SYDNEY Swans star Lance Franklin has been the AFL's most targeted forward inside 50 this season, reclaiming his status as the competition's pre-eminent spearhead.

After his role was diluted as part of a multi-pronged Hawthorn forward line last year, 'Buddy' has been the main man at his second club, with the Swans targeting him with 168 of their forward entries.

He sits ahead of Richmond forward Jack Riewoldt (157), Collingwood's Travis Cloke (156), Geelong powerhouse Tom Hawkins (155) and St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt (148).

Coleman Medal leader Jay Schulz, who has kicked 52 goals this season, sits just shy of that pack, drawing 141 of Port Adelaide's kicks inside 50. 

The delivery men: Who sends it in, and who receives it

However, the pecking order undergoes a considerable shake-up when considering the percentage of each side's inside 50s directed to its most popular target.

Saints star Riewoldt heads the list, attracting 20.1 per cent of his side's 736 entries, followed by his cousin, Tiger Jack, with 18.6 per cent of Richmond's 845 inside 50s.

Cloke (18.2 per cent of Collingwood's 857 entries) is third, followed by Franklin (17.6 per cent of 957), Hawkins (17.5 per cent of 888), Fremantle skipper Matthew Pavlich (134, or 15.5 per cent of 867) and Schulz (14.7 per cent of 960).

Statistics provided by Champion Data also highlight which players have the best retention rate when kicking inside 50 and who is most efficient at turning a kick directed their way into a score.

The best retention rate statistic was limited to players who had recorded a minimum of 25 kicks inside 50 this season, with Fremantle half-back Paul Duffield leading the AFL at 67.7 per cent.

First-year St Kilda forward Jack Billings was the league's most efficient player when targeted inside 50, with 76.5 per cent of the Saints' forward entries directed to classy youngster leading to a score (not necessarily kicked by Billings).

Others to emerge with high conversion rates in the category, which was based on a club's top five targets, included Gold Coast's Harley Bennell and Bulldog Luke Dahlhaus (60 per cent), Essendon's Patrick Ryder (58.6 per cent) and Tiger Ben Griffiths (55.6 per cent).