Forward lines are more often than not where the magic happens on a footy ground, with fans eager to see exciting, high-scoring football.
2022 saw Charlie Curnow claim the Coleman Medal with a 64-goal effort, closely followed by fellow stars Tom Lynch and Jeremy Cameron, as 2023 shapes up to provide fans with even more to cheer about.
After trades galore last year and several new coaches in place, teams, and forward lines, may look a little different this season.
With the first game of the year fast approaching, we have taken a look at all 18 forward lines around the competition, ranking them ahead of the 2023 season.
Here are the first six forward lines, ranking 18th down to 13th...
3. (16th) Hawthornย
Hawthorn are one of the youngest teams in the competition and are firmly amid what could be a very long, and sometimes painful, rebuild under sophomore coach Sam Mitchell.
The Hawks struggled in 2022 - finishing 13th on the ladder - and lost more than 1000 games of experience in the off-season, leaving many to conclude that the club will take another tumble down the ladder this season. Despite their youth and inexperience though, Hawthorn looked competitive in a pre-season hitout against Collingwood last week.
Though there are noticeable signs of improvement down at Waverley Park, there are still plenty of issues in the forward line.
Off-season inclusion Fergus Greene may prove to be instrumental inside 50 for the Hawks, booting three goals in their practice match, and will be relied upon in the absence of Jack Gunstonย who moved north to the Lions last year.
Gunston kicked 32 goals for the Hawks last season and beyond that takes years of experience with him out the door. The three-time premiership player has kicked 430 goals across his AFL career since his debut in 2010, leaving a gaping hole inside 50 at Hawthorn.
Key forward Mitch Lewis enjoyed a breakout 2022 season, playing 15 games and kicking 37 goals, but heads into 2023 expecting to miss the opening month of the season after suffering a knee injury early in the year. The loss of Lewis is a big one for the Hawks, with their second-highest goalkicker in 2022 now out of commission for the early parts of the season.
2022 leading goalkicker Luke Bruest is expected to shoulder a big load in 2023 after a mighty consistent last 12 months, kicking 40 goals from 21 games, but he can't be the Hawks' only avenue to goal in his 15th season.
Dylan Moore regularly hit the scoreboard last season, kicking 26 goals, but could find himself playing more midfield minutes this season as he looks to take his game to the next level.
Key target Jacob Koschitzke will be forced to step up in the absence of Lewis, with the Hawks requiring the 22-year-old to take his 18-goal 2022 campaign to another level this year.
Chad Wingard was another who hit the scoreboard last season and will do so again this year as one of the more experienced players on Hawthorn's list, with just him and Bruest the only Hawks to have played over 150 games.
Hawthorn averaged 11.9 goals per match last year with Bruest, Lewis, Gunston and Moore leading the charge, having just six players kick more than 10 goals for the entire season.
With Gunston now elsewhere and Lewis not currently fit, the Hawks will need their young crop to step up and hit the scoreboard.
