One player who really benefited from a role change out of the ruck to a key forward was Geelong Falcons’ Analea McKee. Her athleticism - most noticeably her vertical jump - was more apparent when leading out inside 50 and clunking strong grabs. In the first half of the season when the Falcons were firing in particular, McKee was a real target alongside Liz Dowling, and her leading patterns, clean and strong hands, and reliable set shot routine allowed her to be a threat inside 50.

McKee slotted 13.9 from her nine games last season, including a five-goal haul against Gippsland Power and a three-goal haul against GWV Rebels. McKee’s most notable improvement came in her marking though, averaging 4.4 grabs per game across the 2022 NAB League Girls season, after managing just 1.2 per game in 2021. Though still having lapses in terms of consistency, she showcased her draftable traits. Her strength and ability to beat opponents in a wrestle, then be able to lead out and gain enough separation to leap up and take the ball at the highest point was important.

Being a contested marking key forward, McKee though athletic from a vertical leap perspective and able to move well enough to provide a bit of space on her opponent, could  improve on her ground ball work. Though not completely out of it once the ball hits the deck, she does not have the explosiveness to recover as quickly as some others, and it is a way for her to add another string to bow.

Looking forward, McKee seems to have found her role up forward and she certainly impacts a game more inside 50. Though she can still pinch-hit through the ruck, McKee is at home forward of the ball and can do a lot of damage when in form, and clubs would be interested in adding that to the mix.