Best small forwards to play the game?

[ReturningHawk]

Just reckon Jarman and Matthew’s were better than Rioli

And the 23 others on your list? Turn it up

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

Just reckon Jarman and Matthew’s were better than Rioli

Those 2 are the ones you picked from that bunch? .

 

[AlwaysHawks15]

And the 23 others on your list? Turn it up

If he's being serious he has no idea what he's in about.

 

[Grrr]

Matthews best but not really a small forward, a bit like Bartlett made their names as mids.

Best pure small forward when on Farmer. Could not stop him.
Best small forward career and all round player Daicos,
Next best small forward careers probably Milne, Betts, Cyril, T. Greene, Gray, Brown, Cameron - loose order.

 

[Chip Scab1]

In my time Phil Matera and Mark Les Cras are some of the best. Brett Allison and Lindsay Thomas from North. Milne from the Saints and Farmer from Freo and Melbourne. Darren Jarman from hawks and Crows. Nick Davis was useful.

Who else?

Bartlett, PDaicos, Betts & Milne easily the best.

From Norf: JKrak, Winston, Fruity Allison.

I dunno if they count but Gary Buck and Darren Jarman have to be up there.

 

[CBSlogger]

What AFL rules got altered because of old mate Lindsay? I think there were at least 2 - 3.

2 at least:

Accidental high contact (Ben Reid)
Sliding (Gary Rohan)
Shrug rule has been called for since Selwood and LT.

 

[WillHayward]

For me personally. Best I've seen.

Jeff Farmer

Jeff Farmer

Age

48

Ht

175cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.0

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

1.6

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

0.6

3star

G

0.2

3star

Milne
Eddie Betts
Peter Daicos (I was young)
Jamie Elliott

 

[crowman2]

Those 2 are the ones you picked from that bunch? .

Plenty more You could pick infront of Rioli who are well ahead of him on all time goal kickers probs another 50 players

 

[ReturningHawk]

Plenty more You could pick infront of Rioli who are well ahead of him on all time goal kickers probs another 50 players

You’re right. You could pick others like Izak Rankine ahead of him if you so wished. It would be a great way to demonstrate a lack of knowledge.

 

[Macca180]

Cyril. Loved watching him more than Bruce.

Bruce too.

 

[crowman2]

You’re right. You could pick others like Izak Rankine ahead of him if you so wished. It would be a great way to demonstrate a lack of knowledge.

How many more goals did giansiracusa kick than Cyril

Main role of a small forward was to kick sausage rolls and be in the park

 

[Robroy22]

How many more goals did giansiracusa kick than Cyril

Main role of a small forward was to kick sausage rolls and be in the park

4 Premierships, Norm Smith.....Cyril was the most dangerous (both attacking and defensive) small forward of the last 25 years.....easily.

 

[Robroy22]

Cyril. Loved watching him more than Bruce.

Bruce too.

Loved him sacking Kaneo.......such a joy to behold.

 

[PowerfulPies2023]

Rioli's tackle and second efforts in the 2008 Grand Final is one of the most inspiring things I've seen on the footy field.

 

[UltraEgo]

Rioli's tackle and second efforts in the 2007 Grand Final is one of the most inspiring things I've seen on the footy field.

??? you mean 2008?

 

[UltraEgo]

Betts
Milne
C Rioli
Didak
Elliott
Farmer
L Davis
C Cameron

 

[Sttew]

We need a proper definition of what constitutes a small forward. Some of the names - Darren Jarman (1.86m); Robbie Gray

9

Robbie Gray

Age

37

Ht

183cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.4

5star

D

13.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

10.4

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

(1.83m); and Peter Daicos (1.84m) arguably shouldn't be in contention. Gary Ablett Senior was 1.85m

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Are we talking 'small forward' in terms of their actual size? Or in terms of the role of a small forward?

There's been lots of champion and good forwards that were small, but didn't necessarily play the role of Small Forward. Baldock, Bruest, Jamie Elliott, etc.

Plenty of the guys listed in this thread were midfielders that played forward at times for a rest. That's very different from forging an AFL career as a 'small forward'.

