He’s had a comparable year stats-wise to Hogan, Riewoldt Darling & Franklin. They are all having a similar output, and hard to split for the 2nd and 3rd key forward positions. (Assuming they pick 3).
I find it difficult to say Hawkins has been better than Brown, 11 goals more as a key forward is significant. He’s averaging a few more touches, but Brown has clearly been the best KPF so far this season.
Among 191cm+ forwards to played 13/17 games in 2018 so far:
Goals Per Game
1. Ben Brown - 3.06
2. Lance Franklin - 3.00
3. Tom Hawkins - 2.73
4. Jack Darling - 2.62
5. Jesse Hogan / Jack Riewoldt - 2.41
Score Involvements Per Game
1. Lance Franklin - 8.50
2. Tom Hawkins - 8.07
3. Jack Darling - 7.77
4. Jesse Hogan - 7.35
5. Jack Gunston - 6.88
Inside 50s Per Game
1. Lance Franklin - 5.00
2. Jack Riewoldt - 3.65
3. Charlie Curnow - 3.27
4. Jack Gunston - 2.94
5. Jesse Hogan - 2.88
Goal Assists Per Game
1. Tom Hawkins - 1.20
2. Jack Riewoldt - 0.88
3. Lance Franklin - 0.86
4. Jack Darling - 0.85
5. Ben Brown / Jarryd Roughead - 0.76
Marks Per Game
1. Tom Hawkins - 7.07
2. Jack Darling - 7.00
3. Lance Franklin - 6.93
4. Charlie Curnow - 6.40
5. Jesse Hogan - 6.29
Contested Marks Per Game
1. Jack Darling - 2.85
2. Tom Hawkins - 2.40
3. Jack Riewoldt - 1.94
4. Charlie Curnow - 1.93
5. Ben Brown - 1.88
Marks Inside 50 Per Game
1. Tom Hawkins - 3.40
2. Lance Franklin - 3.29
3. Jack Darling - 3.23
4. Jack Riewoldt - 3.06
5. Ben Brown - 2.82
Tackles Inside 50 Per Game
1. Jack Riewoldt - 1.47
2. Tom Hawkins - 1.40
3. Charlie Dixon - 1.18
4. Jack Watts - 1.14
5. Josh Jenkins - 1.06
If we're then affording a 5-4-3-2-1 points scale to each of these categories (eg. #1 ranking equals 5 points, #2 equals 4 points, and so on), then the players would be ranked like so:
1. Tom Hawkins - 30 points (of a possible 40 points)
2. Lance Franklin - 24 points
3. Jack Darling - 21 points
4. Jack Riewoldt - 19 points
5. Ben Brown - 8 points
6. Charlie Curnow - 7 points
7. Jesse Hogan - 5 points
8. Jack Gunston / Charlie Dixon - 3 points
9. Jack Watts / Josh Jenkins / Jarryd Roughead - 1 point
Shows that Hawkins is consistent, versatile, and prolific, perhaps moreso than any other key forward this season.