IN THE AFL in 2016, droughts aren't what they used to be.

Defenders who were once anchored to their post can now push forward and kick the goal they've always dreamed of, getting the monkey off their back.

Rewind through the game's history, however, and there are stories like that of Collingwood premiership full-back Charlie Dibbs.

Dibbs kicked a goal in his first season in 1924 but played another 219 games and retired without another, the longest drought in the game's history.

Later, in the 1970s and '80s, Fitzroy and South Melbourne/Sydney Swans full-back Rod Carter waited 215 games before kicking his first goal.  

Brisbane Lions defender Mal Michael (87 games), Fremantle's Shane Parker (71) and Port Adelaide's Darryl Wakelin (73) are more modern names who have experienced a significant goal drought through their careers.   

The game has changed, but goal droughts still exist. So who is enduring the longest dry run at your club? 

KYLE CHENEY
Drought: 38 games
Last goal: Round three, 2012

The gutsy backman has proved really solid value since crossing to West Lakes from Hawthorn and he's played every game so far this year. But while Cheney's an obviously talented negator in defence, we haven't seen him transition up the ground to hit the scoreboard for the Crows. He booted two while playing for the Hawks but doesn't look like adding to those any time soon while entrenched deep in the Crows' back half. - Harry Thring   

Yet to kick his first: Kyle Hartigan, 35 games; Jake Lever, 20 games 

MARCO PAPARONE
Drought: 22 games
Last goal: Round three, 2015

Paparone started his career as a high half-forward and kicked 12 goals in his first 16 games. But with one of the best aerobic systems in the club, he was then shuffled to the wing to use his run and in more recent times into the backline, where the 194cm utility can play on either tall or small players. It wouldn't surprise to see Paparone moved to the wing again in the near future, opening the door for him to get back on the goalkickers' list. - Michael Whiting

Yet to kick his first: Jaden McGrath, three games 

ED CURNOW
Drought: 44 games
Last goal: Round one, 2014

While the Blues need plenty of goals from their midfielders Curnow's main job is to set up play as a linkman, spending much of his game-time between the arcs. In the NAB Challenge he pushed forward to score two goals (including a nine-pointer) but in the premiership season this year he has managed only three behinds – two against Fremantle in round five and one against Essendon in round six. Last Sunday against Port Adelaide he had an impact, managing a career-high three goal assists. - Howard Kotton

Yet to kick his first: Ciaran Byrne, seven games; Clem Smith, seven games; Matthew Dick, six games; Jacob Weitering, six games; Ciaran Sheehan, four games.

NATHAN BROWN
Drought: 49 games
Last goal: Round three, 2013

In just his fourth AFL game, against Carlton at the MCG in round four, 2008, Brown was Collingwood's only shining light in attack in the first term. Amid an avalanche of Blues goals, the 19-year-old left-footer slotted two of the Pies' first three majors. Thereafter, goals would be few and far between for the No.10 draft pick from Ballarat as he became a premiership defender in 2010. Brown has managed just one goal in the past seven years, and none in his past 49 outings. His most recent six-pointer in 2013 broke a 41-game goalless streak. Don't expect the drought to break any time soon, given he was recently dropped to the VFL and is now fighting to overcome a hamstring problem. - Ben Collins

Yet to kick his first: Jack Frost, 50 games; Jackson Ramsay, nine games; Matthew Goodyear, one game 

Nathan Brown hasn't goaled since 2013, but is happy to join in Josh Smith's fun. Picture: AFL Media

MARK BAGULEY

Drought: 54 games
Last goal: Round 20, 2013

Recently Essendon coach John Worsfold has used Baguley in a small forward role, and he did kick three behinds against the Sydney Swans in round seven. He didn't kick a goal, however, and his streak of games without a major has stretched to 54 games. Baguley has gone more than two seasons without a goal because he is one of Essendon's most dependable defenders: almost every week he is given a task to shut down the opposition's most dangerous small forward and generally he does it with a minimum of fuss.

