Why was Cameron Bruce taking the kick ins?

[Bang Bang Bang 5,839]

Can someone answer me this?

[MadAsHell 4,217]

No idea. When Strauss is back in the team this will be his job, until then they should get Davey to do it.

[praha 11,253]

Because West Coast kept kicking points?

[Mono 455]

Can someone answer me this?

Nope. Whatever Bruce's strengths are, kicking aint one of them. Perhaps he had an arrangement to give Natanui jumping/marking practice.

If Grimes is not the short receiver, he should be taking kick-ins.

On reflection, I reckon that's when the white flag went up.

(Heavens, the 5 goal margin flattered us. )

[btdemon 482]

I was going to ask the same question. I have a lot of time for Bruce BUT! HE SHOULD NEVER TAKE KICK INS!!!! How many times did he kick to a contest yesterday and it result in a turnover and WC score? (this is a rhetorical question). He waited so long and then chose to kick long. His kicking is just too fluffy and inaccurate to let him do this. If you are going to kick beyond the 50 to a marking target, like Jamar, you have to do it quickly and with penetration and accuracy, not one of Bruce's fluffy floaters. By the time he made the decision it was obvious to the WC forwards where he was going to kick it most of the time there were four or five players on hand to contest it. The turnovers from these really cost us. Frawley also lacks penetration with his kicking but he usually kicks short or takes a long run before kicking long which gives his players a chance to find space. Grimes is the most reliable at the kick outs but even he makes the odd clanger. The sooner Strauss can earn a position in the side the better we will be. We need the Gilbee, Hunt, Hurn type kick desperately.

[titan_uranus 25,174]

Where's JJC when you need him?

The kick ins yesterday were bad. There doesn't really seem to be any fluency with them at the moment. Maybe that's more to do with West Coast's good zoning than anything, but we seemed to really struggle to bring the ball back in from the full back line.

[waynewussell 6,880]

We agree then! The kick ins were so slow and indirect yesterday. Must solve this issue, don't know if Strauss is the answer just yet. Davey goes back for mine!

[45HG 1,559]

I think I was more worried about our defensive set up from their kick outs. (why were they given so much time at kick outs?)

[Range Rover 1,935]

Our ineptness in this area was highlighted yesterday by the ease with which West Coast moved the ball out of their defense. That tank of a kid Shannon Hurn had the ability to drive the ball with long, low penetrating passes to the chest of a teamate, giving them time to play on and start an attacking move.

We had Cameron Bruce kicking up and unders to stationary targets. He's been a good player over the years Cameron but seriously you've got your heart in your mouth everytime he has the ball in his hands these days.

Why does Bailey allow him to take the kick-ins? I mean it's obvious to everyone that he's not the man for this important job. Trivial as they might seem in isolation, it's small tactical errors like these that make me wonder about his coaching.

Give the footy to Grimes for Chrissakes ... he might not be a long kick but he's surely the best bet for us from kick ins.

[titan_uranus 25,174]

I think I was more worried about our defensive set up from their kick outs. (why were they given so much time at kick outs?)

True. That was bad umpiring IMO. But yes, it seemed too easy for them to get the ball out of the 50. Partly due to what seemed like a mass hit of lethargy. Just a lot of stationary players who didn't look like they were forming a decent zone.

[Supermercado 2,802]

And how many times does the move have to be rumbled before we realised that the "kick it long to Jamar near the boundary" play wasn't going to work yesterday.

[big tuna 0]

Can someone answer me this?

Maybe the answer was the coaching staff were hoping one of Bruce's floaters would eventually break Nicnat's fingers... which would account for why Bruce continually kicked to him.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

There's a bigger question I'd like to ask whilst this thread is up: Why is Bruce the link up man into the forward line? I haven't seen him hit a target since he chipped a pass to Neita, Round 4, 2000.

Grimes should stand up and take this role.

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,820]

Where's JJC when you need him?

Sorry, Titan. Just noticed this topic. I started another , entitled"Kicking in from points". I changed the heading slightly, in the hope some readers might notice it. I know I have a reputation for being insanely obsessed with this aspect of the game, but I just HAD to comment again this week.

