Lefties

[Flemo56 409]

Interesting that the Dorks have half their team as natural left footers (last night against Bummers).

For some reason, lefties always seem to be great kicks and very penetrating with the pill, and can be confusing for the tackler who almost always thinks they've got to get on their right.

I reckon this is a huge advantage that they are utilising very well. Did they specifically target lefties, it would seem that way? Haven't checked how many lefties on our list but we could do with some good'ns who can kick cause we really suck in the kicking department on gameday. I'm just wondering if Neeld and crew are onto this, surely they would be. Beats me why the lefties SEEM better at kicking than righties, both kicking the same pill. Let's recruit lefties only….lol

[diesel 420]

I remember Richmond having a lot of Lefies in their side in the 90's, didn't help them! Their is some validity to this argument though, I learnt to kick with both feet and found my short passing was a lot better with the left, I'm convinced it' bio-mechanical?

It should be the aim of every single elite footballer to be as good or at least nearly as good on their non-preferred. The value was in was in evidence last week when a couple of our blokes got tackled or had kicks spoiled because they wanted their preferred side.

[Range Rover 1,935]

Yes from what I gather it was a deliberate policy over several drafts and trading periods by the Hawks. They recruited 'neat kicks' with a preference for lefties and it has given them a very noticeable advantage on gameday.

Suckling, Birchall, Young and Guerra in particular are lethal coming out of the back half.

Mitchell in the guts is often untackle-able owing to his ability to