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  1. #1
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    It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    It isn't just the misses.

    It's what they mean to the players who miss AND the rest of the team.

    Naughts and Bont have a serious problem right now. Fixing it will NOT be easy. They literally had ALL summer to fix it and they made zero progress...but now, well, now it's impacting everyone.

    It impacts the players down the ground (ball in hand) - they simply don't want to release it by foot.
    It impacts the players down the ground (defensively). - they WILL NOT press as they are worried about the rebound...which kills our second chance opportunities.

    It impacts the players themselves - they wont lead straight up...they literally do not want easy shots on goal...because when you miss from there, well....

    I get it - the comments about it being 'MORE' than the shots on goal...I mean, they're fundamentally right. But the misses - the repeated misses - they suck the life out the team, out of the group and pushing 30m across to support suddenly feels just 5% less important...and once that starts happening, it's over.

    Compare that to Richmond literally rising as one when Riewoldt kicked one from outside 50m as time expired...I hate to say it but he is a champion player who understands the moment.
    What should I tell her? She's going to ask.

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  3. #2
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    I think just hit the nail on the head mjp.
    If the team is busting a gut to get the ball in a scoring position the constant misses have to take some sort of mental toll.
    Bevo tells us that all the forwards do plenty of goal kicking practice and if that is the case then that practice needs to be looked at.
    Weather its how they practice or who is running the practice. Is it supervised or is player lead.
    Time may come from management to hire a park time specialist coach for the forward group to work on their deficiencies.
    Don't piss off old people
    The older we get the less "LIFE IN PRISON" is a deterrent...

  4. #3
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Should Naughton just change his technique to a snap regardless of where he is? He’s clearly not improving as a set shot, something needs to change.

  5. #4
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Free Throws, my biggest bug bear. From a basketball background I cannot fathom how professional players cannot make FT's. I never played at any high level but I sat at there for hours practicing FT's because I knew one day it would help me. My team one a local GF on the back of me icing my shots.

    Now enough about me these are professional footballers. It is completely inexcusable to miss so many. Normally I go to defence and say we don't get good shots or they're rushed and some of them were last night. Lot's of them were set shots, lots of them were wide open shots on the run. It is woeful! Hands up who thought Lachie Hunter would miss after the gimme 50M he got. I know I did. I walked out of the room to put my empty beer can in the bin saying "He'll f^&*$ miss it"

    Goal kicking has been an issue for a long time as MJP said it has not been addressed. Miss easy goals and someone shanks a torp from outside 50 and it goes through, that breaks any heart you have left. Beveridge said in the presser he does not want to address it? Why the hell not? These are professional footballers, missing an easy goal is just as bad as a miss kick in play and player x who does that miss kick will be yelled at during the huddle. Stop mollycoddling these insecure athletes and put the dam heat on them to perform!

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  7. #5
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Naughts, Bont, Treloar, Smith, Dunkley, Hunter… yeah, it’s a good call. Bont has actually improved his goal kicking a lot the last few years. Last night an exception not the rule.

  8. #6
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Free throws are a gimme. If you can't shoot free throws you're a sucker.
    "It's over. It's all over."

  9. #7
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    There were alot of shots last night from various players that were long range and excusable to an extent, but both Naughton and Bont had gettable shots inside 50, that missed. 2.3 and 1.3 that is 6 that could have been at least halved and made a difference.

    The players do practise goal kicking at training, but in a match there are other pressures and it starts to get into their.

    I am convinced goal kicking accuracy is got to do with above the shoulder.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  10. #8
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    There were alot of shots last night from various players that were long range and excusable to an extent, but both Naughton and Bont had gettable shots inside 50, that missed. 2.3 and 1.3 that is 6 that could have been at least halved and made a difference.

    The players do practise goal kicking at training, but in a match there are other pressures and it starts to get into their.

    I am convinced goal kicking accuracy is got to do with above the shoulder.
    It is but the technique and leg strength for some of the players are contributing factors as well.
    Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"

  11. #9
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    There were alot of shots last night from various players that were long range and excusable to an extent, but both Naughton and Bont had gettable shots inside 50, that missed. 2.3 and 1.3 that is 6 that could have been at least halved and made a difference.

    The players do practise goal kicking at training, but in a match there are other pressures and it starts to get into their.

