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.
5Mitch Lewis
Main key forward: Jack Gunston
After a constant battle with injury over the past few seasons, Mitch Lewis finally experienced some continuity at the end of the 2025 season kicking three goals in their Preliminary Final loss to Geelong. This season, Lewis has formed into a strong contributor in the Hawthorn forward line being a pillar of stability while his key forward partners battle with injury.
His great contested marking work allows Nick Watson to do his best work when the ball spills while also giving a consistent scoring punch kicking goals in all but two matches in 2026.
