{"id":74816,"date":"2025-06-04T09:39:01","date_gmt":"2025-06-03T23:39:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/?p=74816"},"modified":"2026-07-03T10:29:52","modified_gmt":"2026-07-03T00:29:52","slug":"scoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/2025\/06\/scoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines\/","title":{"rendered":"Scoring is Back, Baby: Ranking Footy&#8217;s Best Forward Lines"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>This year, footy demands scoring, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vayksn4Y93A&amp;ab_channel=RottenTomatoesClassicTrailers\">it\u2019s like in the 90s when, after <em>Reservoir Dogs, <\/em>movies suddenly had to be funny and faster paced<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Or now in the Tik-Tok world, where things really have to be fast paced or else you\u2019re going the way of Elon Musk in the White House &#8211; obsolete.<\/p>\n<p>You can see it in the numbers.<\/p>\n<p>In every year since 2021, the AFL\u2019s goal per game average has gone up from 11.5 in 2021 to 12.4 this year.<\/p>\n<p>More than that, the league\u2019s best forward lines have gone the way of Tom Cruise and hit new heights.<\/p>\n<p>There are currently three teams kicking 15 goals per game this year \u2013 Adelaide, the Dogs, and Geelong.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1928788184537649437&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>No team has kicked 15 goals a game in a season since the 2017 Crows.<\/p>\n<p>Scoring matters more than it has for years, and the game is better for it.<\/p>\n<p>So, who\u2019s best equipped to handle the new game where kicking goals matters as much as stopping them?<\/p>\n<h5><strong>1: Adelaide<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Adelaide is the clear number one with a bullet.<\/p>\n<p>Among the top 40 goal per game scorers in the AFL this season, the Crows have five.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1928789792101224907&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The three key forwards \u2013 Tex, Thilthorpe, and Fogarty \u2013 and then their collection of smalls and hard running high-half forwards with Rachele and Keays.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1926498414369374232&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>And that stat doesn\u2019t even include their best player, Izak Rankine, who spends time forward.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re the second highest scoring team, getting the second most shots, and kicking the second most goals per inside 50.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s not just that they have the horses, it\u2019s how they deploy them.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s always one key forward hitting up and always at least one deep as they stretch out defences who are invariably one key back short.<\/p>\n<p>Even when one of the key forwards doesn\u2019t take a mark deep in the forward line, Ben Keays or Alex Neal-Bullen might just be wrapping up their tenth 800m sprint of the quarter at the fall of the ball or, if it\u2019s not them, Rankine or Rachele will be at the fall of the ball.<\/p>\n<p>Trying to stop this Adelaide team from scoring is like trying to stop Pete Davidson.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1928782551461597533&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>2: Gold Coast<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>When I apply for a job, I generally read the job description but, if I get it, I don\u2019t expect the job description to be exhaustive.<\/p>\n<p>I expect there to be other bits and bobs.<\/p>\n<p>Ben King must have read goal kicker on his job description when got drafted, and decided that\u2019s all he\u2019s going to do.<\/p>\n<p>King averages 5 kicks per game this year, and 4.5 of them are shots.<\/p>\n<p>He\u2019s like if Ben Brown could jump.<\/p>\n<p>Rounding out the Ben-fecta is Ben Long, who would have to be a frontrunner with alongside Jack Higgins for the half-forwards on the All Australian team to this point in the year.<\/p>\n<p>The real skill of Gold Coast is in their rangy half-forwards behind Ben Long, with Sam Flanders who has refashioned himself as a forward and Bailey Humphrey playing Dimma\u2019s Dustin Martin role.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1928684399882834360&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>If Leo Lombard can push on after a solid debut, he would add a touch more X-factor to a forward line already brimming with it.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1928669165918794187&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h5><strong>3: Bulldogs<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>The Dogs are the highest scoring team in the AFL and they get the most shots.<\/p>\n<p>Why are they the third best forward line?<\/p>\n<p>While the Dogs kick a lot of goals, no team has more goal scorers than the Dogs with 9.5 per game.<\/p>\n<p>They spread them out brilliantly, and that makes them hard to prepare for, 21 different Dogs have kicked goals.<\/p>\n<p>The Dogs\u2019 leading goal kickers are Rhylee West and Aaron Naughton with 19 each.<\/p>\n<p>Paul Curtis has kicked as many, and he missed a month for tackling.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1923996248253792344&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s the point.<\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t have an ace until Sam Darcy comes back, and even when he does, I still don\u2019t think their top end talent is at the level of the top 2.