BRENDAN Fevola brought up his 400th career goal early against Collingwood yesterday. By game's end, he had seven majors, and 15 in just two weeks. But few will mean any more than the one he created for teammate Shaun Grigg to wrap up a drought-breaking victory over a bitter rival.

Fevola had already given Carlton breathing space with his seventh goal — turning young Magpie Nathan Brown inside out and snapping around his body — after the Magpies had crept within 17 points with 10 minutes to play. He then executed a strong tackle on Harry O'Brien, wrenching the ball free, to pop a handball over the top for Grigg to hammer the final nail in the Pies' coffin.

It was inspiring stuff, and for a bloke who has regularly carried the can for his lack of defensive pressure, it was hugely symbolic. He did it last week, too, mowing down an Essendon opponent and forcing a turnover for a Carlton goal.

A few more efforts like that, and the sheer quality of Fevola's best work may even start to rank higher in the public consciousness than his drinking exploits and apparent lack of bladder control. You certainly hope so. Because the man is a joy to watch on the field, and, in the zone, close to unstoppable.

Fellow spearhead Matthew Lloyd commented during the week that he thought 80 goals would be enough to win the Coleman Medal this year. Perhaps the Bomber veteran is selling short Fevola, who now has 19 for the season. And then there's "Buddy" Franklin, whose half-dozen for Hawthorn in Launceston yesterday gave him 21.

At that rate, Buddy would finish the regular season with 115, Fev 104. Pretty amazing returns given nobody has managed to top the ton over 22 rounds since Tony Lockett back in 1998.

It's not supposed to happen anymore. Defensive techniques and strategies are better than ever, the concept of one big goalkicker having been on the nose since Fevola won the Coleman two years ago kicking 33% of his team's total as the Blues finished last. The premiership-winning Cats had half-a-dozen 30-plus goalkickers last year, and a leader in Cameron Mooney who kicked just 16% of the season tally.

But wouldn't it be good to see a spearhead kick 100 again, and as part of a successful team?

Franklin and the undefeated Hawthorn certainly appear a good show of defying the modern trend. More four-quarter performances like yesterday's, and who's to say Carlton, too, couldn't thumb its nose at convention?

To a bloke like Fevola who has made an artform of doing so over the years, that would surely appeal. Not to mention the fans who want to see the gun forwards kicking big bags of goals.