The first half of the 2026 season has seen the scoreboard impact of the league's small forwards drop, but a spike in form from St Kilda's Liam Ryan means he is rocketing into All-Australian calculations.
Last season, five small forwards made the top 20 goal-kickers across the league with Collingwood's Jamie Elliott finishing fourth (60 goals), St Kilda's Jack Higgins sitting 10th (46), Gold Coast's Ben Long in 12th (45), Brisbane's Zac Bailey 16th (42) and GWS' Toby Greene 18th (41).
This season sees only two of the AFL's zippy smalls sit inside the top 20 in the Coleman Medal race with Hawthorn's Nick Watson sitting sixth (33) and Brisbane's Charlie Cameron in 11th (30).
It would seem then that the two latter players would be near certainties for the eventual 2026 All-Australian side. But after returning from a calf injury in Round 13, St Kilda's Ryan has been arguably the most dangerous forward in the competition.
The former West Coast gun made the move to Moorabbin last off-season for a future second round draft pick. Ryan started 2026 in decent form, booting 11 goals from his first seven games before he was sidelined for five weeks through injury.
However, across his previous two matches, Ryan has returned to his flyin' best, kicking five goals against Sydney before booting a career-best six majors against GWS on Sunday afternoon.
In both of his past two matches, Ryan's physical presence was back at the fore.
Against the Giants, he registered four tackles and took two contested marks, while against the Swans, Ryan flew for one of his trademark screamers over Sydney ruck Brodie Grundy. Winning the mark of the round in the process.
In a forward line bereft of star power, Ryan is making his mark and now sits equal-22nd in the Coleman Medal with a slew of fellow smalls in Adelaide's Josh Rachele, Brisbane's Kai Lohmann and North Melbourne's Paul Curtis.
And as Ryan's form has lifted, so has his new club.
Against flag fancies Sydney on the Swans' home deck, the Saints were minutes away from securing a massive upset victory. While Round 14's surprise win over GWS put St Kilda into 10th spot on the ladder and in the wildcard zone.
Despite earning his maiden All-Australian blazer in 2020 (kicking 26 goals in the pandemic year) and being highly regarded in his talents as a forward, Ryan's best season tally for his career is 30 goals in 2019.
Having traded his Eagles crest for Saints colours in 2026, Ryan has the opportunity to make this forward line his own and produce a career-best season in front of the big sticks.
After all, he only needs a further nine goals in his last 10 home-and-away games (and possibly more with wildcard and finals) to break his previous best.
The Saints are currently left waiting for the return of prodigal son Max King from injury, which won't be until late in the season, if at all.
So Ryan must capitalise on being the club's number one target inside 50, his fitness and momentum and the fact the Saints don't leave the state for the rest of the home-and-away fixture and help St Kilda secure at least a wildcard spot.
