In the final of our championship belt series, our attention turns to the forwards, as the great goal scorers are put in their place as to who was the best and when.
There was a golden age for forwards early in the AFL years, but the game is different now and being the dominant forward does not come with the same perks it did some 20 years ago.
As has been the case throughout this series (and be sure read about the midfielder’s, ruckman’s, and defender’s belts), importance is put on all-round performance and being part of a successful side.
Current Champion
2014 -? Lance Franklin
An unprecedented third run with the belt for Franklin, who overcame a slow start with Sydney to reimpose himself as the premier forward in the game. Is only the second forward after Lockett to win the belt with two different teams.
For those who have been following over the championship series, Sydney currently has the belt holder in the forwards, midfielders and defenders categories.
2013 Travis Cloke
Meh. It was almost like a vacant title in 2013 after Matthew Pavlich was injured early on.
Cloke by virtue of being second in the Coleman medal, second in marks and first in contested marks won the title and had an underwhelming reign.
2012 Matthew Pavlich
The 2012 season of Pavlich is almost criminally underrated. With a backdrop of turmoil around the change of coach, it was Pavlich both on and off field that led the club through what could have been a tough transition.
In some ways he made the greatest sacrifices for what Ross Lyon wanted Fremantle to become, but by believing in Lyon, Pavlich became the best forward in the game for his work both on and off field in 2012.
2011 – 2012 Lance Franklin
A second reign for Franklin came in 2011, and it came with more maturity and a greater desire to help lead his team to success.
This was a reign that was best symbolised by his 13 goal haul in 2012. Not long after that Fremantle made a surge towards finals and Matthew Pavlich took the title back.
2009 – 2010 Nick Riewoldt
Franklin’s lack of form and Riewoldt’s desire to get St Kilda to a premiership meant there was a title change in 2009, as Riewoldt took a second run as the game’s best forward.
Though he did not get them to a premiership, Riewoldt was as influential as one forward can be in a premiership quest in both 2009 and 2010.
2007 – 2009 Lance Franklin
Nine goals in Round 6 of 2007 was the birth of the legend of Lance. It was enough to win him his first reign as forward champion in what was an underwhelming 2007 season for contenders.
Franklin had flaws in his game on his first title reign, namely his goal kicking accuracy and his defensive workrate. But one thing that was not in question was his ability to kick goals.
His 2008 season, when he bagged 113 goals, was the last great forward season. A figure that seems unreachable in the modern game.
2005 – 2007 Barry Hall
In an era that produced a grand final win and a grand final loss, Hall was the forward backbone of a premiership team.
It was a tough spot to play given the Sydney game plan of the time to grind matches out, it was Hall’s ability to always have an impact on a game that made him the best forward of the time.
Aggression and a desire to be the best were fundamentals that saw Hall win the championship belt.
2004 Nick Riewoldt
Replacing Lloyd was always going to be a big ask and it took a big middle of the season in 2004 for Riewoldt to put his stamp as the best forward in the game.
Outstanding work rate, work ethic and an ability to never give up on the contest made Riewoldt a model forward. Sadly his reign came to an end in Round 1 of 2005 with a shoulder injury.
2003 – 2004 Matthew Lloyd
Lloyd had a second run with the belt in 2003, reclaiming his mantle with another near-100 goal campaign.
Lloyd’s best abilities were an accurate kick and a smart leader knowing when to go to the right spots to receive from his midfield teammates.
In an era when crowded defences were becoming the norm, Lloyd’s football smarts kept him as the best forward in the game.
2002 Alastair Lynch
With Lloyd out injured Lynch’s performances over the second half of 2002 won him the championship belt for a brief period.
A much publicised career that was shrouded in controversy, Lynch was a great forward with his marking power his greatest strength.
2000 – 2002 Matthew Lloyd
One of the last two great traditional full forwards, Lloyd would pass the 100 goal plateau twice – in 2000 and 2001.
Lloyd’s lengthy title reign ended by injury. It would not be his only title reign though.
1997 – 1999 Wayne Carey
With Modra struggling late in 1997, Carey on return from injury in the finals won his first championship reign. With Dunstall, Lockett and Ablett all on their way out of the league, Carey was a new-age forward in a rapidly changing game.
In 1998 Carey averaged 19-8-3 and in 1999 16-7-4 in what were two outstanding seasons from a modern forward.
Carey oozed on-field charisma, leadership and class.
1997 Tony Modra
In the shadow of the big three, Modra had his one short run with the championship belt early in 1997. Though he did not kick the big bags, Modra had a consistent start to 1997 and was always a threat inside 50.
Blessed with an astounding vertical leap and excellent ability to read the game in front of him, in any other era Modra would be considered an all-time great. Because of the quantity of strong forwards in the 1990s though, Modra is something of an afterthought.
He can at least take comfort in that he had a reign with the forward championship belt.
1995 – 1996 Tony Lockett
It takes a virtuoso performance to win the belt off a proven champion like Ablett, and Lockett gave that late in 1996 when he kicked 16 straight against Fitzroy. That performance won him his second run with the championship and the only player until very recently to be number one with two different clubs.
Lockett was as traditional a full forward as there could be. He was strong, had speed off the mark, and a deadly accurate kick. There may not have been much else to his game, but if you needed lead, mark, goal. You were getting that with Lockett.
1994 – 1995 Gary Ablett
Courtesy of an injury to Jason Dunstall, Ablett was able to capture his first title reign at the start of 1994. Over the 1994 season he kicked 129 goals and backed that up with another 122 goals.
Ablett was the most mercurial of the Ablett-Dunstall-Lockett trio. He could play higher up the ground and showed an affection for going and getting his own ball when the situation demanded it.
A renowned big game player, sadly for Ablett a number of his best efforts came in sole-crushing defeats.
1992 – 1994 Jason Dunstall
In an era of three goal-kicking superstars, it took standout performances to win the championship belt off one another, and Dunstall gave that in Round 1 of 1992 with 12 goals. Over the rest of the season Dunstall kicked an AFL record 145 goals.
Known for his accuracy, it let him down in 1992 with 84 behinds. As for the backup season in 1993, Dunstall just held a chasing duo of Gary Ablett and Tony Modra at bay. Both kicked more goals, but Dunstall’s consistency and champion’s rule means he held the belt for two full years.
Injury ultimately cost Dunstall the title in Round 2, 1994.
1991 Tony Lockett
Lockett started 1992 with 12 goals and powered to 127 in just 17 games in one of the greatest displays of goal kicking seen over a season. He kicked 34 goals in the last three rounds to single handily get St Kilda to finals and then kicked nine in a losing cause to end his 1991 season.
Lockett would have a bigger goal kicking season, but none were as explosive as 1991.
1990 – 1991 Jason Dunstall
Given he was the 1989 Coleman medallist and kicked 12 goals in Round 1 of 1990, Dunstall has to be considered the first AFL forward championship belt holder.
Though he was beaten for the Coleman medal across 1990, his consistent performance and lack of a standout performance by a challenger means Dunstall holds the title for 1990 and again a solid start meant he kept the title for the start of 1991.
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