Cats Kicking

[Jef Costello]

The milestones of Enright and SJ led me to reflecting on their general skill level but in particular what superb kicks they both are. Enright with his dinky little kicks back inboard to set someone free in the corridor. Or SJ bending it around a corner.

This, in turn, led me to thinking about what sensational kicks we have had in our side over this great era. No surprise of course on the general skill or recruitment front. But thought it might be nice to have a thread devoted to enjoying particularly wonderful individual kicks or players kicking.

Scarlo was a great kick (toe-poke?!). Jimmy's nerves of steel in front of goal. Mackie very damaging off half-back. Gaz became a wonderful kick, he was all hands as a kid in the pocket, but mastered floating the ball into someone's arms. Chappy is an incredible kick across his body.

l think Joel has worked incredibly hard on his kicking in recent times.

 

[manboob]

Great post! I cannot think of a Geelong player with bad disposal, yes some of the young blokes aren't great at the moment, but I'd put that down to nerves/pace of the game. Unlike lots of other team boards where discussions centre around whitewashing poor disposal. IWWT!

 

[dazbroncos]

i will never forget SJ in night game against the Pies in either 2011 or 12 when coming out of D50, he 1/2 looked across the MCG to see duncan or Mots in the middle of the ground at full pace, as was he. In one motion, he kicked right foot 45m across his body and hit whoever it was in stride at about 7 meters off the ground.

Led to a Cats Goal. Just brilliant SJ at his better than Daicos best....

Go Catters

 

[candiehappy]

Benny Graham doing a torp from 80 out .........

Fred DeLeux probably remmbers a few players doing drop kicks ..........

 

[sarah.13]

Benny Graham doing a torp from 80 out .........

Fred DeLeux probably remmbers a few players doing drop kicks ..........

I remember stab kicks.. Goggin. Sharrock, Polinelli ....those were the days my friend !

 

[FredLeDeux]

I remember stab kicks.. Goggin. Sharrock, Polinelli ....those were the days my friend !

From Wikipedia
Tony Ongarello (22 December 1932) is a former Australian rules footballer of Italian heritage who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.
Ongarello is believed to be the last player in the VFL/AFL to have scored a goal from a place kick, scoring two goals from the kicks late in Fitzroy's narrow loss to Geelong in 1955 at Brunswick Street Oval; Ongarello reportedly switched to the place kicks after missing several consecutive set shots from punt kicks in the game.
It's true, I woz dere. I don't remember it, but Dad later told me I saw it.

 

[nowhereneargeelong]

I t

From Wikipedia
Tony Ongarello (22 December 1932) is a former Australian rules footballer of Italian heritage who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.
Ongarello is believed to be the last player in the VFL/AFL to have scored a goal from a place kick, scoring two goals from the kicks late in Fitzroy's narrow loss to Geelong in 1955 at Brunswick Street Oval; Ongarello reportedly switched to the place kicks after missing several consecutive set shots from punt kicks in the game.
It's true, I woz dere. I don't remember it, but Dad later told me I saw it.

I think he was on Coodabeens a few weeks ago discussing this.

 

[FredLeDeux]

I t

I think he was on Coodabeens a few weeks ago discussing this.

That would have been good, I remember he used to be good on the ABC yonks ago.

I remember stab kicks.. Goggin. Sharrock, Polinelli ....those were the days my friend !

Sharrock was also a brilliant long drop kick, especially kicking in from FB. Not as long as Paul Vinar, however.
Polly was a good long drop kick, then we had Alister Lord's unique long helicopter mongrel punts, Wadey's occasional torps, and later on Larry Donohue's superbly accurate long distance drop punt goals.
Successful drop kicks and stab passes looked good of course, but they went the way of the dodo because so many of them ended up as grubbers.
Kicking standards and consistency are infinitely superior these days.

 

[jazzee]

Kelly has significantly improved his kicking over the past six to eight years. Selwood wasn't terrible but his goal kicking is greatly improved.

 

[candiehappy]

Kelly has significantly improved his kicking over the past six to eight years. Selwood wasn't terrible but his goal kicking is greatly improved.

nice avatar

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

From Wikipedia
Tony Ongarello (22 December 1932) is a former Australian rules footballer of Italian heritage who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.
Ongarello is believed to be the last player in the VFL/AFL to have scored a goal from a place kick, scoring two goals from the kicks late in Fitzroy's narrow loss to Geelong in 1955 at Brunswick Street Oval; Ongarello reportedly switched to the place kicks after missing several consecutive set shots from punt kicks in the game.
It's true, I woz dere. I don't remember it, but Dad later told me I saw it.

This is from failing memory AND a partial Google result, but didn't Dermie once opt to go a place kick but wasn't allowed to go through with it? The google result;

http://www.eaglesflyinghigh.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=444664

From memory, Dermott Brereton wanted to try one in his last season, but as he was setting up, the umpire told him he wasn't allowed. May have been at Kardinia.

 

[FredLeDeux]

This is from failing memory AND a partial Google result, but didn't Dermie once opt to go a place kick but wasn't allowed to go through with it? The google result;

Dunno, but sounds about right, dunno why they call him a mug lair.