*Tayte Pears has gone 63 games without a goal for Essendon, but the defender is one of 12 listed Bombers players to have been suspended for this season due to an anti-doping breach. - Callum Twomey

Yet to kick his first: Jason Ashby, 10 games; Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, eight games; Will Hams, five games.  

LEE SPURR
Drought: 36 games
Last goal: Round 19, 2014

The redoubtable defender has only kicked five goals in his 90-game career to date. He very rarely ventures forward and is often the sweeper across the centre square when the Dockers are pressing in their forward half. His first goal came on the run at the MCG in his 21st game but he hasn't kicked a goal since 2014. He has registered a couple of behinds since then but has failed to find the major opening. - Alex Malcolm 

Yet to kick his first: Connor Blakely, four games; Darcy Tucker, two games 

TOM LONERGAN
Drought: 17 games
Last goal: Round 10, 2015

From kicking 36 goals as a key forward in the ill-fated 2008 campaign to the premiership full-back in 2011, Lonergan is now one of the game's most reliable defenders. The Cats don't carry players without the ability to kick straight if the situation demands it, so the drought is not even a season long for the 32-year-old, with his teammate, Corey Enright ending a 27-game streak with a last quarter goal against Adelaide last week. Jake Kolodjashnij and Tom Ruggles are the next contenders to do a Gary Malarkey and go through their career goalless. - Peter Ryan

Yet to kick his first: Jake Kolodjashnij, 15 games; Cameron Delaney, six games; Tom Ruggles, five games; Michael Luxford, two games 

He started as a forward, but Tom Lonergan has made his name in defence. Picture: AFL Media

STEVEN MAY
Drought: 48 games
Last goal: Round 15, 2013

May was an under-18 All Australian full-forward and started his career at the Suns in the forward line. He took 12 marks and kicked three goals against Hawthorn at the MCG in 2012. But after some switching between ends of the ground, May has made full-back his own since the start of 2014 and when fit, has proved himself one of the best young defenders in the league. He won't be moving forward in a hurry, but with team presses and his long penetrating left boot, he should break this drought sometime in the near future. - Michael Whiting

Yet to kick his first: Henry Schade, 18 games; Jack Leslie, six games; Mackenzie Willis, one game. 

PHIL DAVIS

Drought: 45 games

Last goal: Round 16, 2012

The co-captain is the Giants' most important key defender so it's little wonder he hasn't managed to sneak down and find the big sticks so far in his career in Sydney. Davis is usually given the opposition's best power forward and leaves the attacking to Heath Shaw and Nathan Wilson. The 25-year-old has also missed plenty of games through injury in his time at GWS, which hasn't helped his cause. - Adam Curley

Yet to kick his first: Caleb Marchbank, seven games; Jacob Hopper, one game 

BEN STRATTON
Drought: 108 games
Last goal: Round 19, 2010

Stratton is not in the Hawthorn side to kick goals. His job is to play as a lockdown defender and his value to the side is his intercept and contested marking in the back half. Hawthorn's mandatory flexibility does not apply to Stratton, and Alastair Clarkson is content as long as he is stopping goals, not kicking them. Still, a handful of goal-scoring opportunities presented themselves last season, including in the Grand Final, but Stratton generally made a complete hash of them and his goal drought is officially the longest of all active players in the AFL. Now that Josh Gibson has broken his duck at the Hawks, efforts will be doubled to get Stratton back on the goalkicking list. Stand by for the mother of all celebrations when he does. - Ashley Browne

Yet to kick his first: Kieran Lovell, Kaiden Brand, two games each 

COLIN GARLAND
Drought: 23 games
Last goal: Round one, 2015

For a player who started his career as a lead-up forward, Garland found his niche as a defender and has filled that job admirably for the Demons over the years. Garland has booted just 16 goals during his 139-game career and his only major of last year came in near comical circumstances against Gold Coast. The Demons defender sneaked forward and conned Suns superstar Gary Ablett into handballing the ball to him. He gleefully snapped the ball over his shoulder and celebrated with all and sundry on his way back to defence. - Ben Guthrie

Yet to kick his first: Viv Michie, 20 games; Josh Wagner, six games; Jayden Hunt, five games; Oscar McDonald, three games; Mitch White, one game 

