Chris Knight's Kicking

[CrowMagnum]

It's been generally acknowledged, even by othe clubs' supporters, that we stole Knights at pick 56, and his early season promise certainly lent weight to this view.

Lately though his star has waned a little, mainly due to his poor disposal. It was thought his injuries contributed to the lack of early draft interest, but could it be possible that the other clubs knew something we didn't?

There have been cases of hopeless kicks for goal improving (Welsh, Burton, even Perrie a little from a very low base) but I can't think of many poor field kickers who dramatically improve. Can he improve, and if not...?

 

[jo172]

Yes he can improve. It's interesting though, his kicking has become the ultimate barometer of our form. When he's hitting targets we're winning games, when not, we're losing. Plenty of room for major ball winning midfielders who can't kick however. Look at Scotty West and Daniel Cross.

 

[bus24]

His disposal was actually pretty good early in the year.

Probably in the last month or so, it has gone downhill rapidly.

I've heard the "hit the wall" statement on these boards and it's probably true.

What we've seen lately is a long way from the best of Chris Knights.

 

[Stiffy_18]

The player who springs to mind as one that has improved his kicking out of sight is Ben Johnson from Collingwood. He used to be a shocking kick when he first started but then he worked his backside off to improve it to the point where he is not a very good kick.

It can be done but you have to want to do it because its not easy and its something that will take a HUGE amount of effort and persistance.

Knights has dropped off because IMHO, its been a long season for him. Its virtually his 2nd year in the AFL and this year he has had a BIG workload. A lot of minutes and he has hit the wall a bit which is understandable. Because of the fatigue (both mental and physical) there is less attention to detail to the kick and he is finding it difficult to execute under pressure.

I think Knights is at a bit of a cross roads in his development. He either improves the disposal to the point where it allows him to be a prime midfielder in the competition, or he doesn't improve it enough and ends up being another Matthew Connell where he will get it with the best of them but not hurt you with it much.

It can ber done no doubt but whether it gets done is another question.

 

[jo172]

Knights has dropped off because IMHO, its been a long season for him. Its virtually his 2nd year in the AFL and this year he has had a BIG workload. A lot of minutes and he has hit the wall a bit which is understandable. Because of the fatigue (both mental and physical) there is less attention to detail to the kick and he is finding it difficult to execute under pressure.

Good point Stiffy. This would be the biggest workload for a second year player at the AFC for a long time! Even VB was only having 50%game time in his second year and Stiffy Johncock was playing as a defender/forward not in the guts.

 

[CrowMagnum]

The player who springs to mind as one that has improved his kicking out of sight is Ben Johnson from Collingwood. He used to be a shocking kick when he first started but then he worked his backside off to improve it to the point where he is not a very good kick.

It can be done but you have to want to do it because its not easy and its something that will take a HUGE amount of effort and persistance.

Knights has dropped off because IMHO, its been a long season for him. Its virtually his 2nd year in the AFL and this year he has had a BIG workload. A lot of minutes and he has hit the wall a bit which is understandable. Because of the fatigue (both mental and physical) there is less attention to detail to the kick and he is finding it difficult to execute under pressure.

I think Knights is at a bit of a cross roads in his development. He either improves the disposal to the point where it allows him to be a prime midfielder in the competition, or he doesn't improve it enough and ends up being another Matthew Connell where he will get it with the best of them but not hurt you with it much.

It can ber done no doubt but whether it gets done is another question.

. Oh well at least he'll win a B&F.

 

[ThePeckers]

I think Knights kicking will get better, once he becomes more used to the enviroment around him and the flow of the game his deciesion making will get better, which in turn will improve his disposal.

I think his poor kicking at the moment is because he is rushing his kicking, or being indecesive (typo I don't know how to spell that word)

 

[Crow-mo]

Yes he can improve. It's interesting though, his kicking has become the ultimate barometer of our form. When he's hitting targets we're winning games, when not, we're losing. Plenty of room for major ball winning midfielders who can't kick however. Look at Scotty West and Daniel Cross.

I was just thinking Scotty West, when I saw your post

 

[tcinadelaide]

Has the skill has not lost it,therefore it's all between the ears.Sadly this is our forward lines greatest problem,they just dont play smart enough.

 

[Stiffy_18]

I was just thinking Scotty West, when I saw your post

Scott West is the king of clearences. Not quite sure Knights has that real weapon you need to offset your weakness. He can get a lot of it, like West, but West can hurt you by clearing the ball out at a pretty impressive clip (over his career).

No reason why Knights can't improve his disposal AND be a good clearence player.

 

[King Elvis]

His disposal was actually pretty good early in the year.

Probably in the last month or so, it has gone downhill rapidly.

I've heard the "hit the wall" statement on these boards and it's probably true.

What we've seen lately is a long way from the best of Chris Knights.

That's my take on it, same as the big Griff.

His disposal was pretty good in the middle of the season, was definitely vastly improved, but it's gone backwards a little bit recently.

I think he's a bit knackered, as has been set, it's a fair workload for a young kid - he'll come good again, and will be a star.

