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.
4Logan McDonald
Main key forward: Charlie Curnow
After being sidelined for all of 2025 with severe ankle concerns, Logan McDonald returned to the field this season and has worked productively with new star Charlie Curnow and Joel Amartey as a reliable key forward performing well most weeks.
McDonald has kicked multiple goals in nine matches this year, contributing each week in whatever role the team needs. Sydney have many avenues to goal, so McDonald's role is constantly evolving playing high up the ground on occasion, or deep inside 50 on others.
