Wondered why the forward options seemed slim this year so went back through last year's top 40 forwards (ranking in brackets) by highest average. Don't have SC Gold so got question marks on some position changes so there may be a few amendments.
We lost the following players due to position changes:
Stevie J (1), Rockliff (2), Cox (3), Bartel (4=), A Walker (4=), Stokes (12), J Lewis (13), Nic Nat (14), Christensen (17), Ryder (20=), R Henderson (29), Dunn (38).
We've lost the top 5 players in forward line. Plus we've lost 8 from the top 15 of last year's forwards. So now we know why there are slim pickings!
Have listed below the available top 40 forwards (including their 2013 score) by their team in 2014 and according to bye round (to help with planning):
Round 8
Suns - none in top 40 but Dixon (13x90) available in 2014
Pies - Cloke (16), 21x95
Cats - Motlop (40), 21x82
Tigers - Dusty (9), 22x101
- Edwards (24), 8x89
- J Roo (30), 21x85
Crows - none but expect Dangerfield locked in 2014
North - Harvey (7), 16x104
- Petrie (8), 22x102
Round 9
Hawks - Roughead (11), 22x98
- Rioli (26), 13x88
- Hale (34), 21x83
- Gunston (35), 20x83
- Breust (37), 22x82
Blues - L Henderson (33), 22x83
Eagles - JJK (22), 21x90
- LeCras (32), 15x83
Dogs - none in top 40
Port - Westhoff (10), 21x98
- Monfries (20), 22x90
- Schulz (28), 22x85
- Gray (39), 18x82
GWS - none in top 40
Round 10
Bombers - Chappy (15), 6x95
Swans - Buddy (19), 19x90
- Tippett (23), 10x89
- Goodes? (31), 12x84
Saints - N Roo (6), 21x105
Dockers - Mayne (18), 21x92
- Walters? (24), 18x89
- Sylvia (27), 19x86
Lions - Zorko (36), 22x83
Dees - Dunn (38) no longer available
With Danger and Dusty being popular picks with round 8 bye and Buddy and Pav being popular picks with round 10 bye, seems to me that Hawks and Port have best options for players with round 9 bye. That is, if you're looking to balance your team across the bye rounds.