 

[Crow-mo]

Scott West is the king of clearences. Not quite sure Knights has that real weapon you need to offset your weakness. He can get a lot of it, like West, but West can hurt you by clearing the ball out at a pretty impressive clip (over his career).

No reason why Knights can't improve his disposal AND be a good clearence player.

all very true, but not where I was coming from.

I was just responding to the idea that you can't be a midfielder without being a good kick. which is obviously not true, though it is area to improve of course

 

[fightingdreamer88]

Yup, most have hit the nail on the head. He's a young player running out of the puff at the sharp end of the season which is completely normal. He will be able to handle more and more as he matures, his form slump of late is nothing to worry about at all.

I think the question you have to ask is, versus last year, has Knights' disposal improved? It most certainly has. So he is improving, no doubt about it. His disposal has dropped off again of late but yeah, completely normal for a young player to "hit the wall" late in his first full on year.

We have seen improvement in his kicking this year, so he gets a tick there. It's obvious that it still isn't where it needs to be, so we wait and see if he can continue to get better in 2008 and beyond.

 

[CaptainDangerfield]

One of the best recruits we have had in the past 7-8 years.

 

[blues76]

It's been generally acknowledged, even by othe clubs' supporters, that we stole Knights at pick 56, and his early season promise certainly lent weight to this view.

Lately though his star has waned a little, mainly due to his poor disposal. It was thought his injuries contributed to the lack of early draft interest, but could it be possible that the other clubs knew something we didn't?

There have been cases of hopeless kicks for goal improving (Welsh, Burton, even Perrie a little from a very low base) but I can't think of many poor field kickers who dramatically improve. Can he improve, and if not...?

he's a killer for my SuperCoach....gets 30 disposals and scores bugger all...

 

[Markthirtytwo]

A earlier than usual good pre season should fix his problems regarding his fitness. Kicking is another matter and hopefully the club will iron it out.

We need good ones coming though and he is certainly one of them.

 

[big schnitzel]

The first and most important thing for a young player, or any player, is to find the footy. Knighta does - and plenty of it. No use having perfect skills if you can't get a kick. I'd rather a bloke get 30 touches and screw up a few touches in his early years than a bloke who gets five kicks and hits most of his targets.

His skills will come. He doesn't have a terrible technique. He doesn't get too many easy possessions sitting out alone, mopping up across the backline - a lot of his touches are gathered under some sort of pressure.

And as it has been said, he has taken on a lot of responsibility this year for a young bloke and has mostly flourished.

 

[macca23]

The player who springs to mind as one that has improved his kicking out of sight is Ben Johnson from Collingwood. He used to be a shocking kick when he first started but then he worked his backside off to improve it to the point where he is not a very good kick.

It can be done but you have to want to do it because its not easy and its something that will take a HUGE amount of effort and persistance.

Knights has dropped off because IMHO, its been a long season for him. Its virtually his 2nd year in the AFL and this year he has had a BIG workload. A lot of minutes and he has hit the wall a bit which is understandable. Because of the fatigue (both mental and physical) there is less attention to detail to the kick and he is finding it difficult to execute under pressure.

I think Knights is at a bit of a cross roads in his development. He either improves the disposal to the point where it allows him to be a prime midfielder in the competition, or he doesn't improve it enough and ends up being another Matthew Connell where he will get it with the best of them but not hurt you with it much.

It can ber done no doubt but whether it gets done is another question.

It will be Stiffy. It will be.

Ben Johnson is a classsic example - you couldn't have used a better one. Couldn't hit the side of a barn when he first started, but overall his dsposal is very good now.

Knights had a terrific first 2/3rds of a season and his kicking imprved along with his form.

Teams are staring to hard tag him now, and his form and kicking have slumped somewhat. As he learns to cope with that - as Johnson had to when his star was on the rise - so will his disposal improve again.

 

[Damp Squarie]

Im sure Chris knows his kicking lets him down and is working on it.
I just hope he's not taking lessons from Burton,Perrie,Hudson or Gill.

 

[CrowMagnum]

His kicking certainly improved today against the Bulldogs.

He's been looking knackered the last few weeks but looked to have the early season spark back.

 

[smoovy]

His kicking certainly improved today against the Bulldogs.

He's been looking knackered the last few weeks but looked to have the early season spark back.

His kicking in the first half was awful.

For just about the last 5 weeks running he has received the ball on his left side running into goal and has not even gone close.

He is one of the worst left foot kicks i've seen. He is actuallly a closet right footer, i'm sure.

 

[bus24]

I thought his kicking was much much better today.

 

[Eggzoi]

His kicking in the first half was awful.

For just about the last 5 weeks running he has received the ball on his left side running into goal and has not even gone close.

He is one of the worst left foot kicks i've seen. He is actuallly a closet right footer, i'm sure.

In the first half he had 8/9 kicks effective.

 

[fightingdreamer88]

I don't think there is much doubting this kid will be a star. Skills will improve with time and he will be something special no doubt.

 

[smoovy]

In the first half he had 8/9 kicks effective.

He made two absolute howlers in the first quarter which I remember. A shot for goal and one where he basically kicked it with his knee in front of the old scoreboard.