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1929327102744228191&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>They kick a lot of goals because they\u2019re such an excellent territory team and by far and away footy\u2019s best ground ball team.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=GEuMnPl2WI4&amp;ab_channel=FocusFeatures\">They\u2019re a Wes Anderson movie.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>An ensemble cast where nobody is getting a best actor nomination, but the film might get a best picture nom.<\/p>\n<p>This isn\u2019t a measure of that.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>4: Geelong<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>Another year, another dominant Geelong scoring output. Ho hum, third in scoring, fourth in shots.<\/p>\n<p>Jeremy Cameron just had the worst five goal game in league history against West Coast because he can\u2019t help but kick goals, even at 32.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1929148723872813150&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>They\u2019ve made Patty Dangerfield a key forward and, prior to his injury, was one of the six or seven best in footy in the role.<\/p>\n<p>Shannon Neale is fine, while you could do worse than Ollie Henry as a fourth tall.<\/p>\n<p>Then you have Gryan Miers, Shaun Mannagh, Tyson Stengle and Brad Close feeding Dangerfield and Cameron, and hey presto!<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s a a top-5 forward line footy.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1799680368708300964&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>They don\u2019t bat as deep as the other forward lines listed, and their stars are on the older side, but they\u2019re still productive.<\/p>\n<p>Footy at the pointy end is about kicking goals.<\/p>\n<p>Geelong kicks a lot of goals.<\/p>\n<h5><strong>5: GWS<\/strong><\/h5>\n<p>There is no statistical case for GWS.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re eighth in total points, ninth in shots, and only sixth in goals per inside 50 because of how little time they spend inside 50.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is I just can\u2019t quit the personnel.<\/p>\n<p>Jesse Hogan is still the best key forward in the competition as far as I\u2019m concerned.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1908759459071246343&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>Even with a delayed start and some injury setbacks, he\u2019s still kicked 30 goals in just nine games and is the number two mark inside 50 player in footy.<\/p>\n<p>His chief support at key forward is Jake Ricciardi, who is having a career best year. Next to him is the improving Callum Brown, whom Mark Howard insists on calling the athletic one &#8211; his tick of saying X player is \u201cthe Y one\u201d is deeply annoying.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re AFL players.<\/p>\n<p>They\u2019re all athletic &#8211; then there\u2019s also Aaron Cadman, another superlative athlete.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1781586919421317272&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>But really, the thing about GWS is the smalls.<\/p>\n<p>Toby Greene is all the way back this year, while Darcy Jones and Harvey Thomas have come on strongly.<\/p>\n<p><iframe src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?id=1924747317036601773&#038;dnt=true&#038;lang=en_AU&#038;width=500&#038;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.neds.com.au%2Fblog%2F2025%2F06%2Fscoring-is-back-baby-ranking-footys-best-forward-lines%2F\" scrolling=\"no\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\" loading=\"lazy\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" style=\"border:0;\" title=\"X Post\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>When they get Brent Daniels back to help Toby on the other forward flank, I will officially not be able to quit the Giants forward line.<\/p>\n<p>One plea: don\u2019t play Jake Stringer.<\/p>\n<p>You\u2019re already a bad front half side, don\u2019t pick him and make it worse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>This year, footy demands scoring, it\u2019s like in the 90s when, after Reservoir Dogs, movies suddenly had to be funny and faster paced. Or now in the Tik-Tok world, where things really have to be fast paced or else you\u2019re going the way of Elon Musk in the White House &#8211; obsolete. You can see&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":37,"featured_media":74818,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,8298,598,344],"tags":[8260],"hub_post_cat":[],"class_list":["post-74816","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australian-rules","category-guywholikessport","category-special-interest","category-sports","tag-guywholikessport"],"acf":{"md_tip_date":null,"md_tip_date_end":null,"md_market_url":"","tip_date":"04\/06\/2025","event_country":"Australia"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74816","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/37"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=74816"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/74816\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=74816"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=74816"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=74816"},{"taxonomy":"hub_post_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.neds.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/hub_post_cat?post=74816"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}