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.
1Jye Amiss
Main key forward: Josh Treacy
In All-Australian considerations in 2026, Jye Amiss is having the most dominant season by a complementary key forward this season. With averages of 2.4 goals and 3.5 marks inside 50, Amiss poses as not just one of the elite second options inside 50, but one of the competition's best.
Spearhead Josh Treacy demands much of the opposition's respect pressing high up the ground as the best contested marker in the game. This leaves Amiss with an open forward line to work in, reflecting why he's ranked second for marks inside 50 this season.
The tandem of Treacy, Amiss and Patrick Voss have kicked the most goals of any key forward trio this season with 88 goals from 15 games.
The first-placed Dockers are flying so far this year and their elite forward line chemistry is one of the driving reasons why.