    I am convinced goal kicking accuracy is got to do with above the shoulder.
    It is definitely poor technique. For example, against Sydney, Naughton kicked a very good goal from a significant distance. Shortly after, he missed to the left with a set shot from much closer. His body stance was obviously very different from where I was sitting. In the first he was over the ball and kicked through it. In the second he was leaning back. It was a repeat of Bruce in 2020. Needs to practise kicking from 30, 35 then 40 m with his right foot to refocus body alignment.

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  13. #10
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Quote Originally Posted by GVGjr View Post
    It is but the technique and leg strength for some of the players are contributing factors as well.
    Quote Originally Posted by Danjul View Post
    It is definitely poor technique. For example, against Sydney, Naughton kicked a very good goal from a significant distance. Shortly after, he missed to the left with a set shot from much closer. His body stance was obviously very different from where I was sitting. In the first he was over the ball and kicked through it. In the second he was leaning back. It was a repeat of Bruce in 2020. Needs to practise kicking from 30, 35 then 40 m with his right foot to refocus body alignment.
    Technique issues has to do with the way you approach your shots. You have to go through your routine in your head and make sure you have it right. Bont's three misses were not set shots, they were on the run, but Naughton's were set shots and as Danjul says he didn't set up right.
    FFC: Established 1883

    Premierships: AFL 1954, 2016 VFA - 1898,99,1900, 1908, 1913, 1919-20, 1923-24, VFL: 2014, 2016 . Champions of Victoria 1924. AFLW - 2018.

  14. #11
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Quote Originally Posted by bornadog View Post
    Technique issues has to do with the way you approach your shots. You have to go through your routine in your head and make sure you have it right. Bont's three misses were not set shots, they were on the run, but Naughton's were set shots and as Danjul says he didn't set up right.
    Bont also has no problems with his leg strength. He missed his options to inspire the team as the captain.
    Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"

  15. #12
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Naughton is always going to be 50/50 no matter where he is. Actually I’d rather see him kicking from 55 than 25.
    I will never see #16 the same!!

  16. #13
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    I think it's a secondary thing. With the Western Bulldogs there is always this thing that we don't belong there, or don't deserve it.

    As in the original post, it just takes that one goal to lift and get a tail up.
    But fail to miss that and things start to sag. Resiliance!

    Set shots have to be taken with the right technique.
    It's natural, young people
    Maybe to be in the best 22 players have to pass a mid week kicking exam.
    They have to pass fitness tests, so why not?

    People are being woken up here at 4am to do their testing.
    I've just had my 16th test.
    Be grateful for the chance to get to games, enjoy the sights and smells, get behind the team.
    You don't develop courage by being happy in your relationships every day. You develop it by surviving difficult times and challenging adversity. ― Epicurus

  17. #14
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    I noticed the players on club video practicing goal kicking during the week. There is no point perfecting poor technique. The fault lies at junior level I think where the skills of the game should be paramount. The club has needed a specialist kicking coach for a decade or so. But I do recall an interview some years ago where Leon Cameron reckoned it was almost impossible to correct poor kicking by the time players were drafted. Not sure Bruce Andrews (of the taut instep) would agree.
    If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.

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  19. #15
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    Re: It's a very simple problem - Hit your Free Throws

    Quote Originally Posted by Torpedo View Post
    I noticed the players on club video practicing goal kicking during the week. There is no point perfecting poor technique. The fault lies at junior level I think where the skills of the game should be paramount. The club has needed a specialist kicking coach for a decade or so. But I do recall an interview some years ago where Leon Cameron reckoned it was almost impossible to correct poor kicking by the time players were drafted. Not sure Bruce Andrews (of the taut instep) would agree.
    For someone like Naughton as a junior he was a strong marking back with great defensive awareness. His job was probably to mainly kick the ball sideways to the better users who would run and carry the ball forward and not be aiming for goals.
    His kicking was awkward but effective in that role and his character and confidence shone through.

    By chance at a practice game at Ballarat he was moved forward and he has performed very well there and except for his set shot conversions it's been a positive move. I'm not sure the coaching at the junior level is to blame.

    While I think Leon is somewhat correct in his assessment I do think we could improve Naughton's goal kicking. It might not come naturally to him but even a 20% improvement would be significant.
    Western Bulldogs Football Club "Where it's cool to drool"

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