Ranking every AFL club's small forward crop from 1 to 18

Are elite small forwards now more important than elite key forwards?

Kane Cornes pondered the question following the Indigenous All-Stars v Fremantle game where the representative side's smalls did most of the damage.

With all of the last three premiers in Brisbane, Geelong and Collingwood also having huge inputs from their smalls during their flag runs, perhaps the game is beginning to suit electric, ground-level players inside 50.

With that in mind, we've ranked the small forward groups from each club 1 to 18, and there's no surprise that some of the AFL's elite sides also have some of the most dangerous small brigades.

Watch Kane's thoughts below

Kai Lohmann, Callum Ah Chee, Lincoln McCarthy, Cam Rayner, Charlie Cameron, Zac Bailey

Clearly the best group in the competition, the Lions will be relying on them more than ever in 2025 without Joe Daniher.

The emergence of Lohmann and Ah Chee as big-game players in 2025 gives them even more firepower, alongside Cameron, Rayner, Bayley and the returning McCarthy.

Ranking: 1st

Harvey Thomas, Darcy Jones, Toby Greene, Phoenix Gothard, Brent Daniels, Toby McMullin, Nathan Wardius, Toby Bedford

GWS are absolutely stacked in this area. Greene, Daniels and Bedford have all proven to be elite in their roles, while Darcy Jones really came on in 2024 and looms as a future star.

Thomas and McMullin came on last season, while Gothard is also a first-round pick. GWS clearly want to play through their small forwards given how much of their list-build that they’ve put into this department, and right now it seems to be working.

Ranking: 2nd

Blake Hardwick, Dylan Moore, Luke Breust, Sam Butler, Connor MacDonald, Jack Ginnivan, Nick Watson

The real stars of HokBall have always been the Hawthorn smalls and it makes them one of the most exciting forward groups in the competition.

Dylan Moore became an All-Australian last year, and it wouldn’t shock anyone if Watson, Ginnivan or MacDonald one day earn that honour as well.

There’s some serious firepower in this group, and with so many of them still budding young stars, there’s no doubt that the Hawks could be number one in this department for the best part of the next decade.

Ranking: 3rd

Jamie Elliott, Lachie Schultz, Bobby Hill, Beau McCreery, Will Hayes

Collingwood want one thing from their small forwards: Relentless pressure. And this group is capable of delivering in spades, while also hitting the scoreboard.

If Lachie Schultz can kick a few more goals in 2025 to go alongside Elliott, Hill and McCreery, this is a dynamic group that ticks every box.

Ranking: 4th

Tyson Stengle, Gryan Miers, Bradley Close, Oliver Wiltshire

Certainly, one of the competition’s best in this area, and the first three names might just be as good of a trio as you can get.

It’s a perfect blend with Stengle a crumbing goalkicker, Miers setting everyone up and Close doing a bit of both as well as getting up the ground.

Geelong’s only concern in this area might be depth with an injury or two of the main trio exposing a player without much AFL experience.

Ranking: 5th

Michael Walters, Michael Frederick, Cooper Simpson, Sam Switkowski, Jack Delean, Isaiah Dudley, Shai Bolton

On paper, this is as good a group as any. Freo has added a star mid-forward in Bolton who hits the scoreboard and creates scoring from nothing, while Frederick has also shown glimpses, but is yet to put it all together.

Sam Switkowski is one of the best all-round small forwards in the game and Michael Walters provides veteran presence and depth to this group.

Ranking: 6th

Ben Keays, Lachie Murphy, Luke Pedlar, Izak Rankine, Alex Neal-Bullen

The addition of Neal-Bullen gives the Crows another mid-forward with a proven ability to both hit the scoreboard and have an impact in the midfield.

He is a perfect complimentary piece for Rankine, who will likely find himself higher up the ground this year, while Neal-Bullen covers him defensively.

Keays is also a proven goal kicker, while Pedlar has a high upside.

Ranking: 7th

Charlie Spargo, Jake Melksham, Kysaiah Pickett, Kade Chandler, Bailey Laurie, Shane McAdam

Melbourne’s small forward stocks have always been strong over the last half decade and that continues to be the case in 2025.

Pickett is clearly the star of this group, but Chandler, Spargo and Melksham have all had their moments as real dangers inside 50.

All of this group have proven they have what it takes at the top level, so it’s just an area of Melbourne’s side that they can bank on week to week, even if their depth is tested.

Ranking: 8th

Cody Weightman, Rhylee West, Laitham Vandermeer, Lachie McNeil, Arthur Jones, Riley Garcia, Anthony Scott, Josh Dolan

Luke Beveridge has a few options on hand when it comes to small forwards.

