Paul Salmon was a self-confessed “circus act” when he emerged in the mid-1980s as an unlikely 205cm goalkicking weapon.
He was one of legendary Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy’s many successful experiments, going against the norm to even think of using a player of Salmon’s height anywhere but the ruck.
Almost four decades since Salmon’s debut, another football unicorn is being compared to ‘The Big Fish’: Western Bulldogs phenom Sam Darcy.
Darcy is part of a new breed of 200cm-plus key forwards who have become the most coveted asset in the game.
The teenager’s exclusive company includes last year’s Coleman medallist Harry McKay, the King twins – Max and Ben – Brisbane teammates Joe Daniher and Eric Hipwood and Bomber Peter Wright.
Adelaide spent the No.2 pick in the 2020 draft on 202cm forward Riley Thilthorpe, the same selection Darcy went at last year after the Bulldogs…
