Best small forwards of the AFL era

[DrPowellPepper]

Alan Didak deserves a mention, a gun player.

His peak years was probably shorter than most of the others mentioned. But yes I do remember him destroying us one QB and was close to best in the comp at that time

 

[Goosecat]

.

Thanks for the reply. I agree that goals are of significant importance and even small increases in goal average actually equate to bigger differences in actual impact.

With that said (whilst I could see the argument that he would be ahead of some others), I can't accept that Phil Matera was a better player than Eddie Betts. Betts was a 3 x All Australian to Phil Matera's 1. Betts had 5 seasons of 50+ goals to Matera's 3. Betts had a 75 goal season (Matera's best was 62 - though admittedly, from fewer games). Even though Matera's goal average was 2.17 to Betts' 1.83, that is in large part because Matera only played between ages 20-29. Over a similar period (I calculated ages 21-30) Betts' goal average is 2.15 - basically the same as Materas. The only reason Bett's overall goal average is a little lower is that he entered the comp as an 18 year old in a rubbish Carlton side and played well into his 30's which brought his average down a little (whilst Matera only played during his peak). In terms of totals, Betts kicked 640 goals whilst Matera kicked 389. Betts is miles ahead on assists (for the time they were recorded) and tackled more than Matera too.

The tipping point though is that Betts kicked 31 goals in 13 finals. Matera kicked 6 goals in 9 finals.

With all of that said - the comparison is much closer than many neutrals would realise. Their numbers are similar, with Matera a little more prolific but for a shorter time.

All good. Phil kind of amazes me because he's the smallest player ever in the AFL to kick the amount of goals he did, averaged more goals per game than any other small forwards people instantly think of, somehow managed to win the Eagles leading goal kicker 5 times in one of the biggest clubs in the country, all whilst smoking 25 **** a day throughout his entire career. Talented bloody freak!!

 

[Cursed Cat]

This whole thread is a grave insult to Paul Chapman

Paul Chapman

Age

44

Ht

179cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.7

5star

K

12.8

5star

HB

6.9

4star

M

4.7

4star

T

3.5

5star

G

1.3

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.6

2star

K

4.0

2star

HB

2.6

3star

M

1.0

1star

T

1.8

4star

G

0.2

3star

.

It took me a long while to appreciate Cyril. But he was a match-winner much like Chappy.

Chapman could easily have carved out a career as a permanent on-baller at a weaker club, but he was so good in the F50; dead-eye dick from a set shot and had the unteachable knack of squaring himself up to give himself the easiest snap on goal possible. Really good overhead for his height for a good portion of his career too.

 

[Do the Dew]

Although I couldn't stand him, Milne is extremely underrated. He set the standard for all the small forwards that followed. If Milne got off the chain, it was game over.

 

[Cursed Cat]

Although I couldn't stand him, Milne is extremely underrated. He set the standard for all the small forwards that followed. If Milne got off the chain, it was game over.

Finals were his Kryptonite

 

[HairyO]

This whole thread is a grave insult to Paul Chapman.

It took me a long while to appreciate Cyril. But he was a match-winner much like Chappy.

Chapman could easily have carved out a career as a permanent on-baller at a weaker club, but he was so good in the F50; dead-eye dick from a set shot and had the unteachable knack of squaring himself up to give himself the easiest snap on goal possible. Really good overhead for his height for a good portion of his career too.

Chapman was my favourite Geelong player. So calm and level headed and elite skills with the ball.


One name missing is Poppy. Didnt kick as many goals - which makes sense when the forward line has Buddy, Roughie, Gunston, Breust and Rioli but he was a pressure machine. 3 seasons laid more than 100 tackles.

 

[Purple Jesus]

To have this list and not include Hayden Ballentyne is a god damn insult to all small forwards everywhere.

 

[HairyO]

To have this list and not include Hayden Ballentyne is a god damn insult to all small forwards everywhere.

He wasnt as attacking as the best attacking forwards and he wasnt as defensive as the best defensive forwards. And he doeant have the totals of the guys who played 100 more games and kicked 200 more goals.

But he was a very good player.

His numbers in finals were interesting too. A couple of great ones but missing in many.

Compare to someone like Gunston who has better finals averages than regular season...

