The showstoppers. The goal scorers. And sometimes, the freaks. The forwards of the AFL have an uncanny ability to drop the jaws of those watching, whether it's high-flying marks and hard-to-believe goals. Yet, the majority believe it's easier than it looks.
Forwards get recognised through the Coleman Medal, rewarding the player for kicking the most goals in the home and away season, while they normally feature heavily in the running for either goal or mark of the year.
So, who were the 10 best forwards in the 2025 AFL season?
Before we delve into the top 10, here is a group of players unlucky not to be rewarded with a spot on the list.
Unlucky to miss:
Logan Morris - 53 goals, 125 score involvements, 16 goal assists
Jack Higgins - 46 goals, 118 score involvements, 14 goal assists
Ben Long - 45 goals, 143 score involvements, 16 goal assists
Zac Bailey - 42 goals, 177 score involvements, 16 goal assists
Rhylee West - 39 goals, 144 score involvements, 23 goal assists
3Sam Darcy
The AFL's unicorn more than arrived in 2025, and if it wasn't for a knee injury, the season would've been his.
Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy was all sorts of trouble for the opposition, with multiple defenders unable to make a meaningful impact in the high. And when the ball hit the ground, he was just as capable of cleaning up the loose ball.
Darcy's athleticism was on show when he was awarded the Mark of the Year for his Nick Riewoldt-esque efforts against Melbourne late in the year.
He also spent time in the midfield to help with ruck duties alongside Tim English.
