Just a question...

[Underdog]

I dont see many Cats games but on here I have noticed that a lot of people, even Geelong fans often have a crack at Kent Kingsley...just wondering why? I wouldve thought that 54-odd goals is a good return. Does he have other deficientcies in his game?

 

[WestCat]

Lacks defensive pressure and stabs at the ball (resulting in very unreliable kicking).

 

[Underdog]

so he gets plenty of opportunities and kicks plenty of goals but plenty of points too?

If that much of the ball is going into the forward 50 wouldnt a greater return be expected of the small forwards considering Kingsley is consistently presenting and giving a contest?

 

[Copernicus]

Just general wastefulness and frustrating things he does - could kick plenty more goals if he kicked better and took advantage of the many opportunities that either he creates or someone else creates for him. Perhaps we just lament what could be....

 

[Partridge]

Just general wastefulness and frustrating things he does - could kick plenty more goals if he kicked better and took advantage of the many opportunities that either he creates or someone else creates for him. Perhaps we just lament what could be....

Pretty accurate assessment, but equally true is he is one forward we have who has done his job this year. The guys around him need to lift.

 

[thehoff]

The Geelong faithful has backed right off this year. Kent has really stood up this year for us. He has been fantastic. Even his kicking a defensive pressure have lifted this year, although it is yet to reach an elite level it has certainly lifted. If only Kent had the kicking skills of Thurley. Geelong would have a Full Forward that would be approaching 80 goals at this stage of the year.

Last year, I stood in the members and listened the abuse we were giving one of our own. It was pretty pathetic. This year, i have not heard the same critism, yet there are still supporters who like to have a shot at Kent.

Well done Kent. Go and kick 5-6 against the Eagles.

 

[catempire]

The Geelong faithful has backed right off this year. Kent has really stood up this year for us. He has been fantastic. Even his kicking a defensive pressure have lifted this year, although it is yet to reach an elite level it has certainly lifted. If only Kent had the kicking skills of Thurley. Geelong would have a Full Forward that would be approaching 80 goals at this stage of the year.

Last year, I stood in the members and listened the abuse we were giving one of our own. It was pretty pathetic. This year, i have not heard the same critism, yet there are still supporters who like to have a shot at Kent.

Well done Kent. Go and kick 5-6 against the Eagles.

Spot on. Kent has been great this year. The sooner you get over the fact that he's no Plugger Lockett or Matthew Lloyd, the sooner you will be at ease with Kent and his spot in the team. He is frustrating at times, but he's no more frustrating than Charlie Gardiner or Andrew Mackie or Shannon Byrnes or Kane Tenace (need I go on?).

 

[answerman]

I am not a Kingsley fan, but it has more to do with his inability to apply some physical pressure. Too many times I've seen him skirt packs and let the smaller players in Ablett and Chapman take the 'hit' while Kingsley hangs off for the hand ball and easy goal- yet the guy is 194cm and 94kg! If he just applied more physical pressure and starting using his frame to legitimately knock defenders aside I'd at least respect him, even if his other issues didn't change. There are times when I've seen him earn goals through sheer physical pressure (ie., tackling and harrassing) but it's just too rare.

I also consider him to be mentally fragile and reckon that if has to kick a pressure goal he's a 90% chance of missing it. In the last quarter against Melbourne when he had his last set shot at goal I already put it down as a miss because we needed the goal so badly.

The things that would irritate most people would be as follows:
1. He stabs at the ball instead of kicking through it if he's closer than 50m from goal. This causes the ball to spray. But if he's around the 50m mark he'll give the ball a decent 'hoof' and he'll kick beautifully.
2. He simply refuses to mark the ball out in front with his hands and instead tries to mark the ball on his chest. This allows defenders to spoil what are perfectly good passes from his team mates.
3. He rarely marks over his head. He can do it, it's just..... he won't....
4. When he does kick a lot of goals in a game it most often occurs after we've taken control of the match and the pressure is off. This is possibly due to the team being able to present the ball on a platter for him on his chest, or creating enough pressure for him to sneak around packs to receive a handball or run back into the square unmarked. But when the team is under the pump and the ball isn't delivered perfectly the issues with his marking arise and the ball rebounds, and if he does manage to get the ball how he likes it he'll probably stab at it.
5. He rarely leads to the centre corridor, most often leading to the wing then dodging out to the boundary line to lose his opponent. This increases the angle and decreases his chances of kicking accurately.

What we like about Kingsley:
1. His mobility and agility. He has excellent speed and evasive skills.
2. He rarely fumbles the ball.
3. He times his leads very well.
4. He is a good kick from around 50m.
5. He can read the play like a small forward

So there you have it. I don't hate the guy, he just frustrates me. And I wish he realized how big he truly is and start smashing into opposition bodies with some 'gusto'!

