Why Cornes is confident that Larkey is the best key forward in the game

Is Nick Larkey the best key forward in the AFL right now?

That is the question Kane Cornes posed in the wake of the North Melbourne gun’s four goals against Collingwood on Sunday, and five against West Coast in Round 13.

In 2024, Larkey has kicked 28 goals in 13 games for a Kangaroos side that has won just once, adding to the 71 majors he booted in 2023 as the Roos won three games.

The 26-year-old has returned hauls of five goals, nine, four, six, six and seven in six of North’s last seven wins, highlighting his importance to the team.

Cornes is “pretty confident” that Larkey, who has kicked 219 goals in 107 games across his career, is the premier key forward in the game as it stands, even above Carlton’s dual Coleman Medallist Charlie Curnow.

He asked on SEN’s Sportsday: “Who is the best key forward in the game right now?

“I think it’s Nick Larkey.

“If you put the context of the team that Nick Larkey is playing in, the consistency that he plays with, every time they win he kicks four (goals) plus.

“If he played in a winning team right now, I’m pretty confident (he would be the best). Curnow, you could argue, with his athleticism and he’s got a few more tricks than Larkey.

“But I’m suggesting that Nick Larkey is the best key forward in the game.

Port Adelaide great Cornes then quizzed Brad Johnson: “Who have you got if it’s not him?”

The Western Bulldogs champion has sided with Curnow who has booted 38 goals this season as he chases a third straight Coleman.

“I’ve got Curnow as the best key player in the game at the moment,” said Johnson.

“McKay is not too far away. He’s actually pretty stiff not to be in the (Rolling All-Australian) team. Ben King has been good recently, Joey Daniher has hit form.

“I think there’s three or four in front of Larkey.”

It created debate regarding the mantle of the game’s best key forward.

Cornes: “I don’t think we give Nick Larkey the respect that he deserves.

“Playing in that side for so long and doing what he does. He kicked 70 goals last year, so it’s not a two-week recency bias thing.”

Johnson: “What’s he going to kick this year? 40 or 45? It’s a 30-goal drop.”

Cornes: “What’s Curnow going to kick in a team that will win 13 more games?”

Johnson: “But he’s got Harry McKay taking half his shots as well.

“Larkey is the only guy (at North).”

This season Larkey has been held goalless once while kicking multiple goals in eight of his 13 outings. His career average is 2.05 goals per game.

In comparison, Curnow has kicked two or more goals in all 13 games this season. The Blues star has kicked 262 goals in 123 career games at an average of 2.13.