THEY'RE the stars who drive your club to glory.

The team at AFL.com.au has dissected every club's records to name the best forward at each since the turn of the century. 

>> HAVE YOUR SAY on the who is the best in the poll at the bottom

In making our decisions, we only factored in their form from 2000-onwards. Therefore, the chances of certain players could be hindered if they did their best work in the 1990s.

Spearhead, distributor, small or tall … here is the best of the best down in attack.

BEST SINCE 2000 Who is your club's best defender?

Eddie Betts (132 games from 2014-2019)

Some questioned the high price Adelaide paid for Betts as a free agent at the end of 2014 but he delivered in spades – and then some. The small forward was the best of his craft in the competition whilst at the Crows. He booted 310 goals in 132 games for Adelaide, surpassing the 50-goal barrier in his first four seasons at the club, including a mammoth 75-goal tally in 2016. Betts left the Crows at the end of last year but the imprint he made at the club remains, including the famous 'Eddie's pocket' at Adelaide Oval. Taylor Walker looks set to become Adelaide's leading goalkicker of all time – he needs only 13 more goals to surpass Tony Modra's tally of 440 goals – but has played nearly 60 more games at the club than Betts did. - Callum Twomey

Jonathan Brown (256 games from 2000-2014) 

The club's all-time leading goalscorer at was a massive player in a window where they won three flags. Arriving in 1999, the father-son had a slow start for five goals from his 13-game debut season. From there he exploded. Kicked 38 goals in 2001 and was a pivotal player in all three flags. Finished a five-time leading goalkicker ahead of Alastair Lynch (four) and Daniel Bradshaw (three). Given Lynch only played five seasons in the new century, Brown got the nod. - Mitch Cleary 

Brendan Fevola (185 games from 2000-2009)

The great entertainer is far and away Carlton's greatest forward this century. Fevola's career in the Navy Blue might have ended abruptly, but it was still a fantastic one. He averaged over three goals per game during his time with the club, including an incredible stretch between 2006 and 2009 that included two Coleman Medals and three All-Australian guernseys. He now sits proudly behind Stephen Kernahan in second as the club's greatest ever goalkicker. His ability to turn games off his own boot, particularly in an era where success evaded Carlton, takes him beyond Eddie Betts, Lance Whitnall and Jarrad Waite. - Riley Beveridge

Travis Cloke (246 games from 2005-2016)

His career might have ebbed and flowed, but there's no doubt Cloke at his best was a force to be reckoned with. Cloke kicked 441 goals during his time with the club, culminating in a three-year stretch between 2011 and 2013 where he finished with 69, 59 and 68 goals in each season. He claimed the club's best and fairest in 2007 after a dominant year up forward, while he played an integral role in the side's 2010 premiership victory before earning All-Australian honours in 2011 and 2013. His standing as one of the game's best contested marks throughout this period takes him beyond Anthony Rocca and Alan Didak. - Riley Beveridge

Matthew Lloyd (189 games from 2000-2009)

A no-brainer. Essendon's all-time leading goalkicker started the century at his peak, breaking the magical 100-goal barrier in 2000 and 2001. Lloyd is one of Essendon's greatest ever players, his dead-eye left foot, brilliant marking and toughness making him the standout full forward in the game through his career. Lloyd finished his career at the end of 2009 with 926 goals from 270 games, making him the eighth-leading goalkicker in the game's history. 681 of his goals were kicked from 2000 onwards. The Bombers haven't had a player get near Lloyd's level since their former skipper departed the club. - Callum Twomey

Matthew Pavlich (353 games from 2000-2016) 

There could only be one, and he's Fremantle's greatest ever player. 'Pav' was in a class of his own as a six-time All Australian, six-time Doig medallist and eight-time leading goalkicker. He captained Freo from 2007-15 and led the club to its first and only Grand Final in 2013. He played his career predominantly as a key forward, but such was his versatility that he was the All-Australian full-back in 2002 and would be thrown into the Dockers' engine room when needed. He reached the 700-goal milestone in his final game in 2016 when Freo upset eventual premier Western Bulldogs. - Chris Correia

Steve Johnson (253 games from 2002-2015) 

Selected by the smallest of margins over Tom Hawkins. The self-proclaimed big game player's three premierships were bookended with a Norm Smith Medal in 2007 and four goals on one leg in 2011. While he was only Geelong's leading goalkicker twice in 2008 and 2010 (Hawkins has eight), Johnson was a three-time All-Australian compared to Hawkins' two. If Hawkins can lead the current Geelong side to another flag before his time up, he'll jump ahead of Johnson in this debate. - Mitch Cleary 

Tom Lynch (131 games from 2011-2018)

Although no longer with the Suns, Lynch is comfortably the best forward in the club's history. The hard-running target has kicked the most goals for the Suns since their inception (254), with Gary Ablett and Brandon Matera tied for next best (124 goals each). Lynch also holds the club record for most times as leading goalkicker (four), the most goals in a season (66 in 2016) and most goals in a game (eight, in round two, 2018). Lynch held up one end for the Suns throughout his career before joining Richmond as a free agent at the end of 2018 and playing in its premiership last year. - Callum Twomey

Jeremy Cameron (155 games from 2012-2020)

Cameron became the first winner of the Coleman Medal in the Giants' history last year when he booted nine goals in round 23 to finish his home and away season with 67 goals. He added another nine during the finals to finish his campaign with a career-best 76 goals for the year. The 27-year-old has kicked 406 goals in 155 games for the Giants and their leading goalkicker every season since their inception in 2012 (he shared that gong with Toby Greene and Jonathon Patton in 2017). With plenty of years left in his career, the strong-marking and long-kicking left-footer could go down as one of the great modern key forwards if his trajectory continues. - Callum Twomey

Lance Franklin (182 games from 2005-2013)

The only other possible answers were fellow Hawks greats Jarryd Roughead and Cyril Rioli but Franklin (580 goals) was on another level. He was the club's leading goalkicker six times, won two Coleman Medals – kicking 113 goals in 2008 and 82 in 2011 – was the Peter Crimmins medallist in the 2008 premiership year and a four-time All-Australian. 'Buddy' also played in Hawthorn's 2013 flag before departing for Sydney. Franklin's rare athleticism for his size enabled him to produce some incredible moments, including twice kicking the Goal of the Year, in 2010 and 2013. - Marc McGowan

David Neitz (169 games from 2000-2008)

One of the Demons' all-time greats, as their longest-serving captain and leading overall goalkicker with 631, including 414 since 2000. Neitz's best season was in 2002, when he won the Coleman Medal with a career-high 82 goals, was named All-Australian for the second time and claimed Melbourne's club champion award. He switched into attack in the second half of the 2000 season and largely remained there. Neitz's physical presence provoked fear in opponents. Other notable forwards – albeit some for shorter durations – were Russell Robertson, Jeff Farmer, Brad Green and David Schwarz. - Marc McGowan

Ben Brown (122 games from 2014-present)

If Wayne Carey is the greatest player ever, then should 37 games in the qualification period earn him this particular title? No, not even with his masterful 2000 season considered. Saverio Rocca, Jarrad Waite and Nathan Thompson also made an impact. Rocca arguably had the best case of that trio but it came down to Brown, Drew Petrie and Lindsay Thomas. Brown was the pick – despite far fewer games – because he's reached greater individual heights, including being the only AFL player to kick 60-plus goals in each of the past three seasons. A superb shot at goal and an aerobic beast. - Marc McGowan

Warren Tredrea (217 games from 2000-2010)

The dominant key forward deserves to go down as one of the best players in Port Adelaide's history and is undoubtedly its greatest forward of this century. He played an integral role in the club's maiden AFL premiership in 2004, named the AFL Coaches' Association Player of the Season in that particular year. Having kicked 476 goals on this side of the century, Tredrea was recognised with four best and fairests and four All-Australian guernseys. He also enjoyed five seasons that yielded more than 50 goals each and is currently the club's leading goalkicker in the AFL era. Robbie Gray is next in the queue. - Riley Beveridge

Jack Riewoldt (263 games from 2007-present) 

If fan-favourite Matthew Richardson played his entire career this century then this would be a lot closer. But Richardson's best years were 1996 (91 goals) and 2008 when he played predominantly on the wing. Riewoldt (634) probably won't catch 'Richo's' 800 goals, but he still gets the nod and is building a super impressive list of achievements: Three Coleman Medals, three All Australian blazers and two best and fairests to go with his two premierships. - Ben Sutton

Nick Riewoldt (336 games from 2001-2017) 

Where do we start? Saint Nick booted 718 goals from 336 games and was still delivering at a phenomenal level when he called it quits in 2017. While Riewoldt's four leading goalkicking titles sit behind Fraser Gehrig (five) and level with Stephen Milne, his work outside 50m was equaling as damaging. It earned him six club best and fairest titles and five All-Australian blazers. Saints champion Stewart Loewe played three years in the century, but his best work came in the 1990s. - Mitch Cleary 

Lance Franklin (118 games from 2014-present)

This wasn't necessarily automatic, given Barry Hall's and Michael O'Loughlin's presence, but it's hard to go past 'Buddy'. Franklin joined the Swans on a nine-year deal and has delivered 364 goals, two Coleman medals – 79 goals in 2014 and 73 in 2017 – as well as leading the club's goalkicking five times. He's also twice played in losing Grand Final sides, in 2014 and 2016, and been an All-Australian on four occasions. Franklin will likely slot his 1000th career goal next year. Adam Goodes also kicked a lot of goals as a forward for the Swans but predominantly played in the ruck or midfield. - Marc McGowan

Josh Kennedy (222 games from 2008-2020)

The only Eagle to break the 600-goal barrier. Just like Peter Sumich (514 goals) who dominated the previous century, Kennedy has had no competitors since 2000. Crucial in the Eagles' run to the Grand Final in 2015, Kennedy claimed his first of back-to-back Coleman Medals in the same season. He backed it up with 69 majors from just 19 games in 2017 to cap three consecutive All-Australian blazers. Held back through injury for parts of 2018 and 2019, Kennedy still booted three decisive goals in the flag over Collingwood. Mark LeCras (441 goals) was next in line, while Jack Darling (379) may present a case in the future with a contract until 2025. - Mitch Cleary 

Brad Johnson (240 games from 2000-2010)

The 'Smiling Assassin' takes the mantle as the greatest modern Dogs forward. His 240 games on this side of the century yielded 456 goals, resulting in a decade of dominance that helped his side enter the premiership window. Johnson was a three-time best and fairest winner, claiming two of them this century, while he was also named in five All-Australian teams since 2000 and six overall. His career-best campaign in 2006, which saw him kick 74 goals for the season, ensured he was named captain of that year's All-Australian side. He was also named Dogs skipper the season after, a title he held for four years. He claims the honour ahead of Chris Grant and Daniel Giansiracusa. - Riley Beveridge