WHEN the two best teams in the competition play each other everyone sits up and takes notice. Last week, Hawthorn and Geelong thrilled viewers with an exciting brand of football but it was the last quarter that most sticks in my mind.

Seeing Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead work in tandem in the forward 50 sends alarm bells going off in rival coaching camps, not the least of which would have been Geelong's coach's box.

Together, the pair dominated the final quarter as Hawthorn made its run for the line. Not only did the Hawks hit the scoreboard regularly but they made it near impossible for the Cats to rebound from their area.

As the Hawks' twin towers plied their trade, it was evident how much the demands of a forward target have changed in the past couple of decades.

It wasn't that long ago that kicking goals was all that mattered to a tall target in the forward line. We went through an amazing era in the 1990s when Jason Dunstall, Tony Lockett and Gary Ablett senior ruled their arcs (before there were any) and racked up a century of goals season after season. Even then there were varying levels of pressure that came from a full forward.

Leigh Matthews often remarks that forwards have a "break even" goal tally that relates directly to their ability to pressure and create opportunities for their teammates beyond their own goal-kicking prowess. In that light, Dunstall may have had to kick only three goals to have done his job; his renowned hustle and pressure were worth a few goals every week. Lockett, on the other hand, may have needed six or seven to have a similar effect.

As the game has evolved and team defences have become more sophisticated, a different set of attributes has been demanded from the forward-of-the-ball player, especially the tall targets. The big power forward who was there to kick goals and nothing more is a dodo of the football world; such players are measured by so much more than that now.

When 100-goal seasons were a regular occurrence there was invariably a lot of space in the forward line and the ball was moved quickly into it. That opportunity is now rarely granted by opposition defences that fill the forward 50 with support players. Often the best forward needs to beat a couple of players in the air and then compete at a numbers disadvantage on the ground. The change in circumstance calls for a different type of player.

Franklin and Roughead are prototypes for the new age of tall forwards. Quick, agile and strong. Equally able to win the ball in the air and on the ground and not just willing to apply immense pressure to keep the ball in their attacking zone but capable of it.

Unlike tall targets before them, Roughead and Franklin have contributed to the necessity of forward pressure. Last year, Cyril Rioli provided a massive spark in and around packs, chasing and pressuring as teams tried to rebound. The stats show that the twin towers were equally effective at winning the ball back from the opposition. In fact, in inside-50 tackles Roughead was ranked fourth and Franklin fifth in the competition, Rioli sixth.

Admittedly because they play closer to goal they have more opportunities to do so, but their ability to make the transition from a ball-winning position to a defensive mindset is first-class.

There is a big difference between willingness and ability. With all due respect, Lockett may have been as willing as he liked to put pressure on a defensive unit trying to run the ball out, but his physical capabilities would have limited his effectiveness.

In the quest to balance goal-scoring ability with consistent and sustainable forward pressure, teams now demand that their tall forwards be effective in this area and we have seen some players find different roles as a result.

Matthews Richardson and Lloyd have been played as exclusive forward targets in their time but the predictability of their presence and their compromised ability to put pressure on the opposition has them playing roles further up the field.

Of course, the differing game plans can help or hinder the forwards' best attributes. Quick ball movement helps every forward but especially the big, strong, marking, body-on-body player who wants the one-on-one in space.

When Anthony Rocca comes back into the side for Collingwood he will need quick ball movement to kick bags of goals to break even. It all has to fit in the bigger scheme of things.

Brendan Fevola has got the message from new coach Brett Ratten that goals simply won't be enough for Carlton to be a contender. Last year, he was ranked 15th in inside-50 tackles and he set the tone for the Blues last weekend with a big tackle in the first minute; he had four tackles for the match and the Blues had 20 inside 50. You don't lose with that kind of pressure on the defence.

Fraser Gehrig became an untenable option for St Kilda because of his team's inability to provide pressure out of the forward line. A three-pronged tall structure with Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke proved difficult to maintain.

The two of them could still compromise forward pressure too much given that the Saints have failed to find a Rioli, Aaron Davey-type to play that pressure role consistently.

Jonathan Brown and Daniel Bradshaw at the Lions have always been dangerous in front of the ball but Rhan Hooper gave their forward structure a more potent look last week.

Geelong has played with one tall target, Cameron Mooney, and a couple of very talented mediums for many years. Can the Cats include Tom Hawkins and maintain their balance? Not sold on that yet.

Matthew Knights has spoken of playing a four-pronged tall forward structure that bucks the trend of most clubs' forward planning. Perhaps he is planning to develop four Franklins or Rougheads.

Every coach would love the balance of firepower and pressure that the Hawks enjoy through those two tall targets and the players around them. Last week's final-quarter performance was a snapshot into the future of forward play. They are both young and with plenty of improvement in them too. It's a scary thought.

Nathan Buckley can be heard on 3AW Football.