Reigning Coleman Medalist Jesse Hogan has heaped praise on Bulldogs key forward Sam Darcy, labeling the young sensation as a goal-scoring ‘unicorn’.
Hogan was asked on AFL 360 what he thought of Darcy after returning from injury last weekend in the win against St Kilda, going as far as saying the soon-to-be 22-year-old looks to be the complete package.
“He is an absolute unicorn, an alien of a player,” Hogan answered.
“I think his ceiling is higher than any player in the competition and he’s going to be a nightmare for key backs and opposition coaches over the next 10 years, I don’t know how you stop him.”
MORE: Laura Kane's role in Jamarra Ugle-Hagan's return to football
"He is just a unicorn, alien of a player, isn't he? ... His ceiling is higher than any player in the competition."
— Fox Footy (@FOXFOOTY) June 18, 2025
High praise for Sam Darcy from reigning Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan on #AFL360. 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/psXq6NW3eC
Darcy booted 38 goals last season for the Dogs and is currently on-pace to post career-best numbers, despite playing in only seven games due to a foot injury he suffered against the Saints back in Round 6.
But in comparison to other young forwards his age, is the former second overall pick really that special?
Key AFL forwards season statistics at 22 years old
| Player/(Season) | Age | Games | Goals Per-Game | Marks I50 Per-Game |
| Taylor Walker (2012) | 22 | 19 | 3.3 | 3.5 |
| Jeremy Cameron (2015) | 22 | 22 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| Sam Darcy (2025) | 21 (10 months) | 7 | 2.4 | 3.3 |
| Max King (2022) | 22 | 22 | 2.4 | 3.2 |
| Tom Lynch (2014) | 22 | 22 | 2.1 | 2.8 |
| Jesse Hogan (2017) | 22 | 10 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
| Charlie Curnow (2019) | 22 | 11 | 1.6 | 1.4 |
| Nick Larkey (2020) | 22 | 10 | 1.4 | 1.0 |
| Harry McKay (2019) | 22 | 20 | 1.3 | 1.9 |
| Oscar Allen (2021) | 22 | 21 | 1.3 | 1.7 |
Taking nothing away from Darcy's accomplishments, at 22, Taylor Walker finished fourth in the Coleman race after slotting 63 goals, averaging a tick over three per game.
Likewise, Jeremy Cameron was a force at the same age during his fourth year with the Giants, finishing in a tie for second with Eddie Betts in the Coleman, highlighted by a famous seven-goal bag against Hawthorn in Round 6.
Darcy, who turns 22 in July, has kicked 17 goals this year, although it stands to reason that he would likely be challenging Cameron and Hogan in this year’s Coleman chase had he not missed the last two months of footy.
As Hogan said himself, Darcy’s demeaning stature (he’s 208cm) makes him a formidable opponent for any key defender, evidenced by the fact he’s currently ranked among the elite in the competition averaging over seven marks a game.
With the Dogs fighting for a finals spot, favourable games over the next three weeks against the Tigers, Swans, and North Melbourne could see the father-son pick in for a fill-up in front of goal as he continues to excite Footscray fans for the future.