There have been plenty of goals from the big men in 2014. I’m going name my top-five full forwards from Rounds 1 to 8.
No.1 Jarryd Roughead (Hawthorn)
Kicking 20 goals so far into the season and averaging three goals a game, Roughead has produced what his team needs without their main forward Buddy Franklin.
Roughead has shown that he is the best full forward in the league and uses the ball to the advantage of his team by bringing others into the game.
His leadership is exceptional that is why I have named him at number one.
No.2 Jay Shultz (Port Adelaide)
Possibly the most under-rated forward in the competition, Jay Shultz is leading the Coleman Medal and doesn’t look like slowing down.
He had a seven-goal haul against the Lions in Round 4 and kicked six against Greater Western Sydney in Round 7. Shultz gives the Port Adelaide crowd something to cheer about with his high flying marks and has great consistency in front of the big sticks.
If Shultz can continue this remarkable form, he may just win the Coleman and maybe even push the Power to the grand final.
No.3, Josh Kennedy (West Coast)
Josh Kennedy was originally at number five until his blowout against GWS. JK kicked 11 of West Coast’s 30 goals. This past season he has changed his approach on kicking set shots, giving the famously know stutter that he is known for. The slight change to his run up has allowed him to kick 24 goals, sitting second in the Coleman medal count.
JK started the season off slowly which has hurt West Coast’s position on the ladder. However he has found form just before the bye and hopefully will give West Coast fans a finals berth in 2014.
No.4, Luke Bruest (Hawthorn)
Lance Franklin departing has freed up Luke Bruest in 2014. He has improved out of sight. We all knew he was a quality player, but he is making a claim to being elite this season.
Bruest has combined with Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston for a whopping 63 goals so far this year.
No.5, Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
Riewoldt has been around for a while, but still manages to lift the spirits of Saints fans. His leadership is helping develop the new kids that will be St Kilda’s future.
Riewoldt also has a work ethic of no other full forward. He is still going strong in the goal-kicking department with 18 goals in 2014.
All of these in-form full forwards deserve a sport in the All-Australian squad, although it’s not even halfway through the season and anything could happen.
Fred Bassett
Guest
Troy Menzel. The genius has officially landed!
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Seriously, that is one of the worst arguments I have heard. Ask yourself this if you are going to base the best forward on that criteria and get back to me once you have answered it. How many games are decided after the siren - let alone in the way you described it? Now I would rate the best forward on how they contribute through out the entirety of the match, not just one split second of it. Nut's just plain nuts that example.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
Betts - thats funny...
Alex
Guest
Nick, Luke Bruest is classed as a small full forward if that who you are getting at.
Jack Smith
Roar Guru
Which is why Tippett for Swans is so good for us...his strength in marking and he is quite accurate. Just need more game time. He did what Hall was able to do and that's who he reminds me of (obviously not looks...)
Winston
Guest
Has to be Schulz at the moment. Team is flying, he's kicking bags after bags, marking everything. Interesting about Breust though. Lots of people above say he's not a full forward, but I suppose that's just because they've got Roughead and Gunston there, but it doesn't necessarily mean he can't play full forward. I think it was 2004 or so when Hawks had Mark Williams as their full forward - think that was just before Buddy and Roughy came good - I used to love that guy! His set shot was awesome. Then there's Phillip Matera for many years at the WC after Troy Wilson retired. Plenty of small guys who can play full forward well. Sentiments aside though, surely "the best full forward" simply is the guy wo kicks the most goals? By that measure it's simply the top 5 in the Coleman race at any given point in time? And this is on the basis that forwards are supposed to kick goals. The modern defensive forward isn't really a forward at all, but more like a tagger/defender you put to stop a Luke Hodge or Malceski from distributing the ball.
Nash Mitchell
Roar Rookie
Yeah mate!
spruce moose
Guest
Of those on your list, who would you trust 5 points down, siren gone, 25 metres out, dead in front. Not the top two. I wouldn't be entrusting Cloke or Franklin with the pill within the 50m arc. I would however give it to Franklin...the further out, the better he seems. I'd give Cloke the ball purely because I am not out there to do it myself. Or, I would hurriedly change the rules so I could do it in lieu of him.
spruce moose
Guest
Brent, Pray tell me when has Travis Cloke been in sufficiently long enough form to ever be considered powerful. He is an extraordinarily mediocre player who has a penchant for the odd good game, which many perceive as him 'coming good' or a 'return to class'. The Shane Watson of the AFL setup. Wasted potential.
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
Schulz*
MFairPlay
Roar Guru
Great topic for an article; has generated a lot of interest
TheBlackCat1859
Guest
"There have been plenty of goals from the big men in 2014." Have there?!
Axle an the guru
Guest
When the game has to be won, my pick would be Hawkins by a wisker ahead of Schulz. Those two perform under pressure, and can lift there side when needed, and if i were in a GF relying on a shot after goal to win, i would want it in the hands of one of them, third would be Roughead. The others perform way to inconsistently, and generally when there side is already running hot.
Radelaide
Guest
and Karmichael Hunt did it for the Suns
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
What happened to him? Something has gone a miss there.
Michael huston
Guest
As I said, theres lots of criteria. If you're looking at strong marking forwards, you'd look to the Clokes, the Hawkins, the Rougheads, the Reiwoldts. If you're looking at athleticism, you'd look at the Franklins, the Rougheads, the Bruests. If you're looking at accuracy, you'd look at the Gunstons, the Schulzs, the Kennedys. Best way to make a list is to look at the best in those three criteria and see who pops up in each category the most. Even then it wouldn't exactly be definitive.
Franko
Guest
The beefed up circa 2012 one maybe, not this year.
Franko
Guest
"Of those on your list who would you trust 5 points down, siren gone, 50 meters out 30 degree angle to win you the game? No way 1 or 2 for mine, therefor they are ranked way too high" Schulz is widely regarded as one of the straightest kicks in the game. As pointed out before, he has kicked 25.5 this year.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
That comes once in a blue moon. Ash McGrath did it for the Lions, but would anyone have trusted him to take the shot I wouldn't have. Also Franklin kicked an important goal on the weekend with massive yips to put the Swans in front. His contested marking was also outstanding. The game has changed and players who can take a contested mark are now so highly sought after its not even funny. I think being able to take a good strong mark makes the difference. Between perhaps the ball leaving the 50 and a shot on goal. I'm probably a bit harsh on Hawkins, but he should be up there, the thing I find difficult with ranking players is everyone has a different criteria on how they should be marked and judged.
Cat
Roar Guru
Of those on your list who would you trust 5 points down, siren gone, 50 meters out 30 degree angle to win you the game? No way 1 or 2 for mine, therefor they are ranked way too high.