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The Age -Michael Gleeson
MATTHEW Boyd has long laboured on his kicking. Yesterday, the Bulldogs captain and his coach admitted he had more work do yet after a game in which he had 20 kicks but only six of them got where he wanted them to go.
Boyd admitted fatigue, and the natural consequence of the inside the pack position he played meant that his kicking was sloppy - but he conceded his 30 per cent kicking efficiency was poor. Twice, under no pressure, he grubbed the ball along the ground.
''Thirty per cent? Yeah obviously I would like to kick the ball a bit better. I think fatigue came in towards the end and I kicked a couple off the end of the toe.
''We all want to play better and execute better, and I want to execute better and I don't think I will lose any sleep over the fact I missed a few kicks.
''I will work on it and get better,'' Boyd said after the 49-point loss to the Eagles in their season opener at Etihad Stadium yesterday.
''It's a product of the position you play as well. I like to think I am in tight and getting a bit of contested ball.
''It's round one and the heat of the game takes its toll on the body. No excuses but fatigue set in late and I was cramping in both legs and that takes a bit of the polish off your game. We will work on it. It wasn't great in terms of myself for disposal efficiency, but I will work on it and try and get better.''
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney defended Boyd's game on the grounds of fatigue but admitted he would doubtless reflect on his disposal.
''He is a professional, he is a fantastic person and has been a great player for a long time and he will go home tonight and dissect where he can get better and that might bob up in his own mind,'' McCartney said.
Boyd was also industrious in the packs and had 10 clearances and his disposal by hand was far more efficient - of 18 handballs, 14 hit their mark.
The Bulldogs stuck with the Eagles for three quarters but after being five points down midway through the third term, the Eagles kicked nine unanswered goals to break the game open. Josh Kennedy booted seven for the Eagles while Dogs debutant Clay Smith booted four in three quarters before suffering ''full body cramp'' and needing to be substituted out of the game.
Young midfielder Christian Howard injured his left knee in the last term and is expected to miss four weeks after straining his medial ligament. Ryan Griffen is expected to be fit to return to the side next week.
McCartney said that while he was disappointed the game opened out he was also pleased to be close until midway through the third quarter.
''I think as a coaching group you can't move away from the fact that is where the game was at. And why was the game at that stage? Because we were doing a lot right as a group … the team was functioning well,'' he said
''Why did it open up? That's what coaching is about. We will be optimistic with this group and certainly on the positive side with them and that won't be airy-fairy fluffy-duffy stuff. I think we will identify some fundamentals to team defence that will help us.
''I like our young players. I think there's a lot of upside in them and they all showed glimpses today …''
MATTHEW Boyd has long laboured on his kicking. Yesterday, the Bulldogs captain and his coach admitted he had more work do yet after a game in which he had 20 kicks but only six of them got where he wanted them to go.
Boyd admitted fatigue, and the natural consequence of the inside the pack position he played meant that his kicking was sloppy - but he conceded his 30 per cent kicking efficiency was poor. Twice, under no pressure, he grubbed the ball along the ground.
''Thirty per cent? Yeah obviously I would like to kick the ball a bit better. I think fatigue came in towards the end and I kicked a couple off the end of the toe.
''We all want to play better and execute better, and I want to execute better and I don't think I will lose any sleep over the fact I missed a few kicks.
''I will work on it and get better,'' Boyd said after the 49-point loss to the Eagles in their season opener at Etihad Stadium yesterday.
''It's a product of the position you play as well. I like to think I am in tight and getting a bit of contested ball.
''It's round one and the heat of the game takes its toll on the body. No excuses but fatigue set in late and I was cramping in both legs and that takes a bit of the polish off your game. We will work on it. It wasn't great in terms of myself for disposal efficiency, but I will work on it and try and get better.''
Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney defended Boyd's game on the grounds of fatigue but admitted he would doubtless reflect on his disposal.
''He is a professional, he is a fantastic person and has been a great player for a long time and he will go home tonight and dissect where he can get better and that might bob up in his own mind,'' McCartney said.
Boyd was also industrious in the packs and had 10 clearances and his disposal by hand was far more efficient - of 18 handballs, 14 hit their mark.
The Bulldogs stuck with the Eagles for three quarters but after being five points down midway through the third term, the Eagles kicked nine unanswered goals to break the game open. Josh Kennedy booted seven for the Eagles while Dogs debutant Clay Smith booted four in three quarters before suffering ''full body cramp'' and needing to be substituted out of the game.
Young midfielder Christian Howard injured his left knee in the last term and is expected to miss four weeks after straining his medial ligament. Ryan Griffen is expected to be fit to return to the side next week.
McCartney said that while he was disappointed the game opened out he was also pleased to be close until midway through the third quarter.
''I think as a coaching group you can't move away from the fact that is where the game was at. And why was the game at that stage? Because we were doing a lot right as a group … the team was functioning well,'' he said
''Why did it open up? That's what coaching is about. We will be optimistic with this group and certainly on the positive side with them and that won't be airy-fairy fluffy-duffy stuff. I think we will identify some fundamentals to team defence that will help us.
''I like our young players. I think there's a lot of upside in them and they all showed glimpses today …''
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