ADELAIDE
HF: Jason Porplyzia, Trent Hentschel, Richard Douglas
F: Taylor Walker, Kurt Tippett, Jared Petrenko
Adelaide's forward line has been decimated by injury since the Christmas break, with Brett Burton (knee), Chris Knights (foot) and Jason Porplyzia (pelvis) all in doubt for the season-opener against Fremantle. The Crows' casualties have opened the door for fringe players Douglas and Petrenko to cast themselves as opportunist small forwards. Walker has guaranteed his position after a solid pre-season and Tippett and Hentschel will return to hold down the key posts. Coach Neil Craig is also likely to rotate midfielders Scott Thompson and Patrick Dangerfield through the forward 50.

BRISBANE LIONS
HF: Justin Sherman, Jonathan Brown, Michael Rischitelli
F: James Polkinghorne, Brendan Fevola, Amon Buchanan
All eyes will be on the Brown-Fevola double act, with others likely to play crumbing roles to the colossal pair in 2010. Sherman has shown his running power through the midfield but his love of a goal might see him snapping at Brown's heels around half-forward, while Rischitelli was also used across that part of the ground last season. Polkinghorne showed glimpses of his talent late last year and, along with recruit Buchanan, could be an ideal candidate to swoop on anything Brown or Fevola don't snaffle. Former Eagle Brent Staker will be right in the mix for round one as well.

CARLTON
HF: Mitch Robinson, Setanta O'hAilpin, Andrew Walker
F: Chris Yarran, Lachie Henderson, Eddie Betts
The coach loves the competitive spirit of Robinson and O'hAilpin with the goal sense of Betts and Yarran to come to the fore when the ball hits the ground. By all accounts, Henderson has shown the Blues' hierarchy enough to earn first crack at the full-forward slot vacated by Brendan Fevola. Walker, Betts and Ryan Houlihan have worked hard since their return from a club-imposed ban with Houlihan the only one to miss out on a senior berth in round one. There's been a lot of talk about Shaun Hampson up forward this year, but he will fight it out with Robbie Warnock for the second big man spot on the bench.

COLLINGWOOD
HF: Leon Davis, Travis Cloke, Alan Didak
F: Paul Medhurst, John Anthony, Tarkyn Lockyer
The Collingwood attack will again be built upon Cloke's young shoulders, while the Pies' small goalkicking options are where they can really hurt teams. Davis, Didak and particularly Medhurst will all play close to goal at times and are each capable of kicking a bag. Lockyer can not only be called on to nab a couple of majors a week, but his ability to spot up a target inside the 50 is priceless. Anthony will start at full-forward providing his shoulder has recovered in time for the season proper, although Chris Dawes and Leigh Brown are other options deep in attack.

ESSENDON
HF: Angus Monfries, Scott Gumbleton, Jason Winderlich
F: Mark Williams, David Hille, Alwyn Davey
Mystery continues to surround Gumbleton. Is he in the 18, 22, or simply not suited to elite football? If he's fit for round one, there will be little doubt he'll start on the park. As Hille rebuilds match fitness, he's likely to spend more time forward. Davey and Williams will provide options at ground level while goalkickers Monfries and Winderlich will rotate between the forward arc and the midfield. Jay Neagle could fight for a starting position come round one but Leroy Jetta will miss the start of the season with a thumb injury. Darcy Daniher could be yet another option after a strong performance in attack in a practice match.

FREMANTLE
HF: Des Headland, Matthew Pavlich, Nick Suban
F: Hayden Ballantyne, Michael Johnson, Chris Mayne
Injuries forced Fremantle to use Pavlich in the midfield in 2009, but the skipper will anchor the forward line this season. Johnson has made a positive start to his anticipated move forward during the NAB Cup, while Ballantyne and Mayne have been productive and energetic goal sneaks. Headland's early pre-season form in an attacking role was undone by a minor hamstring injury, but Fremantle is hopeful he will be fit for round one. The retired Dean Solomon has left a hole on the other flank, but young midfielder Nick Suban could be an asset forward of centre with his damaging left boot.

GEELONG
HF: Max Rooke, Cameron Mooney, Steve Johnson
F: Paul Chapman, Tom Hawkins, Shannon Byrnes
Any forward line that boasts Chapman and Johnson is dangerous to begin with, but add grand final hero Rooke, triple premiership player Mooney and young giant Hawkins into the mix and you've got options aplenty. Johnson kicked 37 goals in the first 13 games last year, and appears to be well over the hip complaint that grounded him after that. Chapman booted three in the grand final to win the Norm Smith and was All-Australian, while Hawkins has trimmed down and looks set to build on last year's solid effort.

HAWTHORN
HF: Luke Hodge, Jarryd Roughead, Beau Muston
F: Campbell Brown, Beau Dowler, Jarryd Morton
The Hawthorn forward line is hard to piece together due to a series of injuries and suspensions. The two obvious absentees are Lance Franklin, who has a one-week ban to serve, as well as Cyril Rioli, who has had an interrupted summer and seems in serious doubt for round one. Brown is just as likely to start in defence but he has ventured forward in the past. Hodge is sure to be rotated through the midfield but will spend time as a half-forward this year. Muston and Dowler could get their chance to cement regular spots while Morton should lift for his fourth season.

