Who has the best AFL forward line? Part 1: Adelaide Crows

Every team thinks they have the best forward line and the best number one forward, and if you go via the Coleman Medal then last year’s best forward was Buddy Franklin.

Don’t get me wrong, he is one of the great forwards going around at the present time but is kicking goals the only thing you want a great forward to be able to do?

To see who the best forward is I’m going to look at the stats for 2014 and the few games already played this season to determine who is the best all-round forward.

Over the next few articles I’m going to look at the four forwards for each team and then rank them using goal accuracy, goal assists, marks and marks inside 50.

Goals, goal per game average, tackles and average behinds per game will also come into the equation.

Adelaide Crows
The Crows’ forward line has gained some good players over the last few seasons. But with the problems of last year they where not getting the supply of balls coming into the forward line that they would have wanted.

That has changed this year with their demolishing of North Melbourne and strong win against Collingwood. They have been able to get the ball in to their forward line efficiently. But who is there that can do anything with possession?

1. Eddie Betts
He was the top goalscorer for the Crows last year, averaging 2.3 goals per game. He has been a huge gain for the Crows and I’m sure the Blues would still love to have him in their forward line.

Looking at other stats for the 2014 season he was their most accurate goalscorer with 60.7 per cent. Betts also boasted the highest goal assist record with 29 for the season. He made twice as many tackles as the next forward, with 74 at an average of 3.4 per game.

In the start of the 2015 season he has started in the same fashion. He has an accuracy of 60 per cent, five goal assists and six goals of his own for the first three games, along with 15 tackles. With Walker now at 100 per cent it has taken the forward line pressure of him a little

2. Taylor Walker
With a late start to his 2014 season, Walker showed why he is classed as one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. He had an average of 2.3 goals per game and the second highest goal accuracy for the Crows at 56.7 per cent, and was involved in 17 goal assists. If he had been fit for the complete season he would have been their top goalscorer and I would class him as their number one – but I’m using the stats from last year.

Walker was handed extra responsibility and pressure at the start of the 2015 season came with the captaincy handed over to him, but he has shown no signs of that pressure getting to him. He has eight goals to his name in the first two matches, and the only thing that has caused some problems is his accuracy, which stands at 44.4 per cent

The other three forwards that I looked at came in equal third – Josh Jenkins, Tom Lynch and James Podsiadly. For Podsialy the major drawback for him in the 2014 season was his accuracy, at only 51 per cent, and he has not had a chance to show if he has improved this season.

This season the Crows have shown that they are dangerous, with three wins to start 2015. But will they be able to keep it up for the entire campaign? Only time will tell.

Their forward line of Betts, Walker, Jenkins and Lynch is at least dangerous and lethal.

Next article features the Brisbane Lions.