The start of the 2023 AFL season is drawing closer and with it comes the second instalment of Zero Hanger's forward line rankings, revealing the 12-7 spots.
We've already named our 18-13 ranked forward lines, but now it's time to dive into the middle of the table as we reveal the next six best forward lines in the AFL.
SEE: PART I OF OUR FORWARD RANKINGS
The rebuilding Crows are a bit of an enigma heading into 2023, with plenty of pundits unsure of where the year will take Matthew Nicks' side.
Adelaide finished last year in 14th position, with an average of 11.3 goals scored per match, but will look to improve on that heading into 2023.
Taylor Walker will be as a reliable target as ever as he heads into season number 16 in the AFL, coming off a strong 2022 season that saw him boot 47 goals from 18 games.
While Walker is a strong target up forward, topping the Crows' goalkicking leaderboard last year, the 32-year-old needs the young brigade at Adelaide to step up to the next level.
Darcy Fogarty kicked 33 goals in 2022, with Shane McAdam landing on the goalscoring podium with 23 to his name.
23-year-old Fogarty is primed for a massive year, heading into his sixth season with the Crows after an impressive pre-season, booting four goals against the Eagles in their pre-season match.
Riley Thilthorpe meanwhile continues to be an important prospect for the Crows, sidelined for parts of the 2022 season due to knee and ankle injuries, managing just eight goals from 11 appearances, but should see even more development this season should he get a good run free from injury.
The inclusion of Izak Rankine will be exciting for Adelaide, tipped to become one of the recruits of the year, ideally forming an intense pressure combo up forward with young star Josh Rachele.
The club had just three players kick over 20 goals last season (Walker, Fogarty, McAdam) and will need more of an input across the board should they look to fast track this rebuild.
The Bombers struggled inside 50 in 2022, with forward pressure being one of their more noticeable issues throughout the year. While the Bombers looked to have improved this pre-season, only time will tell if that holds up over the course of 2023.
Peter Wright dominated goalkicking at Essendon last season, kicking 53 goals from 22 games to finish fifth in the Coleman Medal standings. The Sun-turned-Bomber will spearhead a revamped Essendon attack, with some fresh and old faces set to run amok inside 50.
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti's return to the club should provide more of a spark inside 50, with the 29-year-old impressing plenty upon his return to Tullamarine, looking likely to play his first game in more than over a year in the opening weeks of the season.
The inclusion of Sam Weideman from Melbourne adds even more height to Essendon's attack, with the 25-year-old standing at nearly two metres tall, and is expected to slot into the side as the second tall alongside Wright.
The arrive of Weideman bodes well for Harrison Jones, who managed 10 games last season for 13 goals, with the duo of Wright and Weideman expected to draw attention away from the developing forward.
Jake Stringer heads into 2023 with a slight cloud over his head regarding his fitness levels and injury, not featuring in either of the Bombers' pre-season matches due to a hamstring injury suffered early in the year, but questions still remain if the 28-year-old will feature in the forward line or midfield.
Meanwhile, young recruits Jye Menzie and Alwyn Davey Jr have turned heads during pre-season and should see senior opportunity, while Archie Perkins should continue to see consistent game time as he develops.
The Suns are tipped to improve in 2023 after a solid output last season, ending the year in 12th position as they eye finals this year.
Ben King's return from an ACL injury looms as a major inclusion for Gold Coast this season, with their key forward booting 47 goals in the 2021 season, just his third in the AFL.
King's injury wasn't all dire for the Suns though, with their off-season acquisition of Mabior Chol turning out to be a masterstroke. In King's absence, Chol headed the Suns' goalkicking tally, booting 44 goals from 22 games.
Former Blue Levi Casboult also impressed in attack in his first season as a Sun, kicking 35 goals from 21 goals as he and Chol formed an unlikely, but impressive duo in the forward line.
As King returns, there's the question of how the Suns will balance their abundance of talls, with the three managing three goals between them in last weekend's practice game against the Giants.
Meanwhile, Joel Jeffery (192cm) has untapped potential and Jack Lukosius (195cm) is set to play forward this year. Suns coach Stuart Dew has admitted he can't play all five, but has floated the idea of playing four, an interesting combination to watch unfold this season.
