doggies4eva wrote:one thing that I have noted in the AFL is the improved skill levels of players kicking for goal. It seems that these days many players have a variety of kicks at their disposal to suit certain conditions. For example the number of players that can regularly score a goal from a position on the boundary close to the point post which bounces through is impressive to say the least.
I hadn't noticed any improved kicking for goal ... certainly the scoreboards don't indicate this, there is just as high a % of behinds booted these days as ever, if not more. Maybe it's the plethora of players who miss from 20 metres out straight in front that is fooling me.
A greater "variety" of kicks? Do today's player use the torpedo, the drop kick, the flat punt? All those kicks were used to boot goals, the droppie used for longer distances, etc. We always had players who could bounce balls through such as Peter Daicos and Gary Buckenara, it's nothing new.
I was interested in an interview I heard with Peter Hudson a couple of weeks ago. For those who don't know, Hudson booted more goals than anyone in football history (Victoria, Tasmania) with well over 2,000 goals. He was a freak who averages more goals per game than anyone in VFL/AFL history.
He played in an era where it was the forward's job to kick goals, and the moment they would take possession they would also take ownership of the responsibility to kick a goal, not pass off to someone else.
He claims that he never had to kick a checkside because he could make the flat punt float from right to left, or left to right, depending on the circumstances, and that the flat punt was a more reliable and accurate kick than the checkside punt.
He went on to say that despite the modern player's increased skill level (I don't necessarily agree with that), he is staggered that kicking for goal hasn't progressed. The second part I wholeheartedly agree with.
He pointed out the glaring faults in the moder player's technique when lining up for goal. This is something I've been on about for years. I actually blame this practice of trying to bounce goals through with the outstep or instep of the boot as a contributing factor. Players rarely kick right through the ball any more.
I would also add that the main reason Peter Hudson never had to kick checksides is because the game was far more direct, and players didn't kick into the pockets for space like they do these days. Straighten the game up, and goalkicking will become easier.