 

[catempire]

So there you have it. I don't hate the guy, he just frustrates me. And I wish he realized how big he truly is and start smashing into opposition bodies with some 'gusto'!

Unfortunately, he's just not that type of player. Who's to say if he started trying to do that he wouldn't stuff up the other side of his game - i.e. being a fast, leading forward who has kicked 50+ goals this year. That's often what happens when players try to do what doesn't come naturally to them.

While Kent obviously has his flaws, Geelong supporters expend far to much energy IMO on bagging out his deficiencies when there are plenty of others in the team.

 

[tusk]

Once he takes a mark in front of goals at any distance or angle you can hear a collective groan from the Geelong faithful.....He is probably one of the better presenting forwards of the game but he kicks like a seagull which completely undermines any other forward abilities that he has.

Thus far this year he's kicked 54 goals 37 points which isn't a great average

But it is much better then last years pathetically wastefull effort of: 48.47

Lets hope this trend continues into next season which would see him become one of the best in the game

 

[Copernicus]

Once he takes a mark in front of goals at any distance or angle you can hear a collective groan from the Geelong faithful.....He is probably one of the better presenting forwards of the game but he kicks like a seagull which completely undermines any other forward abilities that he has.

Thus far this year he's kicked 54 goals 37 points which isn't a great average

But it is much better then last years pathetically wastefull effort of: 48.47

Lets hope this trend continues into next season which would see him become one of the best in the game

Don't forget all those dinky little passes he stuffs up because he doesn't want to take the kick himself

Anyway, I'm fairly pleased with his efforts this year nonetheless. Probably the most frustrating spearhead going around, but he's been a lot more effective than last year.

 

[LongBomb]

I've come around on the Great Man aka 'Textbook'

We got sick of bagging him and groaning so now my crew at the footy give him nothing but praise when he is taking a shot on goal.

ie: 'Mark this one down', 'Slot it, Textbook', 'Too easy for the Great Man'

 

[Copernicus]

I've come around on the Great Man aka 'Textbook'

We got sick of bagging him and groaning so now my crew at the footy give him nothing but praise when he is taking a shot on goal.

ie: 'Mark this one down', 'Slot it, Textbook', 'Too easy for the Great Man'

Is this due to his 'textbook' kicking action?

 

[LongBomb]

spot on.

 

[catempire]

I've come around on the Great Man aka 'Textbook'

We got sick of bagging him and groaning so now my crew at the footy give him nothing but praise when he is taking a shot on goal.

ie: 'Mark this one down', 'Slot it, Textbook', 'Too easy for the Great Man'

That's choice. I'm taking this on too!

 

[Jack-Packenham]

Kent Kingsley is like playing golf. The better he gets the more you expect. When he kicked 30 goals we wanted 40, when he kicked 40 we wanted 50, when he kicked 50 we wanted 60 etc etc. I was once a doubter, but he is the best we have. I doubt we will have gun forward in Kents time so I dont think we will get to see him in his best position. Forward pocket/flank the 3rd option.

 

[Ninty]

Gardiner and Playfair frustrates me more than Kingsley.

 

[nananana catman]

Bandwagoners

 

[WestCat]

Gardiner and Playfair frustrates me more than Kingsley.

Gardiner and Playfair are 21 and 22, so you can expect some inconsistency and errors from them, Kingsley is 26 and is not going to get any better. I think Playfair has a far lower expectation from him due to his young age and inexperience then Kingsley. Gardiner probably has one more year before he is given his marching orders, I hope he takes his chances, because he has the assets to become a very good footballer.

My only real problem wwith Kingsley is his kicking, he is there to kick goals and therefore should be able to nail simple kicks. I hope the day comes when Kingsley takes a mark anywhere outside the goalsquare and I have absolute confidence that he will kick the goal.

 

[Ninty]

Gardiner and Playfair are 21 and 22, so you can expect some inconsistency and errors from them, Kingsley is 26 and is not going to get any better. I think Playfair has a far lower expectation from him due to his young age and inexperience then Kingsley. Gardiner probably has one more year before he is given his marching orders, I hope he takes his chances, because he has the assets to become a very good footballer.

My only real problem wwith Kingsley is his kicking, he is there to kick goals and therefore should be able to nail simple kicks. I hope the day comes when Kingsley takes a mark anywhere outside the goalsquare and I have absolute confidence that he will kick the goal.

I do agree with you there, but I have liked Kingsley's game a lot better than a lot of others since we started the injury loss crap performances run. So why should we bag him out.