 

[Free Agent]

Since everyone's doing it.

This thread is a disgrace without Lecras and Phillip Matera.


Sent from my CPH2025 using Tapatalk

 

[darcytiger]

Tiprat Milne for me. Absolute gun

 

[Do the Dew]

To have this list and not include Hayden Ballentyne is a god damn insult to all small forwards everywhere.

Milne 2.0

 

[Teen Wolf]

Swans supporters, where you at. If Steve Johnson qualifies, how does Michael O'Loughlin not?

Also, everybody would take Tom Papley over half the guys in the list compiled by the OP, who clearly stated it was about ranking them as players (which suggests completeness of career is irrelevant).

Fck, I feel dirty doing all this Methcoast player boosting.

Hey, that reminds me... Ben Cousins: 3x AA forward pocket.

 

[The 747]

Milne for mine, Betts if he hadn't been drafted to Carlton first could have shaded him.

Medium/non KPF forwards is harder to assess if you are only considering their forward work and not midfield.

 

[Dazb86]

I never thought of B.Johnson as a small forward, but his stats don't lie.
The term "underrated" gets used too much these days, but I think it applies to Brad.
He certainly deserves to be top of your list.

Very good player. AA in multiple positions

 

[Kwality]

The game has changed. These days, the likes of Bontempelli (a rover) is considerably taller than someone like John Nicholls, (like TI) one of the greatest rucks of all time.

Nowdays, someone who is around or just under 200 cm is considered a bit short for the ruck. In Michael's day, there was basically no-one in the league that height.

Anyway, I suppose by 'small forward' I am referring to a position (like rover or ruck) rather than size. I am talking about a crumbing, non key position forward. Even then, there are grey areas as mentioned earlier with the likes of "Johnson and Johnson" who both played as focal points at various times.

Plenty of 6'6"/198 cm ruckmen going back to the 50s. Blue Foley won a Sandover in the late 50s against the likes of Polly & Jack Clark. Len Thompson was winning Copeland Trophies in the 60s.

Its easy to compare players based on height but its only one of the many measures that confuse any comparison. The Bont is a great example.

 

[Liam Boy]

one of the best nights i can remember for small forwards. Eddie Betts kicked 5, Lindsay Thomas kicked 7. Criminally underrated was Lindsay.

 

[Baird]

Rioli because he actually did things for his team unlike selfish goal hogs such as Betts, Farmer, Steve Johnson and Milne.

 

[Philth]

Very good player. AA in multiple positions

And always with a smile.
The world needs more Brad Johnsons.

 

[Tackle Bag]

Betts, Milne, Phil Matera are the only 3 in the discussion for mine.

The rest are either not at the same level or not genuine small forwards.

 

[Sonny Hayes]

Small Fwds are just players who aren't good enough to play midfield. Don't @ me you can't deny this.

AA selectors like this post

 

[MC Bad Genius]

Swans supporters, where you at. If Steve Johnson qualifies, how does Michael O'Loughlin not?

Also, everybody would take Tom Papley over half the guys in the list compiled by the OP, who clearly stated it was about ranking them as players (which suggests completeness of career is irrelevant).


Hey, that reminds me... Ben Cousins: 3x AA forward pocket.

Steve Johnson played as very different game to Michael O'Loughlin. I'd probably categorise them both as mid-sized forwards, but Mickey was more of a classic lead-up forward (especially once his knees made him only be able to run in straight lines), whereas Johnson was much more mercurial/laconic/arsey ie small-forward like.

 

[Opine]

I’ve seen Betts multiple times live being in Adelaide, always played well against us. Was a very special player. He is the best and then daylights.

If only Wingard kept his early day form up. Between 2013- 2015 he was massive.

Little did AFL know they’d be helping Blues select one of the all-time great small forward’s the games ever seen when they stripped early selections for breaching the cap.

 

[Goosecat]

 

[Pessimistic]

Cyril Rioli has to be one of the most overrated players of all time. No way is he ahead of Betts or Farmer.

Betts is fantastic but the knock on him is lesser influence in crunch games or against top teams. Rioli (Cyril or Willie btw) seems the opposite

 

[Pessimistic]

And the real disgrace is to not have more of these in AA and TOC type teams everywhere