Forward thinkingMatt Murnane
The Age
July 15, 2012 IT WAS on the eve of the season and On The Couch - or at least in the chair next to the couch - that Gerard Healy made his big prediction. The Foxtel host had identified a group of six key forwards, all under the age of 23, and forecast that the rate of their development would run parallel with the fortunes of their clubs.
For Sydney, Essendon, Richmond, Adelaide and the Western Bulldogs it would be up to these youngsters to take the ''next step'' if their clubs were to play finals in an open season.
The Brownlow medallist said young stars Sam Reid, Michael Hurley, Jack Riewoldt, Liam Jones and Taylor Walker would be vital. For Port Adelaide, the question was, could John Butcher help bring the Power back from the brink of irrelevance?
''It was always going to be one of those years,'' Healy told The Sunday Age last week. ''But it just seemed to me that the side that developed the most through the year, and there is still a long way to go, could well jump up and be the surprise winner.
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''And part of that is which one of these key blokes is going to be, at the end of the year, the one who has developed the most. I thought it would be a significant part of the whole recipe.''
So far, Healy's prediction has held up. To a large extent, the seasons of the key forwards in question have provided an appropriate narrative for their team's performance ...
The jury is out on Richmond and whether it is a true finals contender. Broadly speaking, inconsistency has been the issue for the Tigers.
They've been almost there.
So has Riewoldt. On Healy's estimation, Riewoldt's 39 goals from 14 games - second in the AFL - amounts to an average season, considering he is at ''All-Australian standard''.
''But it's been a bit difficult for him because they haven't been able to give him much support with a second tall,'' Healy added.
Like the Tigers, Jumping Jack has looked dynamic, booting three bags of four, as well as a six and an eight. But in other matches, he has been shut down, or faded in and out. The jury is out on his season, too.
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