The Sydney Swans power forwards need to increase their productivity if the team is to remain in top-four contention this year.
Jesse White and Sam Reid have a chance to step up in their round-seven match-up against a confident Richmond at the MCG.
If they can’t play well at the MCG in May the two forwards will struggle in September.
Injuries to Shane Mumford, Adam Goodes and Lewis Roberts-Thomson have meant the Swans have stuck by Reid, who has lost confidence in his game.
Since taking a knock against Port Adelaide in round three, Reid has been held goalless, with his disposal count dropping from 13 to six a game.
Reid has shown he has the potential to be an elite option like Cloke or Franklin, averaging 4.6 marks a game in his first full season.
This season Reid is taking one less grab a game. A spell in the Swans reserves may be just what he needs to get that feeling of leather back.
Sydney can’t afford to rest Reid yet as the big men stocks are running low.
If he continues this run of play Reid could lose his spot once the injured big men can return.
White has also been re-called and has a chance to grab a regular spot.
While also spending some time in the ruck White can use his athleticism up forward to snag a few grabs.
Reid and White average a goal a game each and this has to be increased if the Swans want to be successful in September.
Each top-four team in 2011 had a power forward who averaged over five marks a game and 2.3 goals.
This is the level of production that the Swans need at the very least from the likes of Reid and White.
Each team has their own style and uses different scoring options, however elite productivity from power forwards is still needed for team success.
It’s unlikely that either of Sydney’s young forwards can achieve those numbers this season, however the Swans need that type of production to win a flag.
The Swans will be hoping Reid could shake his woes and add to his solid second year.
He has the potential to be an elite power forward. If he seizes it the flag could return to the harbour city.
The successful development of a new brigade of midfielders like Luke Parker, Craig Bird and Lewis Jetta, led by the now-elite Josh Kennedy, has alleviated some pressure.
It allowed the currently-injured Adam Goodes to spend longer stints in the forward 50 in the early matches.
When Goodes comes back from his quad tear coach John Longmire may have to use him up forward if no-one else has stepped up.
Players like Goodes and Ryan O’Keefe can play as a key forwards, however both players have great running ability and are useful throughout the midfield too.
The Swans would then lack class in the midfield if both of these players became the key forwards.
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