John Barker

[bubblegoose]

I am interested to hear anyone's experience with John Barker as an assistant coach.

I haven't really heard any feedback and can only really gauge him on how our forward line has performed.

Can anyone shed a little light on his progress, how he goes at training, etc?

 

[Otiman]

He has chicken legs, that's about my extent of knowledge about him.

Strung him up a few times last year for his seeming incompetence at organising our forward structure though. We really struggled to capitalise on the rotation of our mids through the forward line.

 

[Squizz]

As stated on another thread, I'm less than impressed with the goalkicking. To have Rooey, Kosi, X, Fiora, Blakey (etc) 30m out on a modest angle and be less than 50/50 that they will slot it isn't good enough. I can't see that there have been any changes to their set-up to improve set shots.

 

[bubblegoose]

As stated on another thread, I'm less than impressed with the goalkicking. To have Rooey, Kosi, X, Fiora, Blakey (etc) 30m out on a modest angle and be less than 50/50 that they will slot it isn't good enough. I can't see that there have been any changes to their set-up to improve set shots.

I'm the same as you Sqiz, am unimpressed by our goalkicking accuracy ... & all we can go on regarding JB's effectiveness as a forward coach really is how our forwards perform. Has RL graded JB publicly that anyone knows of? I haven't been able to find anything.

This honestly wasn't meant to be a witch hunt or bagging exercise. I'm pretty interested to find out any information coz, it's all been pretty quiet from that corner.

 

[35Harvs]

Squizzy had me thinking about this from the post in the other thread, I had a search around but couldn't find any real information ...

I guess,the only way we can judge is how the forwards perform .. structurally & accuracy wise... i'll be interested in watching this closely this tomorrow

 

[Squizz]

Yeah, I agree BBG.

I'm not at training, so I don't know what work he does. Similar to Harvs, I can't find a scrap of info - but I guess this is to be expected (it's about the players).

I saw something with Jason Blake's approach last year (remember he would duck hook almost every kick in previous years) which led to some improvement, but I don't know whether than was him or the coaching staff.

Kosi bounces in all over the place, and I'm not surprised he shanks more than he should. He's a perfect example of needing to have a very slow approach and very careful drop onto the boot - ah la Lockett and Leowe. Remember Stewie was improving his kicking whilst out at the AFL Park boondocks, so I think if we are indoors we should be looking for improvement. If the ball gets a bit of sideways so be it, but the kick must start at the goals if there is no wind!!!

Rooey has been stuffing around with his kicking, but I don't know whether it is due to carrying a niggle or confidence. For mine, he drops the ball way to close to his body. His kicking from the right pocket (wrong side for a right footer) has been surprisingly good, but from directly in front and on the left side it's been sketchy at best.

 

[tony_montana]

I know JB personally, top bloke and very astute football brain

Not sure if the buck stops with him about goalkicking? there should be specialist kicking coaches, (and sh.it you'd hope players would have sound techniques before they get into AFL!), but fwd structures, creating space etc, thats his forte. Win youre fair share of the ball out of the guts and your fwd line will be unstoppable this year. There was a lot of disjointed play from the saints last year as players got used to new coaching structures but this season is looking promising...very promising

 

[Squizz]

Thanks Tony - given you know him, we look forward to your further advices as to whether he does take responsibility for goalkicking or what is going on at the club to make the necessary improvements.

Sure as sh!t, there are many players who get through the system based on athletic ability. Many can't kick on their wrong side, and goalkicking over the years has certainly not improved.

 

[Otiman]

Agree that goalkicking accuracy should be the domain of the skills coaches. Keep Barker focused on the structure and matchups.

 

[bubblegoose]

I know JB personally, top bloke and very astute football brain

Tony, could you ask him how he feels he's going. Or tell him to get onto the Saints website or something. It would be interesting to hear from him or RL to give us some info.

I think I mentioned above I wasn't after a witch hunt or a scapegoat for goalkicking. There's just nothing to see or hear how our assistant coach is going - so all we can really rate him on is our forward performance.

 

[Rough_Edges]

Time for him to show us what he is made of imo.

Goal kicking really has to improve this year, was beyond a joke in some games last year.

 

[Oh When the Saints]

On the other hand, our forward setup has looked very good so far, and has worked well with Kosi and G as the talls, Charlie Gardiner floating around and Milney and CJ putting some pressure on.

Now just to keep them all on the park ...

 

[Squizz]

I didn't see the game, but a neutral supporter said that Gehrig was dragging his opponent towards Kosi, who seemed to relish it when Gehrig went off.

Let's be honest - when we have all our forwards up and about they can work out how to create space as well. Who is our goalkicking coach if it is not Barker?

 

[Persevering Saint]

I didn't see the game, but a neutral supporter said that Gehrig was dragging his opponent towards Kosi, who seemed to relish it when Gehrig went off.

Crikey, you ARE Robert Walls, aren't you?!?!?

 

[carntheroos4eva]

I am interested to hear anyone's experience with John Barker as an assistant coach.

I haven't really heard any feedback and can only really gauge him on how our forward line has performed.

Can anyone shed a little light on his progress, how he goes at training, etc?

When he was playing at Hawthorn and was out injured, Barks often helped out with Peter Schwab and Alastair Clarkson. Has got a great footy brain and knows a few tricks and querks about opposition players. Also he is awesome to talk to.

 

[Fehring]

Kosi bounces in all over the place, and I'm not surprised he shanks more than he should. He's a perfect example of needing to have a very slow approach and very careful drop onto the boot - ah la Lockett and Leowe. Remember Stewie was improving his kicking whilst out at the AFL Park boondocks, so I think if we are indoors we should be looking for improvement. If the ball gets a bit of sideways so be it, but the kick must start at the goals if there is no wind!!![/quote]

Rubbish. There are wide entrances at either end and the wind zips across the ground from end to end. That's why you often see players shank shots, esp if they are kicked low and hard.

Note: have cut out some of Squizzy's text

 

[Squizz]

Crikey, you ARE Robert Walls, aren't you?!?!?

So was he (the person who watched the game) wrong, or you just don't like hearsay?

Disagree Fehring - many players don't get any sideways at the dome - where they start it is where it stays. If players shank, do not blame some pissy waft of wind inside the Dome which has the roof closed most of the time!!!

 

[bubblegoose]

for home games i sit close to the fence on the 50m of lockett end. When you're right behind players kicking for goal, the swing they get i reckon can more often be attributed to the sometimes odd swing in their legs

 

[Otiman]

Barker earned his stripes tonight. In a side without Koschitzke, Gehrig, and lacking full game time for Riewoldt, to kick a winning score with a range of goalkickers was fantastic for him.