The best forward pick in AFLW right now is Mikayla Bowen, and the reason tells you everything about how to fill this line: Bowen is forward in name only. The Geelong star averaged 104.2 GameDay Squad points last season and played full-time midfield minutes in the practice match, racking up 40 disposals.
That is the whole secret to the FWD line. Goals are streaky; disposals are steady. You need seven forwards in your AFLW squad (7 DEF, 6 MID, 2 RUK, 7 FWD, bench included, bench scores in full), so favour the ones who rack up touches and treat pure goal-kickers as the cream, not the base.
The ball-winners first
All averages are from last season on GameDay Squad scoring.
- Mikayla Bowen (Geelong). 104.2 average with a midfield role. The closest thing to a mid you can play in a forward slot.
- Chloe Molloy (Sydney). 91.8 average and kicked two goals for Australia against Ireland (70 GDS points on the day).
- Courtney Hodder (Brisbane). 86.8 average and a goal for Australia on the weekend.
- Bonnie Toogood (Essendon). 86.1 average, a proven marking target who holds value.
The goal-kickers
- Tahlia Randall (North Melbourne). Averaged just 63.7 last season, but kicked 4.1 for Australia on the way to 84 GDS points, a week after three goals in a practice match. When a key forward is in this kind of touch, ride it while it lasts.
- Blaithin Bogue (Brisbane). 65.6 average, three goals for Ireland on Saturday and 64 GDS points doing it. In form and proven against the best.
- Ash Richards (St Kilda). 77 average last season but we are finally seeing the midfield Richards come to life that we knew was there! Keep an eye on the first lineup sheet to see where they're named.
Two cautions
Lauren Young (Port Adelaide) looked lively at high half-forward in the practice round (18 disposals, 9 marks), but averaged 42.8 from four games last season. Role change or small sample? Wait and see. And Collingwood's first pick Imogen Trengove managed only 39 per cent time on ground in the practice round; low minutes means low scores no matter the talent.
Fill most of the line with ball-winners, keep one or two slots for in-form talls, and put your rarity upgrades on the Bowen types whose floor is high. Seven forwards sorted, no coin flips.