As the game changes and moves in the most interesting time in the game’s history, one thing in particular that evolves is the position of the key forward in the AFL.
The key forward still remains king when it comes to success at the highest level.
The game has evolved so much to the point where 100 goals in a season almost becomes an anomaly and the big key forward taking big marks and kicking his team to a winning score has slowly been changing in modern-day footy.
The teams who have been at the top of the ladder and will definitely get a taste of finals footy have big key forwards and use them at the coal face to lead their way to the goal.
Port Adelaide – who look to be leading the early premiership market – have Charlie Dixon as their main man up forward.
(Photo by Daniel Kalisz/Getty Images)
The way the ladder is shaping up with the big four in Port Adelaide, Geelong, Richmond and West Coast, those clubs all have their big key forward in the top four of the Coleman.
The shift in tide opens the door for the key forward to play a more critical and crucial role in securing a deep run into October.
The only anomaly seems to be the Lions, who have been one of the big contenders in season 2020 without that key forward.
Eric Hipwood’s performance against the Suns on Wednesday provided a different target moving up the ground to free up the 50 for his small forwards in Cam Rayner and Charlie Cameron.
The small forward and the midfielder drifting into unfamiliar territory inside 50 seems to be a game plan left in the past.
Sure, the goals are more spread out between that smaller fleet of goal sneaks but the key forward is still remaining supreme.
The teams nailed to the bottom of the ladder – the likes of the Adelaide Crows and North Melbourne – have seen their key forwards – the likes of Taylor Walker and Ben Brown – be on constant rotation in their ever-changing line-ups. Brown has been injured for the last quarter of the season, seeing them decline slowly on the ladder.
The changing landscape of AFL is seeing a shift back to the ’80s and ’90s with Peter Hudson and Tony Lockett being the big key forward making a great impact on a team’s success moving forward.
Teams need to be investing more in the big forward and making sure that they are understanding and reading the play at their very best.
The Richmond and West Coast ideology has seen them go with Jack Riewoldt, Tom Lynch, Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling. It’s no surprise the duo have claimed the last two premiership cups.
sven
Roar Rookie
yeah sure the better teams can prob cope better against big key forwards but still reckon they play a vital part, eg tom lynch prelim last year, darling was huge for wc 2nd half '18 granny are 2 that come to mind straight away, even if they dont dominate the big boys provide a contest in the air to allow teams quick long entries without the oppo taking easy intercept marks & allow the crumbers to get to work. the tiges did a good job on tomahawk last week but some of that was down to poor entries due to upfield pressure, reckon if they meet again the cats will look to have a 2nd tall target so the tiges defenders cant just sag off their direct opponent knowing the kicks going to hawkins
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Big forwards dont count for much in tight finals (Buddy). Hawkins has had a terrific year but what Richmond did to him last Friday night will happen again next time and to Dixon et others. Finals footy is vastly different. If you rely on big forwards during the minor round, modern history suggests you are going to struggle to kick enough in the finals.
sven
Roar Rookie
nothing like seeing the big power forwards do their stuff, even if they arent taking big grabs, as long as they give a good contest they allow teams to bang it in long & not have the defence take easy intercept marks, was absolutely rapt when the tiges got lynch to sign, reckon he was a big part of us winning that flag last year
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
It's come to the point where the powers that be are going to have to draw a line down the middle of the ground and say, 6 players can't go past this line. My team press up so far that their own full forward gets triple teamed every time it comes to him, be nice to see Charlie get a genuine one on one chance at some stage this year. I like to imagine him in the 80's monstering defenders when he's one out, wouldn't that be something!
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
This is Buckleys theory on Darcy Moore. People ask why not use him as an attacking option forward. His answer is he is our best attacking option where he is at CHB in that he generates inside 50 opportunities. I agree. He is not a natural forward but without a 100KG beast hanging off him he can read the play and become an attacking weapon from CHB.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
Certainly still handy to have big fellas. Even handier to have blokes who can get it to them through the hideous quagmire of modern footy. The short quarters this year have done them no favours. NB: Hudson was 60s and 70s.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
Long may it continue
Aransan
Roar Rookie
With the game now being played in half the ground — ever wondered how half backs finish up playing half forward or half forwards playing half back?, do teams now need a monster playing at full forward? The return of the power forward with a vengeance?