When the ball is loose, keep it "alive" at all times, i.e. knock it towards the goals, away from the goals, inboard, outboard etc. but don't allow it to be bogged down resulting in a ruck play. We will automatically then become outnumbered because we will have one or two players behind the play.

Don't be obsessed with turning and trying to run through a pack to get a clear shot at the goals. Be happy to run away from the goals (which is after all in the same direction in which the back want to run, so you will not be swimming against the current) and lay the hands or kick off checkside to a player moving towards the goals.

Never blaze away at goal if you're not absolutely certain you can kick it. In particular, never snap from a pocket but snap back to the top of the square and, if you are the player in the goal square, move to the top of the square rather than to the goal line to receive such a kick (defenders will tend to move to the goal line).

Unless you have Mathew Lloyd playing at full forward for you, long bombs to the goal square from set shots are rarely effective (ok on the run through, if there are no better options) and you would be better off trying something adventurous from the 55 to 60 metre line if you want to increase your conversion rate. There is nothing to stop a half back flanker running up to take a sideways kick and kicking the ball over the pack to a player 20 metres out from goal on the opposite side of the play. When kicking against the breeze there is only one place to be on every occasion. That is IN FRONT.

When a player has a set kick that is almost certain to land in the goal square one player needs to line up behind the pack, but, as the player runs in to kick, should begin to move through the pack so that if the ball drops short in front of the pack he will be on the move and able to take the mark on his chest in front of the pack. If the kick is good and long then he will be able to turn around and be an available player on the ground in front of the pack. This is guaranteed to get you plenty of kicks.
(Ironically, this is something that AFL players mostly dont get right, even today)

It is always tempting in the forward line to take up a position behind the pack or behind the player going for the football where, if it does come back, you'll have a clear shot at goal.

Unfortunately except when kicking with a very strong breeze, that is the less likely outcome, and you should therefore take up a position in front of the pack where, although it is much harder to kick a goal from there, the ball is nevertheless most likely to drop.