How can one sit atop the Coleman Medal ladder and not be rated as the best full-forward in the competition?
How does a forward who was set to become the biggest forward in the game become an also-ran?
And how does a player that could be anything start looking as though the predictions about his future are more likely to meet tbe floor than the ceiling?
The AFL has a way of building players up and knocking them back down, and as we make our way through the 2026 season, HB has taken an interest in three players finding that out.
The three cases we look at today are those of Ben King at Gold Coast, Riley Thilthorpe at Adelaide, and Mitchito Owens at St Kilda.
All three make fantastic case studies as we examine their seasons and what has occurred to date – both right and wrong.
This is just the introduction – the remainder of this article is for our members. They support me, and I provide for them. It’s a good deal.
Oh… a Mongrel paywall… the worst of all paywalls. We’re all in on the 2026 AFL season. Player articles, stats, awards, game coverage. Dump the mainstream lip service and dive into articles like this – you will never look back. If you don’t want to, that’s fine. I consider it your loss as we get into the grind of the season, and you’re stuck with the stuff that’s frustrated you for years.
