfield in 2022 by Chris Fagan, with fans having plenty to be excited about with the youngster promising so much.
The remaining spot in the forward 50 is usually filled by Cam Rayner however, Keidean Coleman has been the man plying his trade down forward with the 21-year-old still finding his feet at AFL level.
With Nakia Cockatoo, Jarrod Berry and Deven Robertson waiting in the wings, it could be a bit of a scrap in 2022 for those wishing to make it stick in the Lions forward-line, with the attacking force of 2021 a tough act to improve upon.