 

[barmy44]

i will never forget SJ in night game against the Pies in either 2011 or 12 when coming out of D50, he 1/2 looked across the MCG to see duncan or Mots in the middle of the ground at full pace, as was he. In one motion, he kicked right foot 45m across his body and hit whoever it was in stride at about 7 meters off the ground.

Led to a Cats Goal. Just brilliant SJ at his better than Daicos best....

Go Catters

it was rd 24 v collingwood in '11 - the kick was to bartel, who gave it to varcoe, who hit chirstensen in the 50, who kicked the goal.

 

[allrighty]

Benny Graham doing a torp from 80 out .........

Fred DeLeux probably remmbers a few players doing drop kicks ..........

Ken Newlands (nicknamed "the brain") drop kicking a goal from beside the point post. Amazing stuff. Fred will remember.

 

[Vdubs]

I remember stab kicks.. Goggin. Sharrock, Polinelli ....those were the days my friend !

I recall straining my quad as a kid trying to emulate Goggin, hours on the Noble St oval, by myself or with anyone who wanted to be involved.
Loved Billy's lightning stabs to a leading Wade after a Polly handball.

 

[FredLeDeux]

Ken Newlands (nicknamed "the brain") drop kicking a goal from beside the point post. Amazing stuff. Fred will remember.

Yep, a player who could do the extraordinary and make it look easy, and vice versa.

I recall straining my quad as a kid trying to emulate Goggin, hours on the Noble St oval, by myself or with anyone who wanted to be involved.
Loved Billy's lightning stabs to a leading Wade after a Polly handball.

I made my little brother do the stab passes to me on the lead, so I could kick the goal. He got quite good at his bit.
Polly - Billy - Wadey absolutely unforgettable.

 

[allrighty]

Yep, a player who could do the extraordinary and make it look easy, and vice versa..

Laconic, Ken Hinkley reminded me of him. Same physique too.

Best kick now is Mitch Duncan when he is not injured I reckon.

 

[Vdubs]

D Clarke snr was a superb kick for goal. NEVER missed when I went to games he was in.
Riccardi was a beautiful kick to watch.
Couch was a brilliant and accurate kick.
Some other past masters were Peter Doyle, Kevin Higgins, Jeff Cassidy and Dale Smythe
Paul Vinar and Ben Graham- a toss up as to who wins it overall.

 

[Cursed Cat]

I remember many people disparaging Corey Enright (& David Wojcinski, who went on to develop lazer-like disposal by foot) for his 'helicopters' circa 2006 on the Cats Claw board.

Enright is both efficient and creative with his disposal by hand and foot, has been for a long long time - but he has had to work at it. His ball-handling skills, i.e. picking up a bobbling loose ball under pressure, have always been pretty good and were an early stand-out in his game, but his disposal wasn't always A-grade.

Joel Corey is one who can waste the ball by foot in particular at times, even when he was at the height of his considerable powers.

Chappy has been elite for a long time also; very neat disposal - at his very best you'd back him in from 50 from pretty much anywhere along the arc.

 

[Hot Tin Roof]

From Wikipedia
Tony Ongarello (22 December 1932) is a former Australian rules footballer of Italian heritage who played with Fitzroy in the VFL.
Ongarello is believed to be the last player in the VFL/AFL to have scored a goal from a place kick, scoring two goals from the kicks late in Fitzroy's narrow loss to Geelong in 1955 at Brunswick Street Oval; Ongarello reportedly switched to the place kicks after missing several consecutive set shots from punt kicks in the game.
It's true, I woz dere. I don't remember it, but Dad later told me I saw it.

Benny Graham doing a torp from 80 out .........

Fred DeLeux probably remmbers a few players doing drop kicks ..........

Ben Graham's grandfather (Ricky's father), Jack Graham, kicked 233 goals in 227 games for South Melbourne from 1935-'49. Many of those goals came from place kicks. He led Sth's goal kicking twice, so he must have been a fair exponent of the kick. Poor bugger lacerated a shin during one game, and the wound never healed. He had surgery to repair it after retiring from football, but died due to surgical complications.

Didn't Jezza also once line-up for a place kick, but did not go through with it. A Carlton-ite may recall it

 

[allrighty]

And then there was Peter ... at CHF in the 70s/80s. Sorry name escapes me. Could clunk anything but could not kick straight even if he had a tornado blowing over his shoulder.

 

[Cursed Cat]

And then there was Peter ... at CHF in the 70s/80s. Sorry name escapes me. Could clunk anything but could not kick straight even if he had a tornado blowing over his shoulder.

going by your description you're probably recalling Peter Johnston ?

 

[FredLeDeux]

going by your description you're probably recalling Peter Johnston ?

Shudder.

 

[TheWoodenSlug]

No mention of Josh Hunt?

If we are talking recent times I think he definitely deserves a mention. His ability to kick the ball long distances - fast and low - has been a massive advantage for the Cats coming out of defence, particularly from kick ins. Has always been prone to the odd shank (and brain fade), but in general a superb kick.

 

[Menzelevium]

You can see it in the young players that have come into the team too. Duncan and Christensen are both great kicks, while Motlop comes up with the sensational.