Experts stunned as 21-year-old enters elite conversation

Is Western Bulldogs star Sam Darcy already the total key forward package at just 21?

Darcy has kicked 12 goals across four games so far this season, including five in his side's loss to Fremantle on Sunday, to go with 21 disposals and 11 marks.

Geelong great Jimmy Bartel wonders what more he needs to add to his game that we're not already seeing.

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Standing at 208cm and proving to be an incredible mark overhead, Bartel believes he is already on the level of stars like Jesse Hogan, Charlie Curnow and Nick Larkey.

"We keep talking about 'what will he be when he's 25, what will he be after another three pre-seasons', I want to know what he's not doing right now?" Bartel told Nine's Footy Classified. 

To which panel member Damian Barrett responded: "Nothing. He's doing everything".

"He's strong enough in the marking contest, his goal kicking is sound … what's he missing?" Bartel added.

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Champion goal kicker Matthew Lloyd believes Darcy has already worked out the toughest aspects of the game for developing key forwards.

"The hardest thing to find for young key forwards is aggression, and that's where he is extremely rare in that he had that aggression from day one," Lloyd said.

"I saw when he was playing for Scotch College that he had a streak to him that he had back then.

"He's got a nasty streak to him … all those long limbs flying around and a couple of our boys are looking going 'do I really want to get in his way?'.

"The worry was his kicking, but he has been pretty solid this year. His set shot is sound."

Bartel was asked whether Darcy could be considered amongst the best players in the competition right now, to which he answered: "He's in the conversation".

North Melbourne's Nick Larkey and Adelaide's Riley Thilthorpe currently lead the Coleman Medal on 14 goals, while Jesse Hogan sits third on 13, following his bag of nine goals against West Coast on the weekend.