Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

It's a balance thing. I kick on my left although almost everything else I do is right dominated-all but throw a ball underarm, I'm left handed with that too. I just find it hard to settle, think and make the conscious decision to kick the ball right foot and then readjust my balance and weight to that side of my body. It's far easier to take a few more steps and try and get back onto my left foot.

Having said that if my job centred on kicking a footy, I'm sure I'd make the adjustment.

That's why this stuff has to be taught at a young age and just drummed in via repetition. I am a natural right-footer, but (in soccer) got caught by a coach when I was quite young and forced to learn to be two-footed, especially since I play in the middle of the park. I remember a couple of years of a lot of training away from the main group just banging the ball in all types of situations with my left foot over and over and over to build the technique, balance and strength into it, but more importantly, to get my brain to accept it as natural. (I was already a free-kick and corner taker with my right even at that age, so my right foot was quite well-developed -- I remember the step-by-step building of my left-foot technique, which was basically learning to mirror what I did on my right.)

I still hit the dead-ball with my right foot, but in general play I don't even think twice about using either foot. I can't imagine starting to learn it as an adult though -- kids are so much more flexible with this stuff and it still took me a good two to three years of solid work to even be able to think about using it in competition, and this despite actually being ambidextrous (I play tennis and write with either hand). If your technique is flawed by the time you enter the AFL it's a little bit late I think, especially at that level of competition where the pressure is intense and there is just no time or space to think.

[Twodogs]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

I got my right foot caught in a swing when I was just a kid and broke almost every bone in it. I had to teach myself to kick left foot when I was 11 or 12 but I never went back even after my right foot was completely healed.

I notice when I'm playing soccer with my 13 yo that my right foot has a lot more power than my left with dead balls but I have to time it just right. I cant just kick it as hard as I can-it's about 70-80 % power and take more time to balance and aim. I can curl a soccer ball with my left foot better though.

[chef]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

It is when you have a young family.

Or when you live 3 hours away.

[Bornadog]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Or when you live 3 hours away.

No excuse

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Yes it is as public transport does not service a lot of country areas after 5 or 6 pm so that means a very long drive home after the footy. I hate the twilight time of games. Even living in W'bee you don't get home until 1 and a half hours after the match finishes if you travel on public transport as there are only special footy trains on the Watergardens line in the western suburbs!!!!!

[LostDoggy]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Oh, FFS, the club syncophants amongst us can stop pretending that 4.30 on Sunday is not the worst time to play or watch football. How many games do you see Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn, or Carlton playing at 4.30 on Sunday?

It's the shithole of the schedule, and accordingly, we spend most of our time in it.

[Maddog37]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Continual shit scheduling has me questioning my membership value.

[Greystache]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Oh, FFS, the club syncophants amongst us can stop pretending that 4.30 on Sunday is not the worst time to play or watch football. How many games do you see Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn, or Carlton playing at 4.30 on Sunday?

It's the shithole of the schedule, and accordingly, we spend most of our time in it.

So far we've played 2, Collingwood has played 1.

1 each have been home games.

[GVGjr]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Boy it is great to see the love for Wallis and Addison coming through now. It would be a very interesting exercise to go back and see who was positive about them last season, compared to those who have simply jumped on the band wagon this season.

Wonder who will suddenly come good next year?

[Bornadog]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Boy it is great to see the love for Wallis and Addison coming through now. It would be a very interesting exercise to go back and see who was positive about them last season, compared to those who have simply jumped on the band wagon this season.

Wonder who will suddenly come good next year?

I will say that I have not been sold on Addison, but he has been solid without being a star and is doing the job the coach is asking him to do.

[Mantis]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Boy it is great to see the love for Wallis and Addison coming through now. It would be a very interesting exercise to go back and see who was positive about them last season, compared to those who have simply jumped on the band wagon this season.

Wonder who will suddenly come good next year?

Addison is the same player he was last year, but he has gotten an opportunity due to injuries and is doing ok. I doubt he would be playing if our defence was at full strength.

Wallis has improved which was always going to happen for a 2nd year player, but he still has along way to go.

[azabob]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Wallis has improved which was always going to happen for a 2nd year player, but he still has along way to go.

What is Wallis biggest area for improvement?

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Wallis is doing bloody well for such a young player.

[Mantis]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

What is Wallis biggest area for improvement?

Ball use.

Lots of little handballs at present to guys who aren't in a better position than he is, just needs to improve his composure to find the best option... I guess this goes against the learnings of taking the 1st option, but the very good players use the ball to the teams advantage more than what Mitch does at present.

In saying that he is certainly showing he has some great tools & attributes to work with.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Bankers and Anchors - Round 12

Ball use.

Lots of little handballs at present to guys who aren't in a better position than he is, just needs to improve his composure to find the best option... I guess this goes against the learnings of taking the 1st option, but the very good players use the ball to the teams advantage more than what Mitch does at present.

In saying that he is certainly showing he has some great tools & attributes to work with.

Yeah so far he's pretty much just a handballer.
You can see his first reaction is to pick the ball up and handball it in the same diving action on most occasions. Needs composure to know when to do that and to actually take the ball and create by himself by foot.

Just take a look at this article pre drafting, and in Mitch's own assesment of his game, he compares himself to Joel Selwood, and inside and outside midfielder who can create, and is efficient.
Mitch Wallis


His stats from the 2010 u/18 champs also indicate that he kicks and handballs a simlar amount. From his 9 game AFL career he averages 8.4 kicks, 13.9 handballs, that is very Daniel Cross like in comparison, not the stats of someone who is an inside and outside midfielder.