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A sports psychologist once told me the two best ways to put someone off their goal kicking. The first way is to ask them a question as they are running in to kick. The theory is, their mind can’t help but respond and therefore they aren’t completely focused on kicking straight. The second trick is to simply tell them what side of the goals they are going to miss on, therefore making them subconsciously focus on a new target outside the goals.
This was dangerous knowledge in the right hands, but I haven’t played in the backline for years and so I am rarely in ear shot when opposition players line up for goal. This occurrence is so rare in fact, I can only remember one time when I’ve actually made use of the secret knowledge. In 2004 and 2005 I played footy in Canberra for Eastlake Football Club. I played in the ruck quite regularly and one day found myself on the mark after an opposition mid-fielder snuck forward and got on the end of the footy. As he placed the ball on the ground to pull up his right sock I said , “Your gonna miss this to the right. You’ll just push this one across the face. Straight to the RIGHT. ” I was sure to emphasise the right side of the goals at least twice. There was no response.
He started on his run up with controlled steps towards goals. The next trick in my arsenal was the off-putting question. With the culture of Western Creek in mind and time running out, I blurted, “did you go out on the piss last night dude?” As he guided the ball down, making a perfect connection with the ball, he actually answered my question with a proud and assured “****en oath.” I turned to watch the ball. It was a gun barrel straight drop punt on an unerring trajectory to the right of the goal. I felt like Yoda. “Miss to the right you will.” Out on the piss you have been?” “Stupid comments you will make.”
While I was at the Brisbane Lions, coaches told me to drive up with my arms and take the ball at the highest point. I thought I was doing what I was told, but I didn’t take as many marks as I should have in relation to the number of times I was getting my hands to the ball. It was usually implied that I was dropping marks because ‘I didn’t want it enough.’
When Sean watched me mark the ball and drop marks during games for Eastlake. He told me that I marked a ball as if I was catching a cricket ball in the slips. My elbows were pointing out to the side and my fingers were in behind the ball. It made it easy for opposition players to knock my arms and easy for the ball to bounce out of my hands. I was also getting my hands up way to late so it was easy for a defender to bump my arm and the ball would go straight through.
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In Perth, the WAFL grand final will be played next Sunday between Subiaco and South Fremantle.
One of the key players for favourites Subiaco will be centre-half-forward David Mapleston, who has starred in the west since moving from Canberra. Mapleston spent two years on the Lions’ rookie list and was a member of the 2001 Lions Reserves premiership team.
Anthony Jones (Claremont) – 29
Brad Smith (Subiaco) – 28
Daniel Bandy (Claremont) – 27
Adam Hay (South Fremantle) – 25
Josh Roberts (Swan Districts) – 25
David Mapleston (Subiaco) - 25
Chad Jones (Claremont) – 24
Shane Woewodin (East Fremantle) – 24
Pat Travers (East Perth) – 22
Leith Teakle (East Fremantle) – 22
Brad Smith kicked his second straight century of goals this season and added six, with centre half-forward David Mapleston also kicking four.
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Former Brisbane Lions rookie and Morningside AFLQ star David Mapleston is still in celebration mode after playing a key role in Subiaco’s third consecutive WAFL premiership over the weekend. The big centre half forward kicked for goals, including three in a crucial second term charge, and was named his side’s second best player after the Lions beat Swan Districts 22-16-148 to 14-7-91. He had 15 kicks, three handballs, took eight marks and kicked 4-2.
Left-footer Campbell became a priority for the club, which has won four of the past six WAFL premierships, after four-times league-leading goal kicker Brad Smith retired and centre half-forward David Mapleston left the club to travel overseas.
Mapleston had played in Subiaco's premiership sides of 2006, 2007 and 2008, while Smith played in 2007 and 2008.
Smith, Mapleston and Dennis-Lane were all members of the Lions side which lost the 2009 grand final to South Fremantle.
Subiaco forward Blake Broadhurst, who is just four matches short of 100 games, played second fiddle to spearheads Brad Smith and David Mapleston during much of the club's premiership era. He has blossomed in 2010 with the departure of the decorated pair.
[I][B]Backs:[/B][/I] Ben Keevers Darren Rumble Aidan Parker
[I][B]Half Backs:[/B][/I] Caine Hayes Richard Ambrose Greg Broughton
[I][B]Centres:[/B][/I] Chad Cossom Matt Priddis Jarrad Schofield
[I][B]Half Forwards:[/B][/I] Chris Hall [B][COLOR="Red"]David Mapleston[/COLOR][/B] David Robbins
[I][B]Forwards:[/B][/I] Mark Haynes Brad Smith Blake Broadhurst
[I][B]Ruck:[/B][/I] Luke Newick Marc Webb (c) Allistair Pickett
[I][B]Interchange:[/B][/I] Richard Maloney (vc) Paul Vines Sam Larkins
Shaun Hildebrandt Ben Randall Daniel Rich
Mark Nicoski