A DECADE after being destroyed by Anthony Rocca as a skinny 20-year-old, Fremantle defender Zac Dawson has declared the death of the monster key forward in AFL football is imminent.

Dawson, set to play a key role for the Dockers this season after the retirement of Luke McPharlin, said he believed the evolution of the game would not allow for any more “big, hulking’’ key forwards.

The evolution of footy tactics in recent years, including zoning and pressing, has forced key position players to run more kilometres and this season the interchange cap will be reduced from 120 to 90.

“One thing I’ve noticed over the last year and especially going into this year is there’s going to be a lot more running and a lot less breaks,’’ Dawson said.

“So I think the days of the big, hulking key forwards, I think they are almost done. Because with less interchanges, those guys can’t go off the ground any more.

“So they’re going to have to be able to run and they’re going to have to be able to get around the ground and being 105-110kg it’s a pretty big job for the whole game.’’

Dawson’s career was almost defined by the eight-goal haul Rocca kicked on him in Round 2, 2006, as the former Collingwood spearhead exploited a huge size advantage.

Dawson was delisted by Hawthorn at the end of that season but was thrown a lifeline by former St Kilda coach Ross Lyon two years later.

Dawson, 29, has bulked up to close to 95kg and says he’s no longer worried about trying to add too much weight.

“I’m never going to be 100kg, but I’m interested in adding a kilo or two to my frame,’’ he said.

“But the running game is becoming so important now that that’s where I’m focusing most of my attention.’’

Camera Icon Dockers backman Zac Dawson up against Cat Tom Hawkins in 2014. Credit: News Corp Australia, Wayne Ludbey

Dawson said he was looking forward to taking on the game’s premier key forwards this season as the team’s leading key defensive option.

“I kind of came from St Kilda in that role. I was the number one and then came to Freo and had Luke here, so I kind of got to take a step back and learn a lot from him,’’ he said. “But watching him and how he goes about it has helped me a lot.

“You don’t get too much glory out on the field as a full-back so having those bigger roles and playing on the bigger forwards — your highlights are doing well against those guys.

“I’m not going to kick five goals during a game. But shutting down their biggest forward is big for me.’’