The loss of Izak Rankine to the Crows will be felt, with Malcolm Rosas potentially in line for more game time after his 15-game 2022, while new recruit Tom Berry has shown he can deliver pressure around the ball.
On paper, the Suns are checking plenty of boxes, but are relying on both Chol and Casboult backing up their 2022 form and their tall experiment paying off, something only time will tell.
The 2023 season is yet to officially kick off, but already it looks as if the Nat Fyfe as a forward trial is set to reap rewards for Fremantle.
The two-time Brownlow medallist has all but completed his transition into a full-time forward target, booting three goals against Port Adelaide in Freo's pre-season practice match victory, complimenting a three-goal haul in the match simulation against Adelaide the previous week.
With Fremantle possessing the ruck duo of Sean Darcy and Luke Jackson, we should expect to see a strong marking target in Jackson as a forward, while the club will be hoping Matt Taberner can get back to his best after an injury-hit 2022 to replace the 36-goal absence left by the departed Rory Lobb
Promising key forward prospect Jye Amiss managed just three games last season and will be hoping for more consistent game time as he continues to develop, but may find himself the victim of Fremantle's forward line depth. While Josh Treacy has put his hands up for selection after an impressive pre-season in his third year at the club.
The Dockers have a strong ground-level brigade, with Michael Frederick (28 goals in 2022), Sam Switkowski (11), Lachie Schultz (30) and Michael Walters (25) able to provide another avenue to goal.
In the air though, the Dockers will be hoping Taberner can have an injury-free run and Amiss can spend more time on the park to ensure they have enough tall targets inside 50.
The Bulldogs are heading into 2023 with an intriguing forward line, with the addition of Rory Lobb into the mix leaving the Dogs with plenty of height inside 50.
Aaron Naughton enjoyed a stellar 2022 season, kicking 51 goals from 22 games, topping the Bulldogs' goalkicking tally by a margin of 15 majors.
The inclusion of Lobb, who kicked 36 goals last season, will be instrumental for Naughton's success this season, helping draw away big-bodied key defenders.
Young guns Jamarra Ugle-Hagan and Sam Darcy will also cause trouble for any undersized backlines, standing at 197cm and 208cm respectively, though Darcy may find himself spending time down back too when needed.
There were plenty of questions about the forward line setup throughout the off-season, but the Bulldogs showed in their pre-season practice match win against North Melbourne that there is plenty of merit in their tactics. The tall quartet combined for ten goals in the 58-point win, with Naughton claiming four of those in a dominating appearance.
On the smaller side, Cody Weightman will continue to be valuable after his 36-goal haul in 2022, while the club will be hoping Jason Johannisen can overcome a calf issue in time for Round 1. Rhylee West will be hoping for more consistent game time after 14 matches in 2022.
The Dogs' new-look forward line is certainly one to watch this season should Luke Beveridge find the perfect balance with his tall brigade.
The Pies had a good spread of players hitting the scoreboard last season, with 12 players kicking ten or more goals throughout the year, with key forward Brody Mihocek topping the table with 41 majors.
Collingwood's biggest issue up forward though was that Mihocek needed a solid partner alongside him to ease the pressure on his shoulders. The off-season acquisition of Daniel McStay should help the Pies in this regard, with the former Lion slotting into the side in Collingwood's pre-season win over Hawthorn, kicking two goals, but is yet to kick more than 28 goals in a season in his nine-year AFL career.
Ash Johnson also looms as a possible third member of a potential tall attacking trio, featuring in nine games last season for 15 goals, though the Pies may use their ruck duo of Darcy Cameron and Mason Cox as their alternate third option.
Jack Ginnivan needs no introduction around the league and should have an immediate impact after returning from suspension, expected to continue the form that saw him have a breakout 2022 season, kicking 40 majors from 23 games. Alongside Ginnivan, Jamie Elliott had a starring role in Collingwood's resurgence last season and should do more of the same in 2023.
Another recruit in attack is former Giant Bobby Hill, who made the move south from GWS during 2022's trade period. Hill played 41 games across four seasons while at the Giants and has impressed this pre-season, putting plenty of pressure on the small forward spots.
Patrick Lipinksi will be sidelined for the first half of the season after undergoing shoulder surgery, while Beau McCreery should feature as another ground-level option.