Matthews, Akermanis, Robbie Gray

9

Robbie Gray

Age

37

Ht

183cm

Wt

84kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.9

5star

K

9.8

4star

HB

10.1

5star

M

3.5

4star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.4

5star

D

13.3

3star

K

6.0

2star

HB

7.3

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

2.6

4star

G

0.6

4star

D

10.4

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.4

4star

G

1.4

5star

, Toby Greene

4

Toby Greene

Age

32

Ht

182cm

Wt

85kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

22.7

5star

K

12.5

5star

HB

10.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.0

5star

G

1.2

4star

D

17.5

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

8.0

4star

M

4.8

4star

T

1.0

2star

G

2.3

5star

D

26.6

5star

K

12.4

5star

HB

14.2

5star

M

4.8

5star

T

3.6

5star

G

0.0

1star

, etc.

The Small Forward role is incredibly hard to perform in a meaningful way over a long period of time.



To me, a small forward is someone that plays the role of:

• forward pressure
• kicks goals
• supports key forwards (creates space for them and gets the **** out of their way)
• wins ground balls
• creates scoring opportunities from ground balls
• is strong in one on one marking contests

Pack marking and high flying, and even presenting on the lead are largely just for bonus points IMO, but definitely not in the PD for a small forward.

So based on that, the best small forwards are:

Eddie Betts
Milne
Philip Matera
Jeff Farmer

Jeff Farmer

Age

48

Ht

175cm

Wt

78kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

11.6

3star

K

8.0

3star

HB

3.6

3star

M

2.9

3star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.9

5star

No current season stats available

D

6.0

2star

K

4.4

2star

HB

1.6

2star

M

1.8

2star

T

0.6

3star

G

0.2

3star

Michael O'Loughlin

Michael O'loughlin

Age

48

Ht

189cm

Wt

90kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

13.9

4star

K

9.5

4star

HB

4.3

3star

M

5.0

5star

T

1.4

3star

G

1.7

5star

No current season stats available

D

11.6

3star

K

5.8

3star

HB

5.8

4star

M

1.6

2star

T

2.4

4star

G

2.2

5star

 

[Lavender Bushranger]

Betts
Milne
C Rioli
Didak
Elliott
Farmer
L Davis
C Cameron

I feel people are just listing any small player that played forward that they can recall.

 

[Farm Boy]

Charlie Cameron

23

Charlie Cameron

Age

31

Ht

180cm

Wt

76kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.1

3star

K

8.4

3star

HB

3.7

3star

M

3.0

3star

T

3.2

5star

G

1.5

5star

D

9.6

2star

K

7.9

3star

HB

1.7

1star

M

3.6

4star

T

1.7

3star

G

1.9

5star

D

9.6

3star

K

5.4

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

1.4

2star

T

3.4

5star

G

1.2

4star

.
Ablett jr
Kozi Pickett

 

[UltraEgo]

I feel people are just listing any small player that played forward that they can recall.

I'm listing the best small forwards i've seen play?

 

[Sttew]

So based on that, the best small forwards are:

Eddie Betts
Milne
Philip Matera
Jeff Farmer
Michael O'Loughlin

Of current players Tyson Stengle is a genuine small forward. In his four years at Geelong he has kicked 53; 27; 46; and 34 goals, complementing Geelong's tall forwards and applying forward pressure that was previously unseen or rare at Geelong.

 

[Demon in Hell]

Aaron Davey

 

[Mr Ripper]

It isn’t Conlan, but he hasn’t been mentioned yet and deserves some love.

 

[UltraEgo]

Are we talking 'small forward' in terms of their actual size? Or in terms of the role of a small forward?

There's been lots of champion and good forwards that were small, but didn't necessarily play the role of Small Forward. Baldock, Bruest, Jamie Elliott, etc.

Plenty of the guys listed in this thread were midfielders that played forward at times for a rest. That's very different from forging an AFL career as a 'small forward'.

Matthews, Akermanis, Robbie Gray, Toby Greene, etc.

The Small Forward role is incredibly hard to perform in a meaningful way over a long period of time.



To me, a small forward is someone that plays the role of:

• forward pressure
• kicks goals
• supports key forwards (creates space for them and gets the **** out of their way)
• wins ground balls
• creates scoring opportunities from ground balls
• is strong in one on one marking contests

Pack marking and high flying, and even presenting on the lead are largely just for bonus points IMO, but definitely not in the PD for a small forward.

So based on that, the best small forwards are:

Eddie Betts
Milne
Philip Matera
Jeff Farmer
Michael O'Loughlin

O'Loughlin was not a small forward mate