Mega Small Forward Poll. Vote for No.1

[magpie10]

I know this was brought up a few days ago but i thought i would include more players and attach a poll to find out who really is the best small forward in the comp. I'll only include those who spend the majority of their time as a small forward, so players like leon davis, shaun higgins and aaron davey are excluded.

With the implementation of zones and flooding in today's game, small forwards are now more important than ever. Gone are the days of the goal-sneaks, small forwards must now be able to put pressure on defenders, lay tackles, chase and keep the ball locked inside their forward 50. They must also be able to spend some time in the midfield when required and have an impact on the game.

So who is the best small forward atm in the competition???

My vote would go to Steve Johnson in the form that he is in atm and Didak at his best.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

My vote goes to Steve Johnson in the form that he is in atm and Didak at his best.

There is only one vote there and it is for Medhurst.

 

[magpie10]

There is only one vote there and it is for Medhurst.

Maybe someone came on and voted for medhurst???? Durrr
i haven't voted mate....

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Just assumed you voted because you said your vote went to Steve Johnson.

 

[magpie10]

Just assumed you voted because you said your vote went to Steve Johnson.

Yeah i edited that part...who did you vote for btw?

 

[Turbo Abe]

My vote would go to Steve Johnson in the form that he is in atm and Didak at his best.

Cyril will be (by a long long way) if he isn't already.

His performance in the GF last year is something that only Johnson would be capable of. The rest can only dream of having that much impact with 11 posessions...

 

[Schulzenfest]

Daniel Motlop?

Voted for Johnson BTW.

 

[Knight Ryders]

After last years GF, I think SJ has taken upon himself to take his game to yet another level. I'd have him as the best forward in general atm and possibly the second/third best player in the comp behind Ablett and about evens with Judd. Absolute gun.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Yeah i edited that part...who did you vote for btw?

Nobody. Not sure that I can vote.

For a start I don't want to go for those that are going through a purple patch but haven't done enough over a longer period of time to be considered best small forward.

Then there are those that are small forwards in terms of stature but are pretty much the main target in a small or makeshift forward line.

There there are those that are spending so much time in the midfield and further up the ground during games.

I'd be inclined to look at Johnson, Porplyzia, Medhurst, Milne ... right at the moment anyway.

Some runs on the board and still playing the role.

Others on the way to that status are Le Cras (although almost playing as the number one target now) and Rioli.

Edit: Leon Davis must have gone close to earning a spot in the poll?

 

[WN123]

Johnson is easily the best player on that list at the moment but he is 189cm. Hardly a small forward.

 

[magpie10]

Daniel Motlop?

Voted for Johnson BTW.

Not much of a small forward, he is more mediumish Sort of like medhurst i guess more leading up type than crumbing and pressure. I guess i should've included him instead of ebert.

Edit: Leon Davis must have gone close to earning a spot in the poll?

Yeah but davis is hardly a small forward these days, he only rests there after having a spell in the midfield, like ablett judd etc

 

[magpie10]

Cyril will be (by a long long way) if he isn't already.

His performance in the GF last year is something that only Johnson would be capable of. The rest can only dream of having that much impact with 11 posessions...

Cyril stands out in that he probably has more potential than anyone else on that list. However, atm it is safe to say johnson and a few others at their best have him covered.
And didak would have a similar impact with 11 possessions, he could be cold right throughout the game then kick 3-4 in the final term and win the game off his own boot- he has done this before. Cyril however is much better at applying pressure to the ball carrier, a better tackler and in one-on-one contests in general

 

[Schulzenfest]

Not much of a small forward, he is more mediumish Sort of like medhurst i guess more leading up type than crumbing and pressure. I guess i should've included him instead of ebert.

He's smaller than a few guys on that list.

 

[Deledio_Judd]

Steve Johnson, If Nathan Brown didn't break his leg who knows through

 

[half_back_flank]

I voted Stevie J, but the gap between him and Medhurst isn't that big. Medders can rip sides apart in 10 minutes, see Brisbane this year and numerous games last year. Rioli is going to be remembered as a fantastic centre who rests in the forward line rather than a permanent forward imo. Still going to be a better player than anyone on the list, just not as a permanent forward.

 

[iGNITER]

Didak/Stevie J.

IMO the best 2 HFF in the AFL.

 

[DOCKER MAN]

Steve Johnson is not a small foward, he is a tall medium foward at the least. IMO he is the best non KP forward in the competition, but in this poll best small foward is Rioli.

 

[MinerBoy]

From that list, right NOW, Steve Johnson is quite comfortably the winner.

As has been mentioned though - they certainly all aren't the same type of 'small' forward.

FWIW - I have a lot of time for Porps.

 

[HolyWars]

Out of those forwards, I would say Stevie J is the best, but the best small forwards would be Rioli, Porps, or Medders.

 

[Hodgepodge]

Stevie J is on fire at the moment, but is he really a small forward?

 

[STC]

He's not small per se but he has the skillset to play anything really. Uses his body well enough to take contested marks and the hands to take it on the lead, the strength to break tackles and the skill to kick impossible goals. There's really very little he can't do.

 

[magpie10]

Stevie J is on fire at the moment, but is he really a small forward?

He's like medhurst, can't be classified as a key forward yet plays too tall to be classified as a small forward. The reason i put him in this poll however is because he like medurst can feed off the taller forwards aswell being a leading medium-sized forward himself.

As i said in the OP gone are the days of the crumbing forward- small forwards now need to be able play 'taller' as well as applying pressure to the opposition in the F50

 

[johnwehbe]

Motlop????? Should be up there

 

[GrandBlue]

Jason Porplyzia.

 

[Claude Balls]

What is a small forward? Stevie J certainly isn't one. Most hawks fans would tell you Rioli isn't either, spending quite a bit of time in the midfield.

It's just too hard to define the role, even based purely on stature.