Adam Hunter

[bodazoka]

What do we do with this bloke... he attacks the footy 100% can take a massive hanger at least once a game adds defensive pressure inside the forward 50 is a proven goal kicker has the ability to swing back and help out in defence....

Yet when it counts he cant kick it through the big sticks. Its so frustrating that we have a bloke like McKinley who needs to do all the things Hunter does and can kick straight and we have Hunter who does all the right things but then cant kick straight, mould the 2 together (and give it two more inches in height) and we have a gun forward.

If Hunter gets his first kick through the sticks early in the game you can breathe a sigh of relief because you know he has the kicking boots on. If he misses (and there usually very bad misses) then you almost feel like taking him off the ground and replacing him because you know when he gets the chance he will miss.

Vs Port 0 goals 3 behinds
Vs Saints 2 goals 0 behinds
Vs Bulldogs 3 goals 0 behinds
Vs Hawthorn 1 goal 3 behinds (and 2 complete misses)

I dont mind having him in the forward line because of all the positives mentioned above but his worst is so bad I dont think we can rely on him to be a focal point in attack because we dont know what boots he has come to play with. And this has been a constant through out his career so has nothing to do with his injury, besides if he can take the hangers with his shoulder extended like he does/tries to do than he obviously should be right to then go and kick a goal.

So should we leave him in the forward line - Yes.
Should we use him as a focal point in the forward line - I dont know...

 

[thesmallprint]

If he misses the first shot, swap him with Brown!

 

[RoJo Junior]

I know his kicking for goal has been pretty bad. His specialty is kicking the one from right on the boundary line. I guess you can take some solace out of it knowing that when he marks it, it means that the opposition isnt rebounding it down the other end for a goal.

I dont think he'll be played in defence again unless we're desperate.

 

[Makka]

Yeah, to be honest I don't mind having him in the forward line. We all know he's good at a pack mark, even with his dodgy shoulder at the moment. And as RoJo mentioned, would rather him having a shot than the opposition rebounding. He's a big target up forward.

 

[Auric Goldfinger]

personally i still dont think he's quite 100%...

hopefully he can ease back in and then become more consistent and then towards the end of the season become a real danger player

 

[adagio]

I like him in the forward line and I think as the season goes on his kicking will improve. It's the first time he's really been used as a full-time forward, and he's probably still getting used to the pressures that come with that.

The problem I do have with him is his size and the fact he's probably still not 100%. While he'll be serviceable, he won't be the power forward we need.

 

[Trouto]

every time he marks in the 50, he should wait till LeCras is standing next to him them fake a hammy injury ;-)

 

[KamakazeSalami]

I think he's been good for us up forward. Forward line certainly has a bit more grunt to it with him there. Will keep his defender honest and give every contest a red hot go. He'll gain more confidence and consistency in goal kicking as the season goes on. I dont think he'll ever be the 70+ goal kicking super forward, but IMO he is gives our forwardline a bit of mongrel which we need. Bit of crash and bash and stand on someone's head while ripping out a speccy.

 

[no1bankteller]

The thing with Adam is that he used to be a very decent shot at goal its only in the last few years that his accuracy has dropped.

I hope he gets his kicking boot back.

D

 

[bodazoka]

The thing with Adam is that he used to be a very decent shot at goal its only in the last few years that his accuracy has dropped.

I hope he gets his kicking boot back.

D

2002 - 66% 6 Goals 3
2003 - 33% 4 Goals 8
2004 - 12.5% 1 Goal 8
2005 - 77% 14 Goals 4
2006 - 69% 29 Goals 13
2007 - 66% 14 Goals 7
2008 - 53% 8 Goals 7
2009 - 50% 6 Goals 6

So during 05/06/07 he hovered around 70% which is a great accuracy rate, unfortunately you cant count complete misses and there would of been quite a few of them as well. My main problem with Hunter is not his accuracy rate its the shots he misses that he should not have missed and the inconsistency, sure you can kick 4 behinds in one game and 4 straight goals in another and end up with a 50% accuracy rate but if you had of kicked 2.2 in both games (eg against Hawthorn) you may of walked out with the win. IMO kicking the 4 goals in the second game doesnt make up for the first and doesnt mean you automatically win that game off your own boot.

 

[bodazoka]

I dont mind him in the forward line for the time being.. but if he is a focal point and taking oppertunites away from LeCras then I have a problem with it.

 

[spuzza]

personally i still dont think he's quite 100%...

hopefully he can ease back in and then become more consistent and then towards the end of the season become a real danger player

Totally agree with you, looks like the shoulder is still troubling him. Doesn't look comfortable when he lifts his arms.

 

[Eagle Ant]

He should be resting it.
Why we do this with players is beyond me.
We did it to Cox and Glass last year Judd the year before and now with Hunter this year It doesn't work.
Oh and the whole it wont make it worse crap doesn't fly.

Give the bloke time to recover properly as we may need him later in the year.
God forbid we get hit with mass injuries again.