Why can't Franklin take an overhead mark?

[Hinkley29]

He might not be able to mark overhead, but is there a more reliable shot for goal on an angle with the game in the balance?

When he had that shot from the pocket in the last quarter I had absolutely no doubt that he was going to kick the goal. For a bloke with an average conversion rate, he certainly can step up when the pressure is on.

Actually, does this say something about his psyche? Does he get bored and not concentrate properly when he is kicking for goal straight in front half way through the 2nd quarter?

Awesome player, love watching him play, and even though he was getting beaten he still frightened the bejeezus out of me every time he went near the ball.

 

[Hawker_Ant]

It's not that he can't take an overhead mark. It's that he can't out-body a like-sized defender. For too many times I saw Buddy get pushed out from under the ball and didn't provide any meaningful contest. Needs to take a leaf out of Roughie's book, who is rarely out-marked and brings the ball to ground for the crumbers (who we don't seem to have enough of... Cyril often up in midfield unless he's resting a hammy, Lewis too quiet, not much else without Ozzie). Maybe Buddy just had a bad game.

He's much better on a lead, but that means proper delivery and space to lead into.

 

[Hodge2NormSmith]

He might not be able to mark overhead, but is there a more reliable shot for goal on an angle with the game in the balance?

When he had that shot from the pocket in the last quarter I had absolutely no doubt that he was going to kick the goal. For a bloke with an average conversion rate, he certainly can step up when the pressure is on.

Actually, does this say something about his psyche? Does he get bored and not concentrate properly when he is kicking for goal straight in front half way through the 2nd quarter?

Awesome player, love watching him play, and even though he was getting beaten he still frightened the bejeezus out of me every time he went near the ball.

I agree re the overhead marking, if Buddy could take 2 more a game that could be the difference between a Premiership cup or not.

I enjoyed the comments above, often we are more critical of our guys than opposition supporters (most times after a loss) it's really interesting to see the impact he has from an opposition fan's perspective and the fear and worry he creates.

 

[Spanish Sahara]

He had two hard leads during the game from what I can remember, one in the first qtr when he marked and kicked a point, the other in the last qtr when he goaled. Both times his opponent was 3m or more behind him. Needs to do this much more often instead of trying to take pack marks, or marks from behind his opponent

 

[hardway]

Must be hard to get into a routine to provide good leads when there is so much zig zag handballs in the build up..

 

[Jayd19]

Hawthorn supporters are unbelievably hard on Buddy. Has been BOG the last two games. Most posters on here were back calling him the best player in the game this time last week.

Then has a poor game (by his standards only) and people have the memory of a gold fish.

The problem is that we have become a one man team - we can only win against good sides if Buddy does something extraordinary (sometimes Cyril maybe). This is why we have been and will keep being inconsistent.

This year, Buddy won it single handedly against WC, destroyed Richmond in the first half and turned the game in the third quarter against Melbourne. No coincidence we have lost the two games he has been below par.

He is the ultimate big moment player - stands up more often when it is counted than just about every other player I can remember. Despite his sometimes dodgy kicking at ordinary moments, I would give him the shot after the siren to win a GF before everyone else in the team and before Dunstall and Ben Dixon in their prime.

We can blame 21 other players and the entire coaching staff before Buddy.

And on the why doesnt he lead issue - I am sure he is doing exactly what the coach tells him to. The real problem is in the coaches box.

 

[PottSie2]

Does anyone remember his 2008 form/style ?

It may be nostalgia, but I remember him as a lead up forward who was dangerous because he was either unstoppable on the lead or if the ball came to ground, as good as any rover in the game.

This whole waiting for the ball over the back, or the constant lack of leads, instead opting for the high ball is not, to me, using his skills to his advantage.

 

[Charchi]

He had both thumbs heavily strapped which is the first time I have seen it this season.

When in a contested situation Buddy plays for frees too easliy, yes he gets man handled a lot and deserves more frees for, especially when double/triple teamed, however he needs to learn to stand his ground more and push back with his body, not slumping forward looking for a sympathic umpire. Someone so big should not get pushed around.

Our players need to learn to kick to advantage too, we did it in more 2008 but have lost the skill/knowledge since. It is no good kicking to side your opponent is on, they can just protect the ball drop.

 

[mt. heart attack]

Is there a more frustrating aspect of our game currently than our forward line set up? Two tall, athletic freaks who, for mine, are being used terribly. In terms of pure athleticism, I rate Roughead as good as Franklin. He has better hops, wouldn't be much slower and is more than capable at ground level.

I digress. Enough of this forward plan whereby our forwards drag thier opponent up the ground and then turn back into the f50 facing the goals. One, it is rarely effective, and relies on effective midfield clearances (of which are few and far between). Two, it drags the opposition defenders up the field into attacking positions thereby forcing our key forwards to revert from providing an attacking option to applying defense on the opposition rebound. Thirdly, there is only so many times we can turn the ball over in midfield due to no one inside our f50. Turnovers in the modern game kill. Fourth, Roughead and Franklin should be nearly unstoppable on the lead. Both are too quick and too tall.

The obvious defense for dealing with leading forwards is to drop a floating defender in the hole. I'll hazard a guess and say the evolution of this role has played a major part in why Clarkson no longer plays his forwards as traditional lead up forwards. The thing is, there is only so many times a loose man in defense will put himself in the way of blokes like Franklin and Roughead who are on hard leads and crashing into thier backs. All within reason of course. We need to trust our blokes who are delivering the ball inside fifty. Tell them to put the ball where the loose man might be, but take the risk and tell Franklin or Roughead to make them earn it. Guys like Young, Suckling, Burgoyne and Hodge can all deliver pin point passes, and Franklin and Roughead are too quick on the lead to be stopped. We need to trust that our kicking ability is good enough, and in turn trust that the forwards will at the very least crash the packs and create a contest.

At the moment I see it as a terrible waste. Two times yesterday Franklin led hard and put metres on his opponent in a short space. He can kick them from anywhere too. The forward fifty is a big place, Roughead and Franklin need to own it. They have all the attributes, but the gameplan does not allow it.

 

[Rhayader]

kind of on topic, surely this pic (1 of 3 in the main image o the homepage) of Lonergan grappling Buddy indicates a Hawks free may have been justified...?

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/sport/afl/geelongcats/