He can mark. He can kick. He chases, tackles, handballs, shepards, blocks .... and to cap it all off he's a hell of a nice bloke. Matthew Lloyd is simply the complete package. The boy from Avondale Heights made his debut in 1995 as a wiry 17-year-old. Coaching staff knew he could play but just what position he finished playing and how good he would be remained to be seen. It is 121 games on and both questions have been answered. What position? Matthew Lloyd is the best full forward in the competition. How good is he? Matthew Lloyd is on the verge of greatness.

Anyone with any reservations about the ability of Lloyd need only have watched him play against the Kangaroos last weekend. His nine-goal haul was the reward for a simply faultless display. He didn't kick a single behind. And Lloyd threaded goals that would have seen many simply fold under the immense pressure of one of the game's most memorable matches. And his input wasn't confined to the goal square either - in the dying minutes of the match he pushed to the half-forward line to take a mark and lay off a handball that set up the goal which put the Bombers in front.

""It was a good win and great to contribute. I've kicked bigger bags in my time but I can't remember ever coming off the ground as satisfied. To kick goals in big matches when it is really tight - that's when it is really satisfying,"" Lloyd said.

In a miraculous game of football, no less than 52 goals were kicked - an AFL / VFL record. Lloyd said that every player simply had to make the most of every opportunity to ensure their side stayed in touch. ""Everyone knew they couldn't afford to miss. I felt that pressure lining up for goals. When we were behind I knew we had to stay in touch and in the past quarter we really needed to get the first goal to get some momentum. Luckily I managed to kick those goals,"" Lloyd said.

It was a performance symptomatic of one of the game's stars. Lloyd has 75 goals after 16 rounds and is currently six ahead of where he was at this time last year. Barring injury he seems certain to kick 100 goals in consecutive seasons - something only great full forwards have done in the past.

Lloyd feels he has improved this season. ""I think I am more consistent than I was last season. I think I am kicking better for goal at the moment - that can change from week-to-week - but right now it feels pretty good. In the past I have missed goals when we have needed them but I would like to think I am getting better in that regard,"" Lloyd said. ""Hopefully the best is yet to come.""

Essendon assistant coach Robert Shaw says Lloyd is playing the best football of his career right now and his increased strength has been a key. ""He is stronger than he was but hasn't sacrificed any speed in doing so - that has been a real bonus,"" Shaw said. ""His strength has enabled him to force himself to the front of contests.""

Shaw said Lloyd's kicking against the Kangaroos was sensational. ""Every goal he kicked was critical - in the first half it was real knife-edge stuff. He had to kick them to make sure we stayed in the contest,"" Shaw said. ""What impressed me most was his ability to kick goals from 45 degree angles on his wrong side. Those goals are very difficult to kick consistently and I think he kicked four or five form the 'wrong' pocket.""

Shaw, like Lloyd, is hopeful the best is yet to come. ""Matthew Lloyd has never changed since I have known him. He is unpretentious and good to those he is close to,"" Shaw said. ""I think that is one of the reasons he is so calm under pressure.""