Former Port Adelaide player Kane Cornes said on Sunday night that Crows' star Eddie Betts will be the best small forward in the history of the game by the end of his career.
However, Brisbane Legend Jonathan Brown disagreed, last night naming his top five small forwards since the year 2000 on Fox Footy's On the Couch.
5. Phil Matera (West Coast)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JULY 16: Phil Matera of the Eagles in action during the round 16 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Brisbane Lions at Subiaco Oval on July 16, 2005 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Games: 179
Goals: 389
4. Mark LeCras (West Coast)
PERTH, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 13: Mark LeCras of the Eagles celebrates a goal during the round 11 AFL match between the West Coast Eagles and the Essendon Bombers at Domain Stadium on June 13, 2015 in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Games: 175
Goals: 374
3. Stephen Milne (St Kilda)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 25: Stephen Milne of the Saints celebrates a goal during the round 22 AFL match between the St Kilda Saints and the Gold Coast Suns at Etihad Stadium on August 25, 2013 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)
Games: 275
Goals: 574
2. Eddie Betts (Carlton/Adelaide)
ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 22: Eddie Betts of the Crows celebrates a goal during the 2015 AFL round 21 match between the Adelaide Crows and the Brisbane Lions at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, Australia on August 22, 2015. (Photo by James Elsby/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Games: 250
Goals: 469
1.Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Cyril Rioli of the Hawks celebrates with the trophy after winning the 2015 AFL Grand Final match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the West Coast Eagles at Melbourne Cricket Ground on October 3, 2015 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Games: 175
Goals: 262
“I couldn’t go past Cyril,” Brown said when ranking Rioli as the game's best small forward of the past 16 years.
“He’s got the premierships — the four premierships, mind you — and it is very difficult for small forwards to play well in big games and grand finals.
“Small forwards have a poor record (in those) and Rioli has a Norm Smith medal so that tips him over the edge.”