SANFL Top 10 in 2025 – Forwards

The best Hostplus SANFL League performers in 2025 are being unveiled through the SANFL Top 10 rankings.

SANFL Media Producer Zac Milbank will reveal his high performing midfielders, rucks, forwards and defenders now that the dust has settled on this year’s exciting campaign.

Form across the 2025 season was used as the chief factor in the ranking process, with selection in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year and West End State team weighing heavily, together with placings in the Magarey Medal, Shearman Medal, Club best-and-fairest awards and strong performances in finals matches.

High rankings in statistics such as total disposals, marks, contested marks, goals, clearances and tackles were also taken into account, along with Champion Data ranking points.

Find out who were the most influential forwards in 2025.

Returning to Richmond after being delisted by Port Adelaide, Scully certainly didn’t disappoint in his first senior season with the Bloods. 

Featuring in every game, the 203cm tall forward booted a total of 30 goals for the season while averaging more than four marks per game.

The 20-year-old’s consistency was underlined by him placing runner-up in the Neil Kerley Medal count as Westies’ best-and-fairest.

Tristan Binder has always shown glimpses of his potential but in 2025 he put it together to produce a breakout campaign for the Redlegs.

Flourishing under new coach Jade Sheedy in all 21 of Norwood’s outings, the 25-year-old booted 39 goals for the season, including five in the major round.

The 194cm key forward loves to impose himself in pack marking situations, snaring 26 contested grabs in 2025. None better than in the clip below.

He’s an imposing figure so it was fortunate Connor Ballenden was able to shoulder a significant load for Woodville-West Torrens in 2025. 

Selected in both of the West End State team’s matches this year, the 200cm giant managed to kick 31 goals from his 16 outings while averaging more than six marks per game.

The 26-year-old would have likely finished higher than 10th in the Eagles’ Club Champion award had he not missed two minor round matches given he also provided valuable support in the ruck.

Inaccuracy plagued Connor McFadyen’s 2024 campaign but the former Brisbane Lion turned things around dramatically this season. 

Tallying a sharp 38.11, including 4.2 in both of the Double Blues’ finals, the 24-year-old played a major role in securing the club’s first title since 2017.

Averaged more than two goals per game in 2025 whilst enjoying a remarkable performance against the Eagles in Round 11 in which he booted seven goals from seven kicks.

McFadyen has currently turned his attention to pursuing cricket with Adelaide, leaving his future at Unley uncertain for 2026.

It’s not often a small forward finishes runner-up in a club best-and-fairest. 

But such was the impact of North Adelaide’s Frank Szekely in 2025, he gave teammate Angus Schumacher a nudge in the race for the Barrie Robran Medal.

Selected in the West End State team to face the WAFL, the 26-year-old kicked a total of 30 goals from his 14 disposals, four marks and three tackles to be one of the Roosters’ most consistent.

A classy mover inside 50m for the Double Blues, Conforti was a major catalyst behind the Double Blues’ newfound potency in 2025.

Booting a total of 37 goals for the year, the 23-year-old is equally adept at finding the goals on his left foot with a lovely finish on the run or a tight snap from the pocket.

Making his debut at half-forward in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Conforti also finished equal seventh in the Double Blues’ best-and-fairest count.

A powerful force on the lead or in the air, Adelaide’s Chris Burgess booted a total of 52 goals in the minor round to be runner-up in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal.

The 29-year-old – who won the Crows’ State League Club Champion award – averaged more than three majors a game, including a season-best haul of 7.1 against North Adelaide in Round 11.

Selected in the forward pocket of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, the former Gold Coast sun is being hotly-pursued by SANFL clubs for season 2026 after being delisted last month.

A commanding presence at centre half-forward of the The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, McBean was also named as captain following his sixth selection in the elite line-up.

Kicking 48 goals for the minor round to place third in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal, the Bays skipper also displayed his ability to lead from the front as captain of the West End State team in 2025.

Tallying 53 majors for the year, the 31-year-old placed eighth in the Tigers’ best-and-fairest count.

Sturt’s livewire small forward capped his fine campaign with a third premiership medal after booting four goals in the 2025 Hostplus SANFL League Grand Final.

Placing fourth in the race for the Ken Farmer Medal with 44 goals in the minor round, the 29-year-old finished with 52 after bagging four in each of his major round outings.

Selected in the forward pocket of The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Hone’s consistency was illustrated by him kicking at least one goal in each outing this season as he ranked sixth in the P. T Morton Medal as Sturt’s best-and-fairest.

There’s never a dull moment when watching the Hostplus SANFL League’s best forward, Glenelg’s Lachie Hosie, go to work. 

In 2025, the Tigers’ superstar claimed his second Jack Oatey Medal – and first Bob Quinn Medal – with 65 goals in the minor round, the best total since Brett Eddy booted 68 in 2016.

Finishing with 79 for the season, including a valiant five-goal haul in the Grand Final, the 28-year-old placed third in the Bays’ best-and-fairest count.

Selected at full forward in The Advertiser SANFL Team of the Year, Hosie also represented the West End State Team with distinction, booting five goals against the VFL and four against the WAFL.