Opinion Best Dons kick for goal in any situation you've seen in your time

[Pweter]

Just watching the 93 PF on Fox and saw something that got me thinking.

Any player, any situation, ground ball, set shot from the fence, in front, clutch shot, who's the best shot for goal you've seen in your time following the Dons.

The 93 PF has me thinking Bewick could be that man in my time following Essendon since 1983. Set shot, snap on either foot on all sorts of angles, on the run, he was just super reliable.

Who's your pick?

 

[fairbump_playon]

Just watching the 93 PF on Fox and saw something that got me thinking.

Any player, any situation, ground ball, set shot from the fence, in front, clutch shot, who's the best shot for goal you've seen in your time following the Dons.

The 93 PF has me thinking Bewick could be that man in my time following Essendon since 1983. Set shot, snap on either foot on all sorts of angles, on the run, he was just super reliable.

Who's your pick?

That PF I was 15 and at my first ever game in Melb. What an introduction.

Was sitting in to top tier of the Great Southern Stand directly behind Bewick when he kicked that drop punt set shot in the last.

Hard to go past him. But how much does Lloyd’s set shot brilliance count for?

 

[Pweter]

That PF I was 15 and at my first ever game in Melb. What an introduction.

Was sitting in to top tier of the Great Southern Stand directly behind Bewick when he kicked that drop punt set shot in the last.

Hard to go past him. But how much does Lloyd’s set shot brilliance count for?

That's what makes it a personal thing. I think Boris was every bit as good at a set shot as Lloyd but didn't have the volume of shots. Boris had him covered at ground level, though Lloyd was very good for his size.

 

[BrunoV]

One a bit from left field, Ryder.

Any angle kicking from as far out as 55.

Not a huge body of work but he was all class.

 

[Godzke]

Funnily enough ... for an all round kick at goal ... I think it might be Walla

Honourable mentions Lloyd, Hird and Caracella

 

[Towno78]

Surely some simple maths would narrow it down.
Lloyd 68%
Walla 67%
Ryder 63%
Rioli 61%
Caracella 61%
Mercuri 61%
Hird 59%
Bewick 56% I think passing of time doing him plenty of favours here.

If it's set shot, Lloyd easy. Few better in the history of the game.
If it's specifically a snap out of a pack. Hird, freak in this situation.
General play, around the body, either side, any position (inside 50), it has to be Walla.

No one is even in the ballpark of Walla and Lloyd here. The sheer weight of set shots would skew Lloyd's numbers up though, certain he wouldn't have the same percentage if he was taking walla's attempts, so simply has to be Walla.

Side note Harry Jones first season 77%!

 

[84859300]

Caracella 61%

Blake was one of the first that came to mind for me. Very reliable.

As a third, lead up option, he killed at the role with a knack to get out on his own inside 50 to be a target. Once he got the ball, he was a fantastic set shot.

 

[Godzke]

Surely some simple maths would narrow it down.
Lloyd 68%
Walla 67%
Ryder 63%
Rioli 61%
Caracella 61%
Mercuri 61%
Hird 59%
Bewick 56% I think passing of time doing him plenty of favours here.

If it's set shot, Lloyd easy. Few better in the history of the game.
If it's specifically a snap out of a pack. Hird, freak in this situation.
General play, around the body, either side, any position (inside 50), it has to be Walla.

No one is even in the ballpark of Walla and Lloyd here. The sheer weight of set shots would skew Lloyd's numbers up though, certain he wouldn't have the same percentage if he was taking walla's attempts, so simply has to be Walla.

Side note Harry Jones first season 77%!

Unfortunately Mecuri's behind in the '99 Prelim will always be etched in my memory

edit*: ironically, Caracella kicked 0.4 in that game

 

[Albertross]

In any situation? So I will go for instincts.

Jones quick kick on the goal line this year was pretty good. Knew where he was and how quick he had to react.

But for pure smarts in a situation, I've got to go with Lloyds back heeler and GOTY in 2007 against Carlolton. You can't teach that s**t, pure instinct.

 

[eth-dog]

When we needed a goal late in games, Melksham was a dead eye.

