Cameron Mooney

[Heapoie]

Has anyone else noticed that Cam M continually goes for a chest mark, even when an opponent is right behind him. More often than not the opponent can easily spoil the ball. Why hasnt anyone at the GFC told Cameron to "pull the dukes out of the holsters" and get his hands out in front? It would result in him claiming an extra 5 marks a game, at minimum.

Also, someone has obviously told him he needs to "kick through" the ball, however this has resulted in him trying to kick the cover off the ball even when 20 metres out. Like golf, you do not need to swing hard to hit a long and accurate ball, Cam need to be taught the same.

 

[catempire]

Fair points. I don't think he has been in the greatest of form. Once he starts slotting through some goals, his confidence will build and we'll see him going for his marks a bit more I think.

 

[martyk]

Fair points. I don't think he has been in the greatest of form. Once he starts slotting through some goals, his confidence will build and we'll see him going for his marks a bit more I think.

I agree. I'll also add that he tends to feel for his man far too much rather than worrying about the ball in one on one contests... He perhaps feels that out-bodying his opponent is his best marking chance. Mooney certainly isn't one of the strongest marks in the side.

 

[sozza5]

He does seem to go for a lot of chest marks lately, but i can remember several occasions in our last few games when he's pulled the dukes out. I just think it's a big call to claim he'd take an extra 5 marks per game!

As for kicking the cover off the ball, it's fair to say he's not in the best form, but he's still offering shite-loads to the team with his footy smarts, leadership and presence.

 

[sozza5]

I agree. I'll also add that he tends to feel for his man far too much rather than worrying about the ball in one on one contests... He perhaps feels that out-bodying his opponent is his best marking chance. Mooney certainly isn't one of the strongest marks in the side.

i reckon you've hit right on it there though, martyk...

 

[stokes_magic]

i think mooney is putting too much presure on himself, with the likes of hawkins, stokes, johnson and evan chapman, being in very good form. all he needs to do is relax and enjoy playing with 21 of his best mate's. after all its a game of football which he loves and will come in to good form in the next few weeks.

 

[Vegas.]

Yep, and it's why Ryder was such a good match up for him when we played the Dons. His long arms/reach and height advantage over Moons allowed him to get the easy spoil when Mooney went the chest mark. Playing at Telstra Dome provides no excuses for an AFL footballer to take it on the chest every time, and I think he definitely could work on that facet of his game. Alternatively he could get Chappy to teach him the 'chest mark with pike', where he curls up at the point of chest contact, protecting the ball from the defender.

All this being said, Moons can do whatever he likes for the next little bit, given the massive role he played (both on and off the field) in our flag last year. The players and coaches may not be taking this as an excuse, but I for one am prepared to. That was the best day of my life.

 

[SJ]

Apart from his kicking (and yes I know bad kicking is bad football) he played well on Sunday. Could have easily kicked six or more, and crucified by the umpire a few times.

 

[Catman]

Maybe the split webbing injury to his hand that he had late last year is still causing him trouble? He seems to be wearing some sort of protective guard on his hand so maybe he's loathe to stretch his fingers out for a big grab in case the wound opens up again.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Maybe the split webbing injury to his hand that he had late last year is still causing him trouble? He seems to be wearing some sort of protective guard on his hand so maybe he's loathe to stretch his fingers out for a big grab in case the wound opens up again.

A possibility, Catman. Remember last year when he took a lot of diving marks? His opponent couldn't do alot in those cases - maybe the Moondog should return to that style of play?

A point to consider is that Mooney is now a known goalkicker - the opposition will rate him higher and with more respect comes closer attention.

 

[SJ]

Let's not get carried away and remember Mooney is averaging seven marks a game.

 

[Vegas.]

Let's not get carried away and remember Mooney is averaging seven marks a game.

Averages are not necessarily something to go off though really. I mean if he is delivered the ball 20 times a game lace out and averages 7 marks, that's not so great. Like I said, he can average zero for all I care at the moment, but there is an obvious issue with his marking style, or reluctance to put the hands up infront of his eyes.

 

[SJ]

Averages are not necessarily something to go off though really. I mean if he is delivered the ball 20 times a game lace out and averages 7 marks, that's not so great. Like I said, he can average zero for all I care at the moment, but there is an obvious issue with his marking style, or reluctance to put the hands up infront of his eyes.

Perhaps, but that's the way he plays, I can't see much of a difference from last year. He had six shots at goal on Sunday, dished a couple more off, and was robbed by the umpires a few times. Kicking is my only worry at the moment.

 

[Vegas.]

Perhaps, but that's the way he plays, I can't see much of a difference from last year. He had six shots at goal on Sunday, dished a couple more off, and was robbed by the umpires a few times. Kicking is my only worry at the moment.

Agreed, but if you don't evolve and improve your game all the time, you can be left behind. As has been mentioned, clubs will focus alot more of their defensive efforts on Mooney this year than last year, due to a combination of factors (Nathe gone, Mooneys obvious importance to our side). You can't just sit on what worked last year and say that'll do when with a bit of extra work you could increase your output considerably. I mean it can't hurt, can it?

As the great SDJ would say, "You can't rest on your morals."

 

[Exhale You]

Maybe the split webbing injury to his hand that he had late last year is still causing him trouble? He seems to be wearing some sort of protective guard on his hand so maybe he's loathe to stretch his fingers out for a big grab in case the wound opens up again.

Yep, that would appear to be the most accurate explanation of his form.

Combine that with getting used to working with Tom Hawkins style rather than Nathan Ablett's, and it would explain his slightly slow start to the year.

 

[hbk_aus]

Maybe the split webbing injury to his hand that he had late last year is still causing him trouble? He seems to be wearing some sort of protective guard on his hand so maybe he's loathe to stretch his fingers out for a big grab in case the wound opens up again.

I think this is more the reason for the chest marks. He had an operation after the GF last year on the split webbing, and the Essendon game in particular u could see him playing with the strapping or whatever it is he had on his hand at times. Didnt notice any strapping against Melb though, maybe he decided it wasnt helping his marking.

 

[OldStyle2007]

You can see on the GF DVD that there is a decent amount of blood coming out of his hand towards the end of the match. I was surprised they didn't call the blood rule on him

Maybe that injury is still affecting him, but I would like to see him put the hands out a bit more or at least use his body as a shield and go for some one handers rather than try to chest mark it so close to the defender

 

[CatFan79]

A hand injury or getting used to a new forward setup sound like excuses to me. Not that I don't rate Mooney but there are obvious flaws in his game that he needs to work on.

To put it plainly, He worries too much about anything else apart from giving himself the best opportunity of taking a mark and kicking a goal..

example

marking
-- worrying about taking a mark with outstreched arms because he might drop it.
-- trying to initiate body contact with his opponent rather than watching the ball and positioning himself accordingly.

kicking
-- worrying about missing simple shots rather than concentrating on the mechanics.
-- worrying about distance rather than technique.

The one-on-one contests are the most worrying for me. Surely someone at the club can help him with this.. He regularly gets outpositioned because he takes his eyes off the ball and looks for his opponent.

 

[Lynch takes a mark]

Just wait until you play West Coast, I'm sure rat boy Hunter will run him into some 14+ mark - 4+ goal form as usual

I always rated Mooney as a big body midfielder or defender since the 05 EF against the dees I think but last year he played bloody well as that mobile CH/FF type and looked very damaging at different parts of the season.

Always looked to work very hard to create space (all of your forwards actually) and pass off if somebody was in a better position, I wish the West Coast forward line could be structured as well as yours - currently it's like we try to see how many talls can get on the park at the same time but not actually mark it anywhere near goals.