The forward line is the glamour position in Australian football, home to the game's most famous and loved players.
The key forward often grabs the headlines with match-winning hauls and highlight-reel moments, providing the finishing touch that turns dominance into scoreboard pressure.
These five superstars epitomise that and will look to spearhead their respective club's attacks again in 2026.
So, who are the favourites to claim the leading goalkicker title this year? And more importantly, could any of them break the elusive 100-goal barrier?
Honourable mentions: Aaron Cadman, Logan Morris, Mitch Georgiades, Nick Larkey, Riley Thilthorpe
4Ben King
Ben King's breakout campaign finally arrived in 2025. The key forward kicked 71 goals for the year, and largely stayed at home inside 50, playing a particular role that Damien Hardwick carved out for him as he established himself as the key pillar in Gold Coast's attack.
King will be surrounded with greater forward support in 2026, assuming the development of talls Jed Walter and Ethan Read continue and Jamarra Ugle-Hagan demonstrates the professionalism required to make it in the AFL.
However, that likely won't limit King's ability to hit the scoreboard at an elite rate or change his number of opportunities in front of the sticks. King went at an incredible accuracy rate in 2025, kicking majors 65.7 per cent of the time. That's the third-best shot accuracy this decade among players averaging at least four shots at goal per game and indicates his Coleman Medal potential.
assuming he stays injury free, then I reckon Mitch Lewis might surprise a few.