So I started to go through all the teams and name their three best forwards on statistics, but by the end of Carlton and Part 3 it was looking like a huge job.
Some were asking for me to just get to the end and so I’ve decided to oblige.
The top three forwards in the AFL going on statistics for 2014 are as follows:
1. Lance Franklin (Sydney Swans)
2. Luke Breust (Hawthorn Hawks)
3. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
1. Lance Franklin
As most would have guessed, Buddy is the number one forward with 79 goals at 3.6 per game, with 85 inside 50s to his name and averaging 3.5 marks per match within the 50-metre arc. As a lot of us would know he has the ability to win a game by himself and has done so on more then one occasion.
2. Luke Breust
As one of the small forwards of last year his goal accuracy was what made him so dangerous if he got the ball within the 50-metre arc. With 73.1 per cent goal accuracy he was by far the most lethal with the closest to him being Ty Vickery, who was running at 69.7 per cent. He also assisted more than 30 goals for the Hawks and laid 65 tackles, the second most for a forward.
3. Nick Riewoldt
Even with his side taking out the wooden spoon last year Riewoldt was able to show that he is a fantastic player with 191 marks for the year at an average of 8.7 per game. He is one of the most talented and hard working players of the game.
Just outside the top in fourth place is Tom Hawkins with 97 marks inside the 50-metre arc, at an a average of four per game. He was also third in most goals.
And rounding out the top five is Eddie Betts with 29 goal assists, at an average of 1.3 goals per game. He gave the Crows the small flexible forward that they needed. Betts has continued his improvement at the Crows into 2015 and is one of there main contributors week in, week out.
Lastly, the worst forward in front of goal that played more than 20 games was Lewis Taylor, who had 41.4 per cent accuracy, closely followed by Travis Cloke with 46.4 per cent.
So that is the final list for the three best individual forwards. But what about as a group? Which team has the best forward line?
1. Hawthorn Hawks
2. Sydney Swans
3. West Coast Eagles
4. Port Adelaide
Again, many readers expected the Hawks to be number one and they are correct.
1. Hawks
With the combined goal scoring accuracy of 65.13 per cent, they are the most dangerous in front of goal. With 190 goals for the season between the three top forwards Breust, Jarryd Roughead and Jack Gunston, and adding in the other forward and midfielders that scored, there is no wonder they are one of the hardest teams to shut down. Along with 154 marks and 66 goal assists from the three, they are a strong group and will continue their form in 2015.
2. Swans
You would have to think that the Swans would have to be in the top three since they boast the number one forward in the game. They have an accuracy average of 60 per cent, which is the third most accurate.
With a forward line of Buddy, Kurt Tippett and Adam Goodes they were a treacherous group in front of goals with 143 for the season between them. Couple that with 136 marks inside the 50- metre arc and it’s a dangerous combination.
3. Eagles
With 211 tackles between Josh Kennedy, Jack Darling and Mark LeCras, and 130 goals between them, the Eagles have a strong group. With a little bit of extra run and ball into them they could have even been higher up.
With most of these teams in the top the ladder it shows that a good group of players in your forward line is necessary if you are going to compete for a flag.
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