Our Field Kicking

[Sedat]

Re: Our Field Kicking

I would love to see the great C.Grant impart his magnificent left sided kicking knowledge to young J.Grant.

If not Granty, he could always ask Leon Cameron - between those two, you have elite kicking on your non-preferred well and truly covered.

Say we tracked at a standard 75% kicking efficiency on Friday night instead of an abysmal 60-odd. Bearing in mind that many of these kicking errors were under no pressure, and considering that we smashed Essendon in the clearances, it's not a stretch to suggest that we win the game (we'd have kicked 4-5 additional goals in the 3rd qtr from inside 50 entries alone) and there is much less angst out there with supporters and the media alike. Yep, we were absolutely unacceptable in our kicking skill on Friday night, and yes there are a few repeat offenders. But I would be a hell of a lot more worried if we were losing as a result of not getting our hands on the ball and were getting monstered at the stoppages and clearances. That's not to say we have structural problems and specific personnel issues that need refinement. But I'd suggest we will lose 8 of the next 12 games minimum if we track at such a low kicking efficiency level every week from here on in. I'm not sweeping the issue under the carpet but it was so poor and so low that Friday night was more of an anomoly with regard to this issue and should be treated as such.

[chef]

Re: Our Field Kicking

If his turnovers in the middle of the ground cost goals is this a problem?

Anyone else think this is becoming critical(Harbrows kicking turnovers in the middle of the ground) or I am just focusing to much on one part of the problem. I would like to see him start hand passing to someone with better foot skills.

[Mantis]

Re: Our Field Kicking

Anyone else think this is becoming critical (Harbrows kicking turnovers in the middle of the ground) or I am just focusing to much on one part of the problem. I would to see him start hand passing to someone with better foot skills.

Who might that be? Gilbee is one, who else?

[chef]

Re: Our Field Kicking

Who might that be? Gilbee is one, who else?

3/4's of the team would have better foot skills than Harbrow.

[Mantis]

Re: Our Field Kicking

3/4's of the team would have better foot skills than Harbrow.

Bullshit.

Addison - NO.
Morris - NO.
Cross - NO.
Boyd - NO.
Hudson - NO.
Minson - NO.
Eagleton - NO.

Do you want me to continus as there is still a few more to name?

[chef]

Re: Our Field Kicking

Bullshit.

Addison - NO.
Morris - NO.
Cross - NO.
Boyd - NO.
Hudson - NO.
Minson - NO.
Eagleton - NO.

Do you want me to continus as there is still a few more to name?

He needs to know his limitations. Just throwing the ball on your foot and kicking it as far as you can is just not good enough.(maybe 3/4's was an overestimation)

[Greystache]

Re: Our Field Kicking

As an extension to this, what has happened to our goal kicking from general play? 2-3 years ago we were breaking defensive floods apart with running goals from on or outside 50m, but these days almost no one is prepared to have a shot unless they're within 25 metres, and we're constantly trying low percentage passes to to outnumbered players 20m out.

Is it that the leadership group are making such a strong stance on team based football that players are scared of the repercussions of going for goal rather than looking for a team mate, or are the players really down on confidence when it comes to kicking goals on the run?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our Field Kicking

Bullshit.

Addison - NO.
Morris - NO.
Cross - NO.
Boyd - NO.
Hudson - NO.
Minson - NO.
Eagleton - NO.

Do you want me to continus as there is still a few more to name?

First of all, the 3/4 call was a bit of an exaggeration, but:

Comparing a short running player to two big ruckmen is a bit rich, it'd be outrageous if he did have worse skills than them. Ok, he's better than Huddo and Minson...big achievement

I believe Eagleton is a more reliable kick than Harbrow, but he's far from perfect too. This doesn't mean I like Eagleton as a player more than Harbrow, but kicking has been one of Eagleton's strengths. I realise this is an Eagleton bashing board, but seriously, he's not a bad kick.

He may be a better kick than Morris, but at least Morris knows his limitations and barely stuffs up with his kicks. There's no point 'taking the game on' and all that, if you're going to erase the previous good passage of play and turn it straight over. You have to pick your battles.

When Harbrow stuffs up, he's shocking, he rushes his kicks to nowhere in particular...sure, he can do some flashy stuff that looks nice, but really, he's not that good. He's improved from where he's been, but I guess with all this GC stuff going on, we can reasonably expect more than he's given us the past couple of weeks.

[Mantis]

Re: Our Field Kicking

First of all, the 3/4 call was a bit of an exaggeration, but:

Comparing a short running player to two big ruckmen is a bit rich, it'd be outrageous if he did have worse skills than them. Ok, he's better than Huddo and Minson...big achievement

I believe Eagleton is a more reliable kick than Harbrow, but he's far from perfect too. This doesn't mean I like Eagleton as a player more than Harbrow, but kicking has been one of Eagleton's strengths. I realise this is an Eagleton bashing board, but seriously, he's not a bad kick.

He may be a better kick than Morris, but at least Morris knows his limitations and barely stuffs up with his kicks. There's no point 'taking the game on' and all that, if you're going to erase the previous good passage of play and turn it straight over. You have to pick your battles.

When Harbrow stuffs up, he's shocking, he rushes his kicks to nowhere in particular...sure, he can do some flashy stuff that looks nice, but really, he's not that good. He's improved from where he's been, but I guess with all this GC stuff going on, we can reasonably expect more than he's given us the past couple of weeks.

I agree with much of that dg.

