Caiphus
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The discussion going on about how damaging Rocky's disposal is has had me thinking about how we might go ranking our list from best to worst in regards to their kicking.
I tried to do it on my own, but ended up getting pretty stumped so I figured we might try a live list where I try to do it based on your input.
Instead of starting of with a ranking I decided to just list all of our players with a short blurb in regards to my opinions on their kicking. My opinions are not set in stone and thought it would be an interesting exercise to open it up to debate for the purpose of the rankings which I will try to update regularly based on the feedback I get in this thread.
1. McGuane Can be effective, but generally unreliable. Technique is erratic
2. Harwood Stabs at the ball too much, can be very effective off a step. Has improved long kicking when he uses proper technique and can be a very good decision maker, but his stabbing technique is prone to massive clangers. High effective disposal % otherwise makes his mistakes stand out like dogs balls.
3. Moloney (Retired) Long bomb but average skills otherwise.
4. Aish Very good kick, but lacks the range and penetration to ever truly be considered elite. Too early to make a definitive call though. Obvious class.
5. Crisp Long and penetrating kick, but accuracy is a problem. Plenty of scope for improvement
6. Green Above average set shot and on the run, lacks penetration in field kicking and is a bit loopy but generally hits the target and kicks to advantage
7. Adcock Neat and tidy at short and medium range, but floats the ball aimlessly at long range especially entering f50.
8. Bewick Very one sided, long kick with good penetration but can be lazy with his style which then deteriorates and results in errors.
9. McGrath (retired) Consistency only barrier to elite footskills
10. Rich Left boot is elite, fairly one sided. Good vision, but could sometimes afford to take safer options.
11. Hanley Very good off both sides, good vision and as good a kick as you could expect to see for a late convert. Occasional complete technical failure can lower effectiveness
12. Martin Kicks as well as can be expected for a late convert ruckman. Has improved ability to play inside limitations and potentially still developing
13. West Does not get enough of the ball around the ground to say whether he is a good field kick or not (potentially he is) Seems to have very good technique for his height and set shots could be good.
14. Staker Reliable field kick, set shot has improved
15. Zorko Can be neat and tidy, penetrating and butcher the ball all in the same game. Kicking seems to have regressed this year so very hard to give a grading.
16. Brown (retired) Elite field kicking for type, Deadeye dick from 35+ out, incosistent at short range
17. Beams has the full repertoire and can do it on both sides, lacks consistency at senior level through disruption of continuity
18. Robertson Technically very good imo, prone to falling apart due to game style and lack of conservation of energy. Long and penetrating kick could be a weapon with added composure and awareness.
19. Lisle Very good field kick when not under pressure and same with set shot, gets flustered easily and technique falls apart
21. Merrett Has a development sine wave rather than a development curve. Extremely frustrating especially after it looked like he had gotten to a point of safe consistency two years ago.
22. Paparone awkward style that appears to be effective, good field kick for height
23. Leuenberger Very good field kick for his height, poor set shot.
24. Patfull Good kick, generally safe but sometimes decides to take inexplicable risks when pushed up the ground.
25. McStay Technically good with distance and penetration has potential to develop into an offensive weapon at both ends of the ground. Very pleased with his set shot.
26. Cutler Potentially elite
27. Gardiner Surprisingly good kick for a tall defender not renowned for his skills, expect that he won’t be a liability with ball in hands in the future and could potentially develop into a rebounding tall.
28. Taylor Lacks penetration at times, but potentially a very good kick once decision making matures
29. Raines Seems technically fine, but kick is erratic probably due to a lack of composure, awareness and game sense.
30. Redden Too much variation between his best and worst kicks, but imo unprecedented ability to continue to develop his weaknesses. Left foot has come ahead in leaps and bounds this year.
31. Polkinghorne Technically very good kick, consistency an issue and decision making a letdown.
32. Mayes Potentially elite, although long kicks could be more penetrating… definitely not floaters just don’t travel through the air as quickly as other top level kicks.
33. Close Set shot very good when routine is followed, gets distracted from routine too easily, should improve as he matures
34. Freeman Technically good set shot, field kicking is an unknown and not enough evidence to say how he responds to pressure
35. Lester Technique has regressed since his draft year, possibly due to injury sustained early in career. Breaks down after physical effort.
36. Maguire Mammoth boot and good skills, sometimes gets bored and tries to much with his kicking for a defender
37. Wearden Good kick untested at AFL level so too hard to say. Suspect his kicking will be poor under body pressure in the seniors but that is just a theory.
38. Rockliff Effective and plays within limitations, is not a long kick but hits targets and kicks to advantage. Sometimes plays too safe.
39. Paine Technique is solid but falls apart under fatigue, and fitness is below average so technique is constantly under the pump.
40. Conway Probably only ever going to be an average kick at most but can improve awareness and decision making
41. Golby Technically good kick with dubious decision making - regressed this year and hard to give a proper judgement.
42. Clarke Inconsistent and he is still trying to find his own measure. Tracking well and probably won’t need to kick so much when we have better users in the backline around him.
43. Hayes I think he is quite good and consistent with good technique, but hard to tell how well he would go under AFL level pressure.
44. Smith Recent convert and a ruckman who is apparently coachable but doubt kicking will ever be a strength
45. Bourke Seems to be pretty skilled for a tall from what I have seen. No obvious flaws with his technique and seems to be a good decision maker.
46. Michael have doubts over hand eye coordination and technique is not drilled enough to be innate, have doubts over his ability to improve.