[demonsflag555657 3]

The problem with his kicking is he throws it up in the air and by the time it hits his boot after the ball has revolved in circles 20 times it hits the side of his boot or goes 50 meters in the air giving the oposition ample time for the turnover.

[jayceebee31 768]

The problem with his kicking is he throws it up in the air and by the time it hits his boot after the ball has revolved in circles 20 times it hits the side of his boot or goes 50 meters in the air giving the oposition ample time for the turnover.

Because Grimes is hopeless in this aspect of play.

[beelzebub 23,390]

This is the last person you ever want taking kick ins. As a coaching directive it scores 3/10

In the words of the Dr..."What were you thinking Dean???" Wont go as far as to say this cost us any semblance of winning but Woosha must have been beaming !!

Dont do this again pleas Bails...and if it wasnt your idea..you let it conntinue.!!!!!!!

[bush demon 2,162]

The problem with his kicking is he throws it up in the air and by the time it hits his boot after the ball has revolved in circles 20 times it hits the side of his boot or goes 50 meters in the air giving the oposition ample time for the turnover.

He is a gutsy player, slippery as an eel and very evasive almost floweresque in heavy traffic. as simon cowell would say, 'and now for the bad news'... his release is extremely high and the gap from hand to foot is far too great. so by the time the ball hits his boot it may have changed direction. he is like miller in that he is unable to guide the ball onto the boot with the right hand. His round-the-corner kicks are usually much better ie 2000 final v carlton. Earl of Spalding was the same. Ditto Warren Dean.

[Prof 15]

Bruce should NEVER take the kick ins, but this is not the fundamental problem. We invariably have no good options at kick ins whereas opposition sides generally have at least one if not a couple. Our defensive set up at kick ins is no where near as good as opposition set ups and there is no better example of this than last week against WC. Our standard tactic of toe-poking it then hoofing it 47m to a pack of players is painful.

[Forest Demon 4,681]

Bruce should NEVER take the kick ins, but this is not the fundamental problem. We invariably have no good options at kick ins whereas opposition sides generally have at least one if not a couple. Our defensive set up at kick ins is no where near as good as opposition set ups and there is no better example of this than last week against WC. Our standard tactic of toe-poking it then hoofing it 47m to a pack of players is painful.

Exactly...Bruce shouldn't take the kick ins but he can't be blamed for our inability to execute them decently. It was back to the good old days of the last couple of years with no movement and the only option was a chip into the pocket or a long bomb to an out numbered Jamar.

And our defending of the kick ins was also woeful. They have to turn up and be ready to run their balls off both ways, but unfortunately they did neither on Saturday.

[Dalrot 85]

I think I was more worried about our defensive set up from their kick outs. (why were they given so much time at kick outs?)

Agree.

How many times were they allowed to bomb it 55m-60m straight to a loose man standing by himself in the middle of the ground?

[Adam The God 30,602]

Give the footy to Grimes for Chrissakes ... he might not be a long kick but he's surely the best bet for us from kick ins.

Grimes is a lovely long kick when he needs to be. A couple of times this season, he's hit one of our players from the kick out, 60 metres out. Certainly Grimes should be taking the kick ins. He can make a few errors from the kick ins occasionally, but experiencing this will eventually cut out these errors.

[MrReims 324]

Awww, got all sentimental thinking about Paul Wheatley then for a second. During some pretty rough years, kick ins where never an issue when he was in the team. He was just majestic with that racking boot of his....

May we perhaps see another booming kick take that role at some stage?

[H_T 3,049]

Because Grimes is hopeless in this aspect of play.

I wouldn't say he is hopeless at all in this aspect. Gee, you are really critical of Grimes. If anyone is hopeless in this aspect of the team play, Bruce is close to it. Lacks penetration, slews of the side of his boot sometimes - even in general play (out on the full a number of times this season).

Grimes hits up more teammates than most. I'd prefer Davey myself and Frawley isn't bad at it either, although I'd prefer he would be on the end of the kickout on occassions.