Each Batman needs a Robin.
Every Lance Franklin needs his Jarryd Roughead and every Josh J. Kennedy needs his Jack Darling, so who are the best Robins in the AFL today?
The star key forward is one of the most important players on the field for every AFL team. They demand the most attention and can completely turn a game on its head. Their gravity creates opportunity for their key forward counterparts to stand up and deliver out of the spotlight.
The secondary key forward is an unheralded role, and when at their best, can lift teams from a great offensive team to an outright powerhouse. Having an elite complementary forward can produce a formidable pairing with defences forced to divide their attention between both key forwards.
Possessing multiple elite avenues to goal creates an imposing forward line and is why many of the best teams in the competition have a dynamic secondary key forward so we've ranked them from most to least impactful to highlight some of the dominant seasons from supporting keys and some of the underwhelming seasons in 2026.
9Jobe Shanahan
Main key forward: Jake Waterman
In just his second season, Jobe Shanahan has emerged as one of the most promising young key forwards, producing moments of brilliance each time he graces the field.
Youth is taking over the league and Shanahan is no exception using his athleticism to take spectacular marks and alleviate the pressure on Waterman. His averages of just 8.8 disposals and 1.2 goals may be underwhelming, but Shanahan passes the eye test and is highly damaging on his day.