Colin Garland celebrates his unlikely goal against the Suns last season. Picture: AFL Media

SCOTT THOMPSON
Drought: 52 games
Last goal: Round three, 2014

After experiencing a relative boom with two majors in 2013, it's been a lean patch for the All Australian defender. Thompson has booted only one goal, but at least it was a good one. With North trailing Port Adelaide by 19 points in the third quarter, he marked just outside 50m, sold Jarman Impey some candy and set sail with a team-lifter as the Roos got up in a thriller. Sadly, given his track record and excellent form down back, it's unlikely we'll see Thompson repeat his heroics any time soon. - Travis King

Yet to kick his first: Joel Tippett, nine games. 

JACK HOMBSCH
Drought: 69 games
Last goal: -

One of the most important and still one of the most underrated players at Alberton, Hombsch has developed into a brilliant defender. He regularly posts team-leading one-percenters but his great work deep in defence means it's rare that he finds himself forward of centre. So rare, in fact, that Hombsch has only ever hit the scoresheet on three occasions and is yet to find the middle of the goals. The Power need to be firing for the 23-year-old to put himself in a scoring opportunity and the club appears some way off that. - Harry Thring   

Yet to kick his first: Jack Hombsch, 69 games; Tom Clurey, nine games

ALEX RANCE
Drought: 50 games
Last goal: Round 21, 2013

Widely judged the AFL's best key defender, it is rare to see Rance at the other end of the ground, and fair enough. His last goal – the eighth of his career – came against Carlton and ended another 63-game drought. Damien Hardwick's only real positional experiment with Rance came against Collingwood last year when he threw the key defender into the midfield in a short-lived trial. Given his proficiency down back, don't expect the current drought to end any time soon. - Nathan Schmook 

Yet to kick his first: Jason Castagna, Liam McBean, Todd Elton, two games each

SEAN DEMPSTER
Drought: 45 games
Last goal: Round six, 2014

The defender is as no-frills as they come, and Dempster is not the type to sneak up the field to put one through the big sticks. A person who is happy to be out of the limelight, his best work is done in the backline. Dempster might find a way to drift forward at the end of a close game, with his team trailing by a few points, but even then it's hard to imagine him kicking a goal any time soon. - Dinny Navaratnam

Yet to kick his first: Nathan Wright, 20 games; Daniel McKenzie, seven games; Jason Holmes, three games. 

NICK SMITH

Drought: 58 games

Last goal: Round 18, 2013

The 2014 All Australian defender spends most weeks guarding the competition's most dangerous small forwards, so stopping players such as Hawthorn's Cyril Rioli and Adelaide's Eddie Betts comes first for Smith and he wouldn't have it any other way. An old school backman, the 27-year-old plays game 150 this week against Hawthorn, so who knows, maybe the milestone will inspire him to float forward and break the drought? - Adam Curley

Yet to kick his first: Callum Mills, eight games; Aliir Aliir, Jack Hiscox, Michael Talia, one game each 

Nick Smith plays his 150th match this week, and would love to mark it with a goal. Picture: AFL Media

WILL SCHOFIELD
Drought: 47 games
Last goal: Round 21, 2013

Schofield kicked seven goals in the last eight games of 2013. He played a slightly different role as a forward late in John Worsfold's last year as coach. Since then he has not registered a score. He has played exclusively deep in defence under Adam Simpson and is unlikely to break the drought any time soon. - Alex Malcolm

Yet to kick his first: Tom Barrass, three games 

DALE MORRIS

Drought: 75 games
Last goal: Round seven, 2011

One of the AFL's most reliable and versatile backman, the 33-year-old has had his chances this season to register his fourth career goal, but unfortunately has hit the woodwork twice. Luke Beveridge's attacking game-plan should see the highly respected veteran get another chance to kick truly. - Ryan Davidson 

Yet to kick his first: Fletcher Roberts, 22 games; Joel Hamling, 13 games; Marcus Adams, seven games; Josh Prudden, four games; Zaine Cordy, two games; Roarke Smith, Bailey Williams, one game each.