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If you’re an up and coming full forward in the AFL, your time to shine is 2015. It’s hard to remember a time in the last decade where the competition has been so even.
The Bulldogs beat the Swans. The Bombers just beat the Saints and the Magpies are second on the ladder right now.
Wow. I didn’t see any of that coming.
But if the first five rounds have provided any certainty, it is the exciting crop of young full forwards rising in the AFL.
This ‘who would you rather‘ is comparing three young forwards who have played under 50 games in the AFL and have a lot of hype attached to them.
So which future superstar would you rather – Jesse Hogan, Tom Boyd or Joe Daniher?
Jesse Hogan
Is it fair to say Jesse Hogan has been the Melbourne Football Club’s messiah? Well, that’s what it has seemed like in the first five weeks of 2015.
The saviour. The future. The hero. Call him what you like Melbourne fans, but Jesse Hogan is the full forward you have been crying out for since David Neitz’s retirement.
After spending 906 days as a Melbourne footballer on the sidelines, Jesse Hogan made his highly anticipated AFL debut in Round 1 this season.
And if ‘buzz’ had an image in the dictionary, other than a bee, there would be a picture of Hogan. And the buzz is justified.
Here are the numbers: 20 years old, 5 games and 9 goals. Ranked first in the AFL for total contested marks. Melbourne has two wins on the board and he could very well have a $500,000 price tag on him by mid season if he continues the way he’s started.
His presence in the forward line is obvious. He is already a fan favourite and it’s not hard to see why. His attack on the ball, his hunger for the contest and his ability to make consecutive efforts has the Demon army salivating.
He hasn’t kicked a big bag of goals yet, but Hogan is well on his way to making his glimpses of brilliance a regular occurrence.
He is five games in. I can’t wait to see him at 50.
Tom Boyd
Like Hogan, Tom Boyd has massive expectations placed on him. But I guess that’s what you get when you are selected number 1 overall in the AFL draft. And I guess if you are a 200-centimetre tall, 100-kilogram forward. Oh, and then there was that seven-year, $7-million contract he signed in the offseason.
So I guess Boyd’s expectations are justified as well. He was originally drafted by the GWS Giants in 2013, and after one season, was traded to the Western Bulldogs in a sizzling trade exchange.
Just by looking at Tom Boyd, you get the feeling he is going to be an absolute star. However, people assumed that with Jack Watts and the verdict is still out on that one, isn’t it?
Boyd an incredible athlete. With his height and his frame, Boyd has already been compared to the likes of Jarryd Roughead and Tom Hawkins.
He hasn’t blown anyone away yet, but Boyd is developing. Like all of these young forwards, fans need to be patient with Boyd. Like the Dees, Boyd gives the Dogs structure and a marking target in the F50.
With a few more seasons under his belt, Boyd should mature into his body, and become the imposing, key forward he was recruited to be.
He has played 14 games for 16 goals. He’s a versatile player who will spend a lot of time as the second ruckman in his career.
If the Bulldogs haven’t been exciting enough in 2015, wait until Tom Boyd starts to dominate.
Joe Daniher
If we are talking about inherent hype, there’s only one young forward who fits the bill.
Daniher. A surname that is much respected at the Essendon Football Club. Joe joined the Bombers under the father-son rule and was drafted pick 10 in the 2012 national draft.
The tall, lanky full forward reminds the black and red of a young Dustin Fletcher, just in the forward half.
Daniher is the most athletic out of the three forwards. He is very quick for his size, is a good lead up target and when he adds more muscle to his frame, will be very difficult to defend one-on-one.
With his combination of attributes, Daniher has the ability to mark the ball at its highest point, another feature that will give his opposing defenders a headache, or two.
With a lot of pressure placed on him to start his career, Daniher is getting better with every game he plays. He can play in the ruck, and will be an important chop out, after Ryder went off to Port.
He was Essendon’s leading goal-kicker last year with 28 goals and has 9 already so far this season.
His inaccuracy is a flaw, but with the help of legendary Matthew Lloyd, that should be erased from his game in no time.
Daniher has so much up-side and untouched talent that it would be very exciting to be an Essendon fan. He plays more of a centre-half forward role which is difficult for a young player.
He is the most experienced out of the three players – he has played 31 games for 40 goals, and has had a taste of finals action, where he kicked 4 goals mind you.
The decision
So there you have it. Three of the most exciting up and coming forwards in the AFL.
You can only have one.
Who would you rather: Jesse Hogan, Tom Boyd or Joe Daniher?
Who’s in your ultimate team? Pick the best team and compete with other fans for daily prizes on Draftstars. For the best odds on the game try out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Think. Is this a bet you really want to place? Set a deposit limit.