The AFL is currently blessed with a supremely talented posse of elite young key forwards.
The modern AFL key forward is tall, athletic, quick, agile and just as good on the ground as in the air.
It is a joy to watch these young key forwards dominating an ever evolving game. Below I have ranked the top five young key forwards in the AFL.
1. Jeremy Cameron (Greater Western Sydney)
Age: 23
Height: 196cm
Weight: 93kg
Draft: 2011
Achievements: AFL Rising Star Nominee 2012
AFLPA Best First Year Player 2012
4x Greater Western Sydney Leading goal kicker 2012-2015
Kevin Sheedy Medal (GWS Best and Fairest) 2013
All Australian Team 2013
Third in Coleman Medal 2013 with 62 goals
Second in Coleman Medal 2015 with 63 goals
In 2013 I said Jeremy Cameron will be the best AFL forward for the next ten years. Three years later he has definitely lived up to the hype.
Cameron kicked 63 goals last year and this year he has kicked 16 goals in four games after missing the opening month due to suspension.
He is the ultimate modern AFL prototype: tall, quick, great overhead, a solid set shot for goal and supremely agile. Cameron posses all the weapons to continue dominating the game for years to come.
2. Tom Lynch (Gold Coast Suns)
Age: 23
Height: 199cm
Weight: 98kg
Draft: 2010 Number 11
Achievements: 2x Gold Coast Suns Leading goal kicker 2014 andamp; 15
Gold Coast Suns Club Champion 2015
Gold Coast Suns Runner Up Club Champion 2014
The tallest of the group and the best pack mark. He is super quick on a lead, a great set shot for goal and possesses the best hands overhead of the five.
He is quickly becoming the best key forward in the league, let alone the best under the age of 24. He is the complete package and may well dethrone Cameron as number one on this list by seasons end.
3. Jake Stringer (Western Bulldogs)
Age: 22
Height: 192cm
Weight: 93kg
Draft: 2012 Number 5
Achievements: AFL Rising Star Nominee 2014
Western Bulldogs Leading goal kicker 2015
All Australian Team 2015
International Rules Series 2015
His nickname ‘The Package’ says it all. What a player and talent. He is a unique footballer and a genuine freak around goals.
He has one of the best vertical leaps of the group and is known to take a ‘hanger’. His laboured and relaxed approach must be at times frustrating to coach. He is a see ball, get ball type of player and relies on instinct.
Luke Beveridge clearly gives Stringer a creative licence each week (who wouldn’t). He is my favourite of the five players to watch because he is so unpredictable and freakish.
4. Jack Darling (West Coast Eagles)
Age: 23
Height: 191cm
Weight: 95kg
Draft: 2010 Number 26
Achievements: AFL Rising Star Nominee 2011
West Coast Eagles Leading goal kicker 2012
Darling oozes class and talent. This man child was ready to play at the elite level as a teenager. The acrobatics, speed and agility of this big unit is amazing to watch. He is like a cat on a hot tin roof in close quarters and on the ground, using his background in martial arts to great effect.
He is lightening quick on a lead and very strong overhead. Darling hasn’t yet developed into the player I thought he would become but I forget how young he still is. If he puts it all together he could become the most damaging forward in the competition.
5. Jesse Hogan (Melbourne Demons)
Age: 21
Height: 195cm
Weight: 101kg
Draft: 2013 Number 2
Achievements: AFL Rising Star Winner 2015
Melbourne Demons Leading goal kicker 2015
Melbourne Demons Best First Year Player 2015
The big boy, the monster, the body player. I just love what Hogan brings to the competition. An old fashioned key forward that relies on straight line speed and power more than agility.
His goal kicking is unpredictable and he needs to address his ‘stuttering’ Josh Kennedy-esque run up. He has unbelievable strength one on one for a 21 year old and he must have been born with chest hair. Hogan is the future of the Demons structure and hopefully he can cope with the intense scrutiny and pressure.
Honourable mentions: Josh Bruce (St Kilda Saints), Darcy Moore (Collingwood Magpies) and Joe Daniher (Essendon Bombers).
The advent of reduced interchange and the removal of the substitute rule has allowed key forwards to become more relevant in the modern game. The speed of the game is at an all time high but the above rule changes will slow the game down especially in the last two quarters.
This will enable the ‘big boys’ to have more of an influence. Who doesn’t love seeing a key forward taking huge pack marks, snapping freak goals and dominating the game? This list of young key forwards excites me and I look forward to watching their development in the coming years.
Perry Bridge
Guest
3 that come to mind are quite on the tall side in Joe Daniher, Ben Brown and Rory Lobb. Not the best - certainly - but on interesting trajectories as ruckman tall forwards who seem more comfortable forward than in the ruck.
Joel
Guest
The only one who has done anything in a final
Don Freo
Guest
He's the one I want at Freo.
Don Freo
Guest
That would indicate that he is better. Are you really saying he is on the list because he has played better than those that aren't?
ken
Guest
Gunston by a thousand Light years..The others...PPPPFFFT
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Because Gunston is 24yo (turning 25 this year) so too old to make this list by its very definition. If I could pick any of these guys to start a new club I'd rate them as follows 1. Cameron 2. Lynch 3. Hogan 4. Stringer 5. Darling
Joe
Guest
Ben Brown?
RobE
Guest
Cannot believe that you don't have Gunston in there. On his record over the last 3 years is clearly the best of this group.
Doctor Rotcod
Guest
Surely not
Q
Roar Rookie
Tom Lynch by the length of Australia
mattyb
Guest
I think Stringer is more self confident than self absorbed and I've never really seen him get the sooks. I wouldn't be overly fussed if someone thought different. I must say I wasn't entirely comfortable picking a player from such a list from my own club as that's boring so I might go Cameron.
Jason
Guest
Triple premiership player JACK GUNSTON
me too
Guest
if a bit too much self worth is a deal breaker then what's Stringer doing atop your list?
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
Stringer is definitely a key forward due to his size, the amount of goals he kicks in that role and his style of play. I know he isn't a traditional key forward but that's what makes him so damaging. In the modern game players that can play multiple positions like Stringer can are more appealing for clubs to draft. He can play as a tall and small forward and he also looks at home in the middle. What a versatile player.
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
I tend to agree and in time I think he will overtake Darling. Darling sits above him on the list purely because of more active 'decent' years in the AFL.
mattyb
Guest
I'd take Stringer but being a Footscray supporter that might not be fair as I see him each week. Next I'd go Cameron and while I wouldn't swap him for Stringer I still think he's a fine footballer. Next would be Lynch he is excellent. My next choices if picking five would be Daniher and Moore who you give honourable mentions to. Hogan seems to have a lot of ability but going with that he seems to have a bit to much self worth. This would drop him down the list for me as in the more modern game isn't exactly what you want especially if sulking becomes an all to common byproduct.
Balthazar
Guest
Harry Condon
Roar Rookie
Surely Hogan is twice the player Darling is.
JamesH
Roar Guru
Surely Jake Stringer is not actually 192cm. I know that's what his AFL profile says but come on. Maybe standing in studs on concrete. 192cm would make him 6'3", taller than Darling. I'm also not convinced that he is a 'key forward' in the sense of being a key position player like the others on this list. He is consistently named on a flank or in the pocket, not at FF or CHF. Talent-wise he belongs on the list but I don't think he meets your criteria. I can't wait til Joe Daniher develops. He'll be one of the slowest of this bunch to reach his potential due to his lanky physique, but he has as much upside as anyone.
Andrew Wild
Roar Rookie
Moore has a long way to go but he could be anything! He has the talent to become the best forward in the competition.