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...
Though North fans have plenty to cheer as Alastair Clarkson edges closer to his maiden season in charge, there is still plenty of development needed at Arden Street.
It would be an understatement to say North struggled inside 50 last season, managing to kick more than ten goals in just six matches.
Key forward Nick Larkey managed 38 goals to top the table at the Kangaroos, while young prospect Charlie Comben managed just one game last season.
While the likes of Larkey and Cam Zurhaar have talent and seem to be the main targets for the Roos this season, there is still more improvement needed, while the Kangaroos' depth inside 50 leaves plenty to be desired.
New draftee Harry Sheezel is set to impress after a strong pre-season, but can't be expected to do too much in his debut campaign. Meanwhile, Jaidyn Stephenson has shown he has talent but North haven't been able to get it on display consistently.
North's entry inside 50 needs serious improvement from 2022 and with Clarkson at the helm we will surely see some, but perhaps not as fast as some may be expecting.
The retirement of Eagles legend Josh Kennedy leaves a big hole needing to be replaced up forward for West Coast. Despite hanging up the boots after 17 seasons in the game, Kennedy still topped West Coast's goalkicking leaderboard last season, booting 37 goals from 15 games.
Jack Darling is still an essential cog inside 50 as he heads into season number 13 in the AFL, and the Eagles will be hoping the 30-year-old remains as consistent as ever in the wake of Kennedy's departure.
In 2022, the Eagles averaged 40.6 inside 50s per game, the lowest in the competition, consistently struggling to put scores on the board as they endured an arduous season around the ground.
With some much-needed inclusions this season as key players return from injury, it's hoped West Coast's ball movement up the ground will improve, but the issues inside 50 will remain.
While Darling is a reliable option, more responsibility is now going to be thrown toward Oscar Allen, who missed all of 2022 due to a foot injury. The young key forward has been thrown around the ground when needed by Adam Simpson throughout his career, but will now be a tall target inside 50 alongside Darling, hoping to regain some form in the wake of his injury.
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 Gunston 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.
Adam Kingsley has a big job in front of him in his first season as senior coach at the Giants, though few are expecting the club to have a strong campaign. In 2022, GWS struggled up forward, ranking 16th in the competition for average marks inside 50 and average shots on goal, and things don't look like improving much this season.
The Giants welcomed number one draft pick and key forward prospect Aaron Cadman to the club in last year's draft to boost their forward stocks, but still lack key depth.
Cadman is expected to feature early to ease some of the Giants' forward woes after a remarkably consistent 2022 junior campaign, having kicked 34 goals from 12 games in the NAB League last year.
Skipper Toby Greene is a star but can't carry the forward line on his shoulders in an otherwise struggling Giants side, balancing the loss of key players through the trade period with a new coach thrown into the mix.
Jesse Hogan kicked 35 goals in 2022, his second year as a Giant, from 18 games, averaging 7.2 marks. The 28-year-old former Demon and Docker will have to perform if the Giants want to hit the scoreboard.
New recruit Toby Bedford is a handy replacement after losing Bobby Hill to the Pies, with the former Demon managing 16 games in red and blue last year to kick nine goals, but the Giants will be eager to see him have more impact on the scoreboard.
As injury concerns continue to strike the Saints, the forward line down at Moorabbin is in serious strife.
2022's leading goalkicker, Max King, is set to miss the start of the season after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction, while fellow talls Tim Membrey and Jack Hayes are no guarantee to line up in Round 1.
King kicked 52 goals in 2022, even as he was plagued by moments of inaccuracy in front of the sticks, and became a reliable tall target for the Saints inside 50 in his fourth season at the club.
Membrey, meanwhile, is no guarantee to be a Round 1 inclusion after undergoing an arthroscope on his right knee. The 28-year-old kicked 34 goals last season, a reliable tall target alongside King, as he continues to accept the task of shouldering a large forward load since his move to the Saints.
With both Hayes and untried key target Matthew Allison sidelined for the start of the season, the Saints' tall stocks have taken a serious hit. Ross Lyon has trialled backs Zaine Cordy and Dougal Howard in attack, but the pair will be no apt replacement for the goalscoring duo of King and Membrey.
The Saints' small forwards Jack Higgins (30 goals in 2022) and Dan Butler (19) have no issues hitting the scoreboard but will need to be more competitive in 2023, while Rowan Marshall, who kicked nine goals last season, will find himself spending less time forward as he takes on the number one ruck role.
Mitch Owens looms as an exciting prospect, playing as a hybrid midfield-forward in the Saints' practice game against Essendon to boot three goals. Recent SSP signing Anthony Caminiti may see more game time than expected, with the promising athletic key forward looming as a potential replacement inside 50 should the Saints' forward woes continue.
Port Adelaide's 2022 season left much to be desired, their hopes of finals football crushed as they ended the home and away season in 11th position.
Todd Marshall led the charge in attack in a breakout campaign, kicking 45 goals from 21 games, with Sam Powell-Pepper following with 24 majors.
Marshall will continue to play as Port's number one target this season, but will need his fellow forwards to step up should the Power look to climb the ladder.
Charlie Dixon has long been a target for Port inside 50, but was sidelined for parts of the 2022 season due to an ankle injury and had to balance time forward with rucking duties, and will be hoping to get more consistent game time this season.
Mitch Georgiades, who has shown plenty of promise throughout his young career, is yet to reach his full potential and will look to build more consistency after a 19-game, 23-goal season in 2022.
The combo of Dixon and Marshall combined for just one goal in Port's pre-season loss to Fremantle, with the Power managing to get just eight goals on the board throughout the match.
Powell-Pepper looked sharp in Port's practice match, while recruit Junior Rioli is set to be dynamic in the forward line this season. Former Roo Jason Horne-Francis should also spend some minutes inside 50, while veteran Travis Boak should also feature in attack.
The Power seem to have their three talls locked down, while Jeremy Finlayson can also provide some versatility, but will need Powell-Pepper and Rioli to bring the pressure around the ball.
Ex-Bomber Orazio Fantasia will be hoping for an uninterrupted 2023 campaign after failing to feature for the Power last year, looking to rival the likes of Rioli as Ken Hinkley's first-string small forward.