 

[Ambrosia]

One a bit from left field, Ryder.

Any angle kicking from as far out as 55.

Not a huge body of work but he was all class.

Felt like Ryder had a lot of nice looking missed too. Definitely has one of the most aesthetically pleasing kicking actions though.

 

[ant555]

Lloyd. Had more shots than anyone else and nailed them at a better percentage rate.

 

[Ambrosia]

Surely some simple maths would narrow it down.
Lloyd 68%
Walla 67%
Ryder 63%
Rioli 61%
Caracella 61%
Mercuri 61%
Hird 59%
Bewick 56% I think passing of time doing him plenty of favours here.

If it's set shot, Lloyd easy. Few better in the history of the game.
If it's specifically a snap out of a pack. Hird, freak in this situation.
General play, around the body, either side, any position (inside 50), it has to be Walla.

No one is even in the ballpark of Walla and Lloyd here. The sheer weight of set shots would skew Lloyd's numbers up though, certain he wouldn't have the same percentage if he was taking walla's attempts, so simply has to be Walla.

Side note Harry Jones first season 77%!

Scary thing for Jones is it includes first game yips. If he kicks 2 goals 1 instead of 0-3 in round 1 and his conversion rate goes up to 85%

 

[NAB777]

Not in any particular order...

Roger Merrett
Neale Daniher
Matthew Lloyd
Leon Baker

 

[Wahooti Fandango]

Caracella 61%

Blake was one of the first that came to mind for me. Very reliable.

As a third, lead up option, he killed at the role with a knack to get out on his own inside 50 to be a target. Once he got the ball, he was a fantastic set shot.

Loved watching him play. One of my favourite players for sure.

 

[Run and carry]

Kickett and Anderson from the wings.

 

[windyhill]

Lloyd. Current, Tippa. Scotty Cummings was very dependable.

 

[brutus76]

"Mr Sunbury" was a damn good kick and i thought could of been a Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson

Age

47

Ht

182cm

Wt

87kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

19.7

5star

K

14.1

5star

HB

5.6

4star

M

5.9

5star

T

1.6

4star

G

1.5

5star

No current season stats available

D

12.8

4star

K

10.2

4star

HB

2.6

3star

M

2.2

3star

T

1.2

3star

G

0.6

3star

type forward had he not been such a good tough nut lock down defender

Barnesy had a nice relaxed action and was very accurate (was always unselfish though)

 

[WindyHillWarrior]

Lloyd

/thread

 

[Blind Turn]

Just watching the 93 PF on Fox and saw something that got me thinking.

Any player, any situation, ground ball, set shot from the fence, in front, clutch shot, who's the best shot for goal you've seen in your time following the Dons.

The 93 PF has me thinking Bewick could be that man in my time following Essendon since 1983. Set shot, snap on either foot on all sorts of angles, on the run, he was just super reliable.

Who's your pick?

First person I thought of when seeing the thread title was Bewick. I have no hesitation putting him forward pocket in best Essendon side in my time watching.

Lloyd, Mercuri, TD, Tippa, and Hird all deserve honourable mentions.

 

[owen87]

AMT is one of the few players that you'd back kicking it from anywhere, in any situation, within about 50m. Hard to go past him IMO if you have to pick one single player for a wide variety of situations.

Lloyd an elite set shot, and as evidenced by the back-heel, a very smart footballer.

 

[Howard Moon]

Suprise no mention of JD here, elite from 65m on the boundary post HT siren, think he's at 100%

 

[Loonerty]

Current players Tippa or Langford.

In the past (since I've been watching), Ryder.

 

[Squeaky]

Boris had one of those years in 1993. He started in the Foster's Cup and he took it right through the season.
His snaps were amazing!
Snap kicks Vs WC and Richmond in the night comp in particular.
Vs Fitzroy. Kicked a torp on the run!
Collingwood in a Friday night match. Kicked 4 that night.
Two rippers in the Semi Final win vs WCE on a cold Sunday arvo.
The PF was huge and then the left foot snap vs Carlton on what was a pretty quiet GF day for him.

Legend!

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Agree with most already mentioned. Going back a bit further Glenn Hawker was always reliable on set shot