Why isn't the torpedo used more?

[Always Ballin]

A good torpedo is an effective strategy to beat a forward press.

A skilled, powerful punter can clear 70-80 metres of ground.

I once kicked a 90 metre torpedo. Most AFL players aren't as powerful as me, but they can still kick it far.

 

[Bend_It_Like_Brown]

Normally a turnover, that's why

 

[Power Raid]

brilliant

 

[BallaratBulldog]

I wish. It’s so good when it works.

 

[mouncey2franklin]

No jokes, I expect to see this become a thing within 5-10 years.

As in, clubs recruiting / selecting players for their torp length / hangtime /consistency (in addition to ability to defend / kick goals).

Even just spreading the press by 20m changes the ability to exit D50 dramatically.

The designated kicker will still need to be able to play his role fwd / back. He won't be a one-trick pony.

But he will be able to consistently hit 70m / x second hangtime kicks, and it will change the game.

Give it time, tactically / strategically speaking, the AFL is at least 20 years behind where it ought to be.

 

[Kwality]

Great droppy in the NRL the other night

Papenhuyzen’s genius move to trick Roosters before slotting crucial field goal

Papenhuyzen’s genius move to trick Roosters before slotting crucial field goal

www.foxsports.com.au

Anyone any idea of how far it was ?

 

[PhatBoy]

Great droppy in the NRL the other night

Papenhuyzen’s genius move to trick Roosters before slotting crucial field goal

Papenhuyzen’s genius move to trick Roosters before slotting crucial field goal

www.foxsports.com.au

Anyone any idea of how far it was ?

the longest drop kicks in league are generally drop-outs, if it carries 55m on the fly it’s considered very long

 

[kozi]

I once kicked a 90 metre torpedo.

Why not just round it up to an even 100?

 

[BigFatNorthFan]

I guess submarine warfare just isn't the big deal it used to be.

 

[benji2]

Malcolm Blight would agree with you I'm sure

On LG-K500 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Altum Volantes]

Guys...I know we all enjoy a torp...but please think about why it doesn’t get used regularly...

It’s difficult to execute and highly inaccurate....just like it has been for the entire history of the game.

 

[iameviljez]

Guys...I know we all enjoy a torp...but please think about why it doesn’t get used regularly...

It’s difficult to execute and highly inaccurate....just like it has been for the entire history of the game.

And it requires a serious run-up to execute properly. It could work ok if you did have a bit of space to move into, but by that stage a modern footballer would have had time to hit a good target.

 

[queensberryrules]

Low %.
Harder to mark.

 

[Monkey King]

Guys...I know we all enjoy a torp...but please think about why it doesn’t get used regularly...

It’s difficult to execute and highly inaccurate....just like it has been for the entire history of the game.

That Ben Graham clip exemplifies the point. It's unpredictable and is every chance of simply winding up in the oppositions hands.

 

[calyam]

Because you could count on one hand how many players could consistently do it.

Torpedoes are amazing when they work. But they rarely work and no team is going to add that sort of volatility or chaos into their game plan.

 

[HTT]

Why not just round it up to an even 100?

I kicked a 100m torp once. Well, it was 50, but it was as good as 100. Wind was in my face so if I kicked with the wind it would’ve been 65. That’s as good as 70m. 70m is 77 yards and a yard is basically a meter so that makes it 80m. But then you add that it bounced another 15m which makes it 95m and you always round up with a 5 so it was 100m.

 

[kranky al]

I kicked a 100m torp once. Well, it was 50, but it was as good as 100. Wind was in my face so if I kicked with the wind it would’ve been 65. That’s as good as 70m. 70m is 77 yards and a yard is basically a meter so that makes it 80m. But then you add that it bounced another 15m which makes it 95m and you always round up with a 5 so it was 100m.

Yeah - well however long you kicked your torry - mine was 5m longer.....

 

[Millsie69]

While we're at it, why don't players just go "up the guts" more?

Or waste time "mucking around with handballs and just kick the bloody thing?"

 

[Kwality]

Because you could count on one hand how many players could consistently do it.

Torpedoes are amazing when they work. But they rarely work and no team is going to add that sort of volatility or chaos into their game plan.

Is that why the drop punt rules?

Note Hudson used a flat punt.

 

[DrEvil_]

Because it *s up more often than not.

 

[Happy Mastenator]

Torpedos are easy to do if you have time, and don’t kick it too hard.

the problem being of course, that players very rarely have time, and if you don’t kick it too hard it won’t go very far so you’re just better off doing a drop punt...

 

[Yojimbo]

Because all the players are within forty metres, the distance covered by a Polly Farmer "Long Hand Pass" and the coaches want
control not chaos.

 

[PhatBoy]

It’s so rare that it goes longer than a drop punt anyway.

when they have the kick across the Yarra, I know from watching Hawkins for example, his torps mostly go about 55 metres - if he nailed one it might go 65 but his best drop punts also go 55-60 and he can execute them maybe 75 per cent of the time. I don’t know what mathematics would make the torp a better option

 

[benji2]

It would rarely be useful in general play, though it would be worth practising in case you needed to score from long range after the siren.

On LG-K500 using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[kozi]

I kicked a 100m torp once. Well, it was 50, but it was as good as 100. Wind was in my face so if I kicked with the wind it would’ve been 65. That’s as good as 70m. 70m is 77 yards and a yard is basically a meter so that makes it 80m. But then you add that it bounced another 15m which makes it 95m and you always round up with a 5 so it was 100m.

Yeah well my great uncle Bob once kicked a torp from Wangaratta to Glenelg. 125m shank that landed in the back of a dump truck they say. He still gets free sodas at the local