Eagleton - the bolded word is the main focus on Eagleton. His kicking was one of his strengths, but it isn't anymore. Eagleton bashing board - Please.

Morris - as with Crossy Dale knows his limitations and plays accordingly (but as per post on Harbrow we need more)

Harbrow - we have no-one in our back half able to take the game on with run and carry bar Harbrow. Addison doesn't, Morris doesn't, Picken when down there doesn't Williams doesn't, etc... Other teams are now a wake up and are putting extra pressure on him as they no he is the player we will use to provide dash from behind the ball. We need others to help him out a little more such that we don't become so reliant on Harbrow. Adding Hargrave and perhaps Wood to the back half may help, but kicking under pressure isn't their great strengths either.

[Ozza]

Re: Our Field Kicking

I think some posters are being a little harsh on Harbrow's kicking.

Yes he makes some errors. But by the same token - he generally takes the lion share of the pressure kicks - which are both kicks in - and from deep in defence. He rarely makes an error in either situation - and I can cop the occasional error when he does stream out of defence. Skill errors are a part of the game (and part of the players being human!) - decision errors are what frustrates me - and generally Harbrow's decisions are pretty good.

[Ozza]

Re: Our Field Kicking

I agree with much of that dg.

Eagleton - the bolded word is the main focus on Eagleton. His kicking was one of his strengths, but it isn't anymore. Eagleton bashing board - Please.

Morris - as with Crossy Dale knows his limitations and plays accordingly (but as per post on Harbrow we need more)

Harbrow - we have no-one in our back half able to take the game on with run and carry bar Harbrow. Addison doesn't, Morris doesn't, Picken when down there doesn't Williams doesn't, etc... Other teams are now a wake up and are putting extra pressure on him as they no he is the player we will use to provide dash from behind the ball. We need others to help him out a little more such that we don't become so reliant on Harbrow. Adding Hargrave and perhaps Wood to the back half may help, but kicking under pressure isn't their great strengths either.

To add to this - often on the footy field, you are only as good as the options ahead of you make it. The half forwards were ordinary yesterday and last week - and without them working hard to provide an option, when Harbrow is dashing out of defence his kick becomes tougher.

Its harder to hit up half forwards when Bob Murphy is not there taking 8-10 grabs every week and working his opponent over. Thats why Bob is so important.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our Field Kicking

I agree with much of that dg.

Eagleton - the bolded word is the main focus on Eagleton. His kicking was one of his strengths, but it isn't anymore. Eagleton bashing board - Please.

Morris - as with Crossy Dale knows his limitations and plays accordingly (but as per post on Harbrow we need more)

Harbrow - we have no-one in our back half able to take the game on with run and carry bar Harbrow. Addison doesn't, Morris doesn't, Picken when down there doesn't Williams doesn't, etc... Other teams are now a wake up and are putting extra pressure on him as they no he is the player we will use to provide dash from behind the ball. We need others to help him out a little more such that we don't become so reliant on Harbrow. Adding Hargrave and perhaps Wood to the back half may help, but kicking under pressure isn't their great strengths either.

Yeah fair calls, I'm just a bit emotional after all of this build up...I've just pulled out my Round 20 2006 v Adelaide tape... It might just make it worse though.

As far as Eagleton goes, I agree he's not what he used to be, but I don't think he gets the respect he deserves either. I've never been a big fan of his, but I think he has a few credit points up his sleeve before we go calling for his retirement. I'd be interested to see his kicking efficiency stats over 2010 compared to his career.

I guess I just see Gilbee as taking as many 'pressure kicks' as Harbrow does and doing it very well for the most part. In fairness, he does have more experience than Harbrow, but he's always had a good kick on him. I respect Harbrow for how he puts his head over the ball and backs himself, but if he wants to be elite he's got to get some composure to match it...either that or find someone else to share the load with. Everitt? I don't know, but something needs to happen...and fairly quickly would be nice.

As Ozza raised, our leads are really awful. One of the things I noticed most from last night was Collingwood's constant running around to make leads. It happened at every kick out and they were easily let outside of our forward half...yet when we had the ball, we had no options. Really frustrating.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Our Field Kicking

As Ozza raised, our leads are really awful. One of the things I noticed most from last night was Collingwood's constant running around to make leads. It happened at every kick out and they were easily let outside of our forward half...yet when we had the ball, we had no options. Really frustrating.

This is a funny one, and happens quite a bit with certain teams. I don't understand how elite players in a sport where space is your currency can just stand still (or jog lazily) from a dead ball situation (like a kick in). Apart from the fact that teams should have a million set plays, so if no one is moving it means something has fallen down somewhere, but even so, a players' natural instinct is to run around to get space on your opponent, so if movement has stopped, does this mean that the team has given up, or is everyone just buggered, or handing off responsibility and hoping that someone else will step up and make a play? I don't really understand this one.

[chef]

Re: Our Field Kicking

This is a funny one, and happens quite a bit with certain teams. I don't understand how elite players in a sport where space is your currency can just stand still (or jog lazily) from a dead ball situation (like a kick in). Apart from the fact that teams should have a million set plays, so if no one is moving it means something has fallen down somewhere, but even so, a players' natural instinct is to run around to get space on your opponent, so if movement has stopped, does this mean that the team has given up, or is everyone just buggered, or handing off responsibility and hoping that someone else will step up and make a play? I don't really understand this one.

At one stage yesterday we had the ball in the back pocket and there would have been at least 6 players level or behind the ball(within 5-10 meters) just standing there not moving