Ex-Melbourne star David Schwarz calls on club to go hard for a rival key forward

An ex-Melbourne great has urged the Demons to get aggressive in the off-season and bring in a star rival forward like Tom Lynch as the move to send Harrison Petty forward continues to fail.

Harrison Petty of the Demons is seen after being subbed from the match during the 2024 AFL Round 11 match between Narrm (Melbourne) and Euro-Yroke (St Kilda) at The Melbourne Cricket Ground on May 26, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Melbourne best-and-fairest winner David Schwarz has urged the Demons to chase a rival key forward like Tom Lynch as Simon Goodwin’s team internally debates whether to return Harrison Petty to defence.

Schwarz warned on Tuesday the Demons were at risk of wasting their premiership window, warning they had as few as two seasons left to capitalise with their star-studded list.

The Demons were lifeless and inept against Fremantle as Petty’s only goal came from a mark in the goalsquare from Bayley Fritsch, his single goal in the past four weeks.

Premiership defender Petty played back for a fortnight when Steven May injured his ribs.

But this masthead can reveal he is the lowest rated key forward in the competition since round 4 based on AFL Player Ratings.

In the past three weeks he has had five, three and two possessions as his confidence hits rock bottom and his trade value plummets as Adelaide circles.

Harrison Petty has struggled up forward. Picture: Michael Klein

Goodwin remains determined to play him forward given Jacob Van Rooyen missed with groin issues last week but there is strong debate about his position at club level.

The feeling is the Demons once had a single area of concern - their forward line connection - but in recent weeks have had issues across all thirds of the ground.

Schwarz said it was time for Petty to return to defence.

“I like him as a defender, and his form as a forward hasn’t warranted him staying there so it’s logical,” he said.

“For five years we have been saying Melbourne’s deficiency is the forward line. Until they can find a key forward they can build the side around they will be paddling and it’s proven to be right.

“Melbourne has only got a couple of years left in this window where they are going to be dominant with Lever, May, (Christian) Petracca, (Clayton) Oliver, (Max) Gawn, (Jack) Viney. You have two years left in your window and you have to go out and find a key forward. Offer the farm for (Tom) De Koning at Carlton. Tom Lynch or Noah Balta at Richmond. Go and get one of the young forwards (like Logan McDonald) at Sydney. To win flags you can’t play nice.”

Tom Lynch and Noah Balta at Richmond training. Picture: Michael Klein

Lever is still 2-3 weeks off with his knee complaint, so the Demons could reconfigure their key stocks after trying Tom McDonald forward at times in the Alice Springs clash against Fremantle.

But it remains to be seen if Van Rooyen will be fit after missing last week.

“The problem for Melbourne is their forward line is so dysfunctional so they are making all their decisions based on that forward line,” Schwarz said.

“Their backline has been so secure for so long that there is a huge ripple effect by Lever not being there. They have got an abundance of big blokes but they might just be good players. There might not be a star in there. Van Rooyen is a baby, he’s 21 so he’s two years away from being anywhere near his best. Petty will show signs with the right match-up but when he comes up against a good player he’s not a natural forward.

“McDonald, Tomlinson and Petty are not stars. They play well occasionally but they are not matchwinners, they just plug holes.”

Originally published as Ex-Melbourne star David Schwarz calls on club to go hard for a rival key forward