47. O’Brien Good technique and neat skills which appear to break down under physical and perceived pressure - should come good once extra mass added to body.
I tried to do it on my own, but ended up getting pretty stumped so I figured we might try a live list where I try to do it based on your input.
Instead of starting of with a ranking I decided to just list all of our players with a short blurb in regards to my opinions on their kicking. My opinions are not set in stone and thought it would be an interesting exercise to open it up to debate for the purpose of the rankings which I will try to update regularly based on the feedback I get in this thread.
1. McGuane Can be effective, but generally unreliable. Technique is erratic
2. Harwood Stabs at the ball too much, can be very effective off a step. Has improved long kicking when he uses proper technique and can be a very good decision maker, but his stabbing technique is prone to massive clangers. High effective disposal % otherwise makes his mistakes stand out like dogs balls.
3. Moloney (Retired) Long bomb but average skills otherwise.
4. Aish Very good kick, but lacks the range and penetration to ever truly be considered elite. Too early to make a definitive call though. Obvious class.
5. Crisp Long and penetrating kick, but accuracy is a problem. Plenty of scope for improvement
6. Green Above average set shot and on the run, lacks penetration in field kicking and is a bit loopy but generally hits the target and kicks to advantage
7. Adcock Neat and tidy at short and medium range, but floats the ball aimlessly at long range especially entering f50.
8. Bewick Very one sided, long kick with good penetration but can be lazy with his style which then deteriorates and results in errors.
9. McGrath (retired) Consistency only barrier to elite footskills
10. Rich Left boot is elite, fairly one sided. Good vision, but could sometimes afford to take safer options.
11. Hanley Very good off both sides, good vision and as good a kick as you could expect to see for a late convert. Occasional complete technical failure can lower effectiveness
12. Martin Kicks as well as can be expected for a late convert ruckman. Has improved ability to play inside limitations and potentially still developing
13. West Does not get enough of the ball around the ground to say whether he is a good field kick or not (potentially he is) Seems to have very good technique for his height and set shots could be good.
14. Staker Reliable field kick, set shot has improved
15. Zorko Can be neat and tidy, penetrating and butcher the ball all in the same game. Kicking seems to have regressed this year so very hard to give a grading.
16. Brown (retired) Elite field kicking for type, Deadeye dick from 35+ out, incosistent at short range
17. Beams has the full repertoire and can do it on both sides, lacks consistency at senior level through disruption of continuity
18. Robertson Technically very good imo, prone to falling apart due to game style and lack of conservation of energy. Long and penetrating kick could be a weapon with added composure and awareness.
19. Lisle Very good field kick when not under pressure and same with set shot, gets flustered easily and technique falls apart
21. Merrett Has a development sine wave rather than a development curve. Extremely frustrating especially after it looked like he had gotten to a point of safe consistency two years ago.
22. Paparone awkward style that appears to be effective, good field kick for height
23. Leuenberger Very good field kick for his height, poor set shot.
24. Patfull Good kick, generally safe but sometimes decides to take inexplicable risks when pushed up the ground.
25. McStay Technically good with distance and penetration has potential to develop into an offensive weapon at both ends of the ground. Very pleased with his set shot.
26. Cutler Potentially elite
27. Gardiner Surprisingly good kick for a tall defender not renowned for his skills, expect that he won’t be a liability with ball in hands in the future and could potentially develop into a rebounding tall.
28. Taylor Lacks penetration at times, but potentially a very good kick once decision making matures
29. Raines Seems technically fine, but kick is erratic probably due to a lack of composure, awareness and game sense.
30. Redden Too much variation between his best and worst kicks, but imo unprecedented ability to continue to develop his weaknesses. Left foot has come ahead in leaps and bounds this year.
31. Polkinghorne Technically very good kick, consistency an issue and decision making a letdown.
32. Mayes Potentially elite, although long kicks could be more penetrating… definitely not floaters just don’t travel through the air as quickly as other top level kicks.
33. Close Set shot very good when routine is followed, gets distracted from routine too easily, should improve as he matures
34. Freeman Technically good set shot, field kicking is an unknown and not enough evidence to say how he responds to pressure
35. Lester Technique has regressed since his draft year, possibly due to injury sustained early in career. Breaks down after physical effort.
36. Maguire Mammoth boot and good skills, sometimes gets bored and tries to much with his kicking for a defender
37. Wearden Good kick untested at AFL level so too hard to say. Suspect his kicking will be poor under body pressure in the seniors but that is just a theory.
38. Rockliff Effective and plays within limitations, is not a long kick but hits targets and kicks to advantage. Sometimes plays too safe.
39. Paine Technique is solid but falls apart under fatigue, and fitness is below average so technique is constantly under the pump.
40. Conway Probably only ever going to be an average kick at most but can improve awareness and decision making
41. Golby Technically good kick with dubious decision making - regressed this year and hard to give a proper judgement.
42. Clarke Inconsistent and he is still trying to find his own measure. Tracking well and probably won’t need to kick so much when we have better users in the backline around him.
43. Hayes I think he is quite good and consistent with good technique, but hard to tell how well he would go under AFL level pressure.
44. Smith Recent convert and a ruckman who is apparently coachable but doubt kicking will ever be a strength
45. Bourke Seems to be pretty skilled for a tall from what I have seen. No obvious flaws with his technique and seems to be a good decision maker.
46. Michael have doubts over hand eye coordination and technique is not drilled enough to be innate, have doubts over his ability to improve.
47. O’Brien Good technique and neat skills which appear to break down under physical and perceived pressure - should come good once extra mass added to body.
