Former Carlton goal-kicking coach Sav Rocca says twin towers Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow can become the AFL’s best one-two key forward punch and deliver a deep finals run the Blues crave.

McKay, the 2021 Coleman medallist, and Curnow, last year’s league-leading goalkicker, were able to grow as a tandem last season after Curnow was finally free of injury.

Curnow, the dynamic centre half-forward, booted 64 goals in 22 games, while full forward McKay added 45 in 19, but premiership pair Tom Hawkins and Jeremy Cameron, Geelong’s dominant marking talls, are still widely considered the most potent combination. Richmond’s Tom Lynch and Jack Riewoldt also remain a blue-chip pairing, but Rocca says Curnow and McKay have all the tools to fulfil the Blues’ finals aspirations.

“They are right up there. They certainly have what it takes as a forward line to kick goals. They just have to string it all together, stay injury free and get there,” Rocca said on Monday.

“They are great players. Curnow last year, McKay the year before, whether they win the Coleman Medal again or not, it’s as long as they can have one or the other kicks goals. They become so dangerous, then their smalls come into play. They can certainly lead the team forward.”

Curnow said last week he wants to “back up” his form of last year and be a consistent force.

McKay’s preference to regularly snap set shots rather than embrace the traditional straight-line run-up and drop punt has sparked debate. His goal tally came with 33 points last year, including a controversial botched set shot snap from 45 metres deep in the last quarter of a loss to St Kilda.

His technique was questioned by some, including former Hawthorn sharpshooter Ben Dixon, while McKay admitted he had erred in not opting for a drop punt.

Rocca said McKay was more comfortable with the snap.