BUDDY Franklin leads the Coleman Medal race with 34 goals, and the superstar Swan could kick the ton.
Gold Coast's Tom Lynch, with 30 majors to his name, is the next big thing and both would have claims in a hypothetical All Australian side after round eight.
But there's an argument that neither Franklin nor Lynch could be called the best all-round key forward so far this season.
Instead, that man might be rejuvenated 33-year-old North Melbourne veteran Jarrad Waite.
In seven key metrics picked by AFL.com.au, Waite is one of only two key forwards in the competition rated 'elite' (top 10 per cent of position) or 'above average' (top 35 per cent) by Champion Data for:
- Contested marks
- Forward 50 marks
- Forward 50 ground-ball gets
- Score assists
- Score involvements (disposals or hit-outs in a passage of play resulting in a score)
- Forward-half pressure acts
- Tackles
In a year-and-a-bit at North Melbourne, Waite has turned his flagging career around.
The oft-maligned ex-Blue is doing it all, winning the ball in the air (2.1 contested marks) and on the ground, bringing his teammates into the game (2.0 score assists) and applying heat when the Roos haven't got the footy.
His elite forward-half pressure acts (10.8 per game) and tackles (4.5) form a vital part of North's manic defensive intensity.
Another former Carlton forward, West Coast's Josh Kennedy, is the only other spearhead who is 'elite' or 'above average' judged on AFL.com.au's statistical indicators.
The 196cm Eagle has been dominant in the air and a menace on the ground, especially at the club's Domain Stadium fortress.
Kennedy is better than most at finding the ball on the deck inside 50 and he's ranked third for pressure acts (8.3) among key forwards.
On Sunday against St Kilda, the reigning Coleman medallist was on track for a record-breaking haul of goals after booting five in the first term.
Kennedy has more goals than minutes on the clock with this snap around the body. #AFLEaglesSaints #ohwhatafeeling https://t.co/92yKtW6yb4
— AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2016
While he didn't add another in the next three quarters, Kennedy seemingly derived more enjoyment from setting up teammates than scoring himself and never stopped chasing.
Harassing opponents is cream on top for key forwards, but it's a facet of the game that separates the game's budding superstars from being the finished product.
Tom Lynch, Jeremy Cameron and Jesse Hogan are incredible talents, however Cameron's pressure acts (3.8) and tackles (1.3) numbers are considered 'poor' (bottom 10 per cent) by Champion Data standards.
But the exciting Giant has plenty of tricks and is better than anyone bar Franklin at finding the footy on the ground.
Hogan is the youngest, and the boom Melbourne forward should naturally improve his 'below average' pressure acts (5.4) and tackles (1.5) over time.
But there's a reason the 21-year-old could command an extraordinary salary if he were to be lured away from the Demons, with his aerial ability (3.3 marks inside 50) almost unrivalled despite his tender age.
.@jesseBhogan with a classic pack mark and the Dees are closing the gap. They trail by 15 points. #AFLDeesDogs https://t.co/DWyBa6H4Qp
— AFL (@AFL) May 15, 2016
Lynch has become a big-moment forward and one of few shining lights in a bleak season for Gold Coast.
The 23-year-old is 'elite' for score involvements and contested possessions and 'above average' at winning ground balls inside 50, although his 'average' pressure acts and 'poor' amount of tackles per game is where he can still improve his repertoire.
Even with those areas to work on, Lynch looms large as the next challenger for Franklin's throne as the most prized key forward in the competition.
But Franklin has all the weapons and is at the peak of his spectacular powers.
He boasts a booming kick, stunning speed and agility for a man his size, plus a contested mark that needs to be respected.
A 'below average' number of tackles per game (1.6) is the only thing that separates him from Waite and Kennedy on the above stats, although when Franklin wraps an opponent up it's generally a bone-crunching tackle.
But, at a cut-price rate, Waite, in particular, is showing there's more than one prototype for a match-winning key forward.
STATS QUIRK OF THE WEEK: Essendon booted its lowest half-time score since 1915 against North Melbourne (0.4) at Etihad Stadium on Saturday, continuing a slow-starting trend for a side that has scored 14 points or less to half-time in three of the past four games. This season, the Dons have scored 29.33 (207) in opening halves compared to 38.42 (270) after the main break.