Weightman is the clear No.1 seed when he’s up and running while West is coming off a career-best year with a mix of footy smarts and tenacity. The Dogs will be desperate for Weightman to recover from his knee issue so he can play the bulk of the season.

Vandermeer is a regular while Scott, McNeil, Garcia and Jones all have senior experience.

Ranking: 9th

Liam Ryan, Tyler Brockman, Noah Long, Jamie Cripps, Matt Owies, Liam Baker, Loch Rawlinson, Tyrell Dewar, Malakai Champion

The Eagles have a deepish small forward group now that Owies has joined.

Ryan, when fit, is a jet, Cripps continues to deliver but is almost 33, Brockman has scope and Dewar is raw but exciting.

There’s a bit of upside for this group provided Ryan can play regularly, especially if Owies assimilates. Baker can be thrown up front if need be.

Ranking: 10th

__Tom Papley, Taylor Adams, Sam Wicks, Corey Warner, Jesse Dattoli __

Sydney has one of the best small forwards in the game in Tom Papley but as an overall group there are much stronger in the league.

Taylor Adams spent plenty of time as a forward in his first Swans season and Sam Wicks was at times used but isn’t a front liner.

They addressed this area by taking Jesse Dattoli in the 2024 draft, however, the talented youngster is sidelined with a stress injury in his lower back.

Ranking: 11th

Joe Berry, Willie Rioli, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Joe Richards, Jed McEntee, Tom Anastasopoulos, Lachlan Charleson

The off-season acquisitions of Joe Richards Joe Berry have bolstered the Power in this area. Forward line coach Chad Cornes was very excited about the duo.

Willie Rioli and Darcy-Byrne-Jones combined for 61 goals last season and will need to replicate that in the absence of retired tall Charlie Dixon and the injured Todd Marshall.

Gun midfielders Jason Horne-Francis and Connor Rozee will also spend time forward but are considered more medium sized than small.

Ranking: 12th

Zac Williams, Jesse Motlop, Lachie Fogarty, Orazio Fantasia, Corey Durdin, Elijah Hollands
Carlton will be hoping someone in this group can step up and kick 30+ goals in 2025, following the departure of Matt Owies.

Williams looked good in patches in 2024, Motlop needs to be one of their key breakout players this season, while Fogarty and Hollands have proven themselves as versatile mid-forwards.

Ranking: 13th

Ben Ainsworth, Tom Berry, Ben Long, Jake Rogers, Malcolm Rosas, Lloyd Johnston

Gold Coast’s small forward stocks are a little bit unknown. While Ainsworth can be a star, both Long and Berry are role players that while effective, haven’t proven game-breakers.

Luckily for the Suns, they could have a couple of them coming through in Rogers, Rosas and Johnston who have all shown flashes of brilliance. As a result, they could vault up these rankings in years to come.

Ranking: 14th

Jack Higgins, Lance Collard, Dan Butler, Max Hall

Jack Higgins and Dan Butler lead the way in this department, particularly the former who has taken out the last two goal kicking awards.

It’s not a deep group of small forwards to work around Max King (when foot) and the likes of Mitch Owens, Cooper Sharman and Mattaes Phillips.

Liam Henry spent time as a small forward at Fremantle but appears at home on the wing or further up the ground with the Saints.

Ranking: 15th

Jade Gresham, Jye Menzie, Alwyn Davey, Matt Guelfi, Isaac Kako

The Bombers are hoping Kako can immediately add to their small forward depth as they have missed a real game changer since Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti departed. Gresham was a nice addition last season, though not a big goal kicker.

Davey hasn't quite come on yet, Guelfi starts the season injured and Menzie is finding his way.

Ranking: 16th

Paul Curtis, Cooper Harvey, Jacob Konstanty, Robert Hansen, Luke Parker, River Stevens

North Melbourne is pretty well stocked with young talent across the rest of their list, but their small forward group is not exactly a strong suit.

Luke Parker is a proven goalkicker when he plays inside 50, although he’s more of a mid-sized/marking option.

Paul Curtis has shown plenty and is a best 23 lock, but there are question marks over the rest of the group in terms of a crumbing, genuine small. Still, there’s a chance that one or two of this group will really emerge in the coming years given their youth.

Ranking: 17th

Rhyan Mansell, Maurice Rioli, Judson Clarke, Seth Campbell, Steely Green, Jasper Alger, Taj Hotton

Richmond’s small forward stocks are all young and inexperienced, which fits the profile of the overall list.

Rhyan Mansell has played the most games of this group with 53 while the others have combined for just 80 including Seth Campbell who was the club’s best first year player in 2024.

No expectations on this group as the Tigers continue their deep rebuild.

Ranking: 18th