Richo Article: Modern game makes ton an elusive goal

wrennyboy

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By Matthew Richardson
April 4, 2004

Through the 1980s, growing up in Devonport, we didn't get all that much coverage of Victorian footy. There was the odd snippet in the newspapers and some match highlights on The Winners, but it didn't matter: everyone I knew in Tasmania had their own VFL team.

It seemed as though the teams that just about everyone barracked for were St Kilda and Hawthorn - mainly because of Darrel Baldock and Peter Hudson - although Richmond wasn't that far behind in the popularity stakes because of the Royce Hart connection.

Because it was so hard to follow the VFL closely, we didn't know all the players, but the ones we all knew about were the full-forwards. There was a mythical quality about guys such as Michael Roach, Bernie Quinlan, Malcolm Blight, Brian Taylor and Mark Jackson. Each year, they would bob up in the race to 100 goals for the season, and we'd get caught up in the excitement and the disappointments.

"The ton" is something the fans thrive on, but it's something that seems to be slipping from our game.

Essendon's Matthew Lloyd is the only present player to have managed the feat, and along with a couple of old-timers in Wayne Carey and Sav Rocca, he's the only guy at an AFL club who has bagged 10 or more in a match.



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I count myself lucky to have played in an era when three of the all-time greats were putting on a show: Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Gary Ablett are among the five footballers to have topped 1000 career goals. All three were well established by the time I broke into league footy, and each of them influenced the way I play.

Lockett was so powerful and intimidated the opposition. A few years ago, when Danny Frawley took over at Richmond, he organised for Plugger to phone me, and we had a chat about playing full-forward and dealing with the pressures it brings. It was even a bit intimidating just talking to him on the phone, but it was a great thrill.

Dunstall was superb on the lead and had great hands marking out in front. Richmond fans have nightmares about the day in 1992 when he booted 17 against the Tiges. I was in Tassie with my mates fishing at the Great Lakes, and followed his progress on the radio. My mates were all Hawks fans and they absolutely gave it to me. Within 12 months, I was in my debut season with Richmond and that time, he booted 12 against us.

Probably the most exciting of the lot, though, was Ablett. He was just a freak who could do anything, and every time the ball went near him, there was a sense of expectation. Like anyone, I just loved the way he played: one moment he'd take a speccy, the next he'd kick a goal from an impossible position. It was always unpredictable.

I was in the crowd with my dad at the MCG the day that Ablett kicked 14 goals against the Tigers in 1989.

Who knows if football will ever have another era with as many great spearheads playing at the same time?

Personally, I believe it's harder than ever for forwards to get the 100 in a season, and there are a few reasons why.

While no coach would knock back having a century goalkicker in his team, he would be wary of his forward line being too one-dimensional. Most coaches would prefer to have four or five players kicking 30-50 goals a season, with one of those players pushing towards 70 or more.

If you look at the Brisbane Lions over the past few seasons, you'll see that's been pretty much the case. When you've got a few genuine avenues to goal, the opposition half-backs can't zone off their men and help the full-back.

Secondly, coaches are more inclined to want their players to be versatile, and capable of holding down a variety of positions. Not many guys get to play a whole season deep in the forward line.

Then there's the nature of the way modern football is played.

Flooding is a big factor, with coaches prepared to push wingmen and onballers right into the back line. Often, forwards have to deal with a loose man in defence as well.

Another consideration is that the teams no longer rely on one defender beating his man. Now the back line defends a lot more as a team, always looking to double team a marking forward.

Every forward needs to be on his game, looking to make genuine leads that draw a defender out of the area. Backmen know when you're not really a chance to get the ball, which is when they'll take a chance on being third man up in a marking contest.

I reckon there's probably two blokes capable of booting 100 goals this season. Lloyd is the obvious one, given his proven track record, but the other guy who might give it a nudge is St Kilda's Fraser Gehrig, who looks to be in the best form of his career.

He's extremely strong, fast on the lead and has a good forward line around him. Not too many defenders are going to zone off Aaron Hamill and Nick Riewoldt. They demand the utmost respect.

The bonus for Lloyd and Gehrig is that they play home games on the fast, dry Telstra Dome surface, where high-scoring and attacking games seem to be the norm. Conditions are always perfect for goalkicking, and swirling winds are not a factor. You can attack the centre of the goals with confidence.

Let's hope one of them can do it because I reckon the season has that little extra buzz when a full-forward is hunting a ton.

http://www.realfooty.theage.com.au/realfooty/articles/2004/04/03/1080941722706.html
 

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#2
wow

the man writes very well.

I reckon he should have broken a few more packs on Friday though...if you don't kick any goals, make sure your opponent needs help leaving the ground after the final siren.
 
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