MELBOURNE
HF: Brad Green, Brad Miller, Colin Sylvia
F: Addam Maric, Liam Jurrah, Ricky Petterd
With Matthew Bate, Jack Watts and Austin Wonaeamirri in doubt for round one due to injury, Melbourne may re-jig its forward line with a smaller set-up. Miller and Jurrah will be the taller types, with versatile big man Stef Martin another option on the bench. Green and Sylvia are likely to push inside 50 to help with goalkicking options; Maric has been earmarked for a small forward post. And with Petterd kicking four goals against Essendon in Saturday's NAB Challenge loss, he now looks to have secured the sixth spot here.

NORTH MELBOURNE
HF: Daniel Wells, Lachlan Hansen, Brent Harvey
F: Ben Warren, David Hale, Lindsay Thomas
Drew Petrie has a two-week suspension hanging from last season, so the mobile Hansen will be considered for a temporary switch from defence. Harvey will play as a high half-forward for most of 2010 but will still be used in the square at centre bounces. Wells' conservative yet promising recovery from osteitis pubis means he'll play in round one but could start as deep as a forward pocket. Warren has Corey Jones and Aaron Edwards covered as the third marking forward, while Hale will need to deliver immediately if he has a future in the key position. North must surround him with Thomas and other crumbing teammates.

PORT ADELAIDE
HF: Robbie Gray, Justin Westhoff, Daniel Motlop
F: Jay Schulz, Warren Tredrea, Brett Ebert
Port Adelaide's impressive pre-season has created a fierce battle for spots in the forward line. Veterans Tredrea and Motlop are walk-up starters for round one, as is versatile tall Westhoff who is likely to pinch-hit in the ruck. Gray will also time-share between the midfield and half-forward. Schulz has impressed in attack since crossing from Richmond and should edge out Daniel Stewart for the third tall position. Ebert and rookie Cameron Hitchcock are locked in a battle for the small forward spot. Booming right-footer Nick Salter also deserves a chance, but this might come in defence.

RICHMOND
HF: Ben Cousins, Jack Riewoldt, Richard Tambling
F: Mitch Morton, Graham Polak, Robin Nahas
Don't expect this structure to produce a million goals this season, but do expect it to keep improving as it has done for the last couple of years. It's lost the firepower of Matthew Richardson to retirement, but mature-age rookie Polak should be one of two rookies that Richmond, with no veterans, can elevate ahead of round one. Polak has turned the corner over summer and has his marking mojo back. Tambling and Nahas both had terrific seasons in 2009 and will be hoping to revisit that form, while Cousins is the class every forward line needs. Morton and Riewoldt seem permanent fixtures.

ST KILDA
HF: Brendon Goddard, Nick Riewoldt, Nick Dal Santo
F: Adam Schneider, Justin Koschitzke, Stephen Milne
Mutterings from Moorabbin suggest Goddard and Dal Santo are both set for stints across half-forward when they are not in midfield rotations. Riewoldt is a no-brainer while Schneider and Milne have the small forward spots sewn up with Andrew McQualter waiting in the wings. James Gwilt is also a candidate for a mid-sized forward role. Koschitzke is an interesting one. He is still the Saints' second best tall forward but has been patchy in the pre-season and will be more than aware that the athletic Rhys Stanley hasn't put a foot wrong.

SYDNEY SWANS
HF: Lewis Jetta, Adam Goodes, Ben McGlynn
F: Trent Dennis-Lane, Jesse White, Jarred Moore
Goodes' permanent move to centre half-forward headlines the Swans' new-look attack in 2010. Former Lion Daniel Bradshaw (knee) is in considerable doubt for round one so White will start at full-forward against St Kilda at ANZ Stadium. Hard-nosed pair Moore and McGlynn will add defensive steel around the packs, while Dennis-Lane can play as a medium-sized marking option or a crumber. Watch for Jetta to play as a de facto wingman with a licence to use his blistering pace. Expect ruckmen Shane Mumford and Mark Seaby to rest inside 50, while Paul Bevan has also put a strong case for his inclusion in the 22 as a high half-forward.

WEST COAST
HF: Andrew Embley, Josh Kennedy, Brad Ebert
F: Mark LeCras, Quinten Lynch, Ben McKinley
There's plenty of excitement surrounding Kennedy, and the former Blue should establish himself as West Coast's main target this season. Lynch will return to a permanent forward role, while McKinley provides versatility as the third tall. LeCras was the Eagles' leading goalkicker in 2009 and he is expected to stay forward, while a host of midfielders - most prominently Embley and Ebert - will rotate through attack. Coach John Worsfold has hinted he will also use Daniel Kerr and Chris Masten forward at times, while premiership half-back Beau Waters looks likely to shift up the ground. With Dean Cox and Nic Naitanui working in tandem, the Eagles will also boast a dangerous resting ruckman.

WESTERN BULLDOGS
HF: Daniel Giansiracusa, Rob Murphy, Shaun Higgins
F: Brad Johnson, Barry Hall, Jason Akermanis
Hall made a stunning six-goal debut in the NAB Cup semi-final and showed that when he's not marking the ball, he'll be bringing it to ground for players like Johnson (if he overcomes an achilles injury before round one) and Akermanis (who looks good in his 16th season). Higgins and Giansiracusa should provide run into attack and Murphy will add the x-factor with his creative skills. Mitch Hahn is in the best 22 while Josh Hill needs to improve his consistency this year to be considered a certain starter. Liam Jones might debut in 2010 but Jarrad Grant needs more work.

The views in this article are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.

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