CYRIL Rioli, Luke Breust or Paul Puopolo?

If you could only have one of them - based on their 2016 form - who would it be?

That is the million-dollar question.

All three have been crucial to the Hawks’ 9-3 start to the season. 

Looking firstly from a scoreboard perspective, the trio has combined for 77 majors in the opening 12 rounds – which is more than 42 per cent of Hawthorn’s total goals for the season.

In the absence of Jarryd Roughead – and for the most part, Ryan Schoenmakers – their contribution on the scoreboard has been vital.

All three are on track to better their previous best total in any home-and-away season.

Breust has 29 goals from 12 matches – and will go past his 53 goals in the 2014 home-and-away season if he continues at the same rate.

Rioli has 24 from 11 matches, just 15 shy of his 39 during last year’s regular season, while Puopolo also has 24 goals (from 12 matches) and could well go past his 2015 home-and-away tally of 28 with a big game against North Melbourne on Friday night. 

Breust has kicked multiple goals in nine matches this season, Puopolo in seven and Rioli in five.

But to judge the three on goals alone would undersell their value.

All have gone through the midfield at stages this year, with Breust averaging 16.3 disposals per game, Puopolo 14.3 and Rioli 13.9.

And their pressure without the ball is elite. Rioli averages 6.3 tackles per game, Puopolo 4.4 and Breust 4.0 – and even when they’re not laying tackles, they are creating pressure inside the Hawks’ attacking zone.

Let’s not forget the marking – Puopolo has earned two Mark of the Year nominations in 2016, and Rioli one - or the knock-ons, score assists or ability to make something special happen in the big moments.

According to the AFL’s Player Ratings, Rioli ranks second across the competition in the small-medium forward category (and 12th overall). Breust follows shortly after in sixth (30th overall) and Puopolo not much further behind in ninth (62nd overall).

No other club has three small-medium forwards inside the top 15.

Here’s hoping they can continue on in the second half of the season.