The form of the AFL’s best key forwards has been a talking point over the past week or so.
The race for the Coleman Medal after entering Round 4 sees the names Papley, Perryman, C.Cameron, Heeney, L.Ryan and Wingard leading the charge which has prompted questions of the value of tall forwards right now.
Former Port Adelaide midfielder Kane Cornes attempted to work out the reasons why the competition’s key goal kickers have failed to fire in the early stages of the 2020 season.
“It’s been an interesting year in general for the key forwards,” he said on SEN’s The Captain’s Run.
“They were once worth their weight in gold but they’ve been largely ineffective this year, particularly the teams who possess dual key forward threats.
“Perhaps it’s due to the shorter quarters? Players have less fatigue in their legs and are able to apply fierce pressure for longer meaning the delivery and efficiency into the forward line has been messy.
“It’s another reason to limit interchange, but I’ll save that for another day.”
Cornes used statistical evidence to point out that some of the top key forwards around the league are indeed struggling.
“Here are the damning numbers for the key forwards through the first thee games...
“Josh Kennedy and Jack Darling at West Coast have combined for just five goals.
“Tom Lynch and the out-of-form Jack Riewoldt have kicked just seven at Richmond.
“Coleman Medallist Jeremy Cameron and Jeremy Finlayson have kicked nine at GWS.
“Tex Walker and Darcy Fogarty at Adelaide just six.
“And Aaron Naughton, who started well last night before limping off injured, and new recruit Josh Bruce, who looks out of shape, have slotted just four between them for the Bulldogs.
“Coming into Round 4 GWS six-footer Harry Perryman was the Coleman Medal race leader with just eight. Sydney’s Tom Papley snagged four against the Dogs last night and is now on top with 10. Papley is 176 centimetres.
“What is going on with the key forwards in 2020? They used to be so valuable.”
There are a number of key forwards just out of the top few with five goals so far this season including North Melbourne’s Ben Brown, Giants star Cameron, Port Adelaide’s Charlie Dixon, Carlton’s Levi Casboult, and the King twins Max and Ben from St Kilda and Gold Coast respectively.
However, the overall scoreboard impact appears to be less this season considering nine of the top 10 goal kickers in 2019 were key forwards.