I think the issue is most key forwards don't do a heap in their first 3-4 years, regardless of whether they end up being delisted a couple of years later or go on to be stars. Tom Hawkins, Jack Riewoldt, Josh Kennedy all averaged 1-1.5 goals a game in their first 3 years. But then so did Shane Kersten or even other high draft picks like Jon Patton or Tom Boyd.
I'd rather have McDonald than Neale. But I also think you can't use limited stats form so early on to prove that either are or aren't going to make it.
True, it's very hard to tell with most KPFs. And I agree it's hard (if not impossible) to make much of a call with limited stats.
My point was that there's all this noise around McDonald while we're telling someone who's had much less opportunity - and has NOT performed that badly - to rack off.
As for one over the other? Sure, McDonald may be better - he was pick #4 in the 2020 draft compared to Neale at #33. He was obviously one of the best KP prospects (btw, Sydney had 3 top 5 picks across 2019/2020...we'd kill for just a single top 5,but I digress). But right now, there's not a whole lot between the two other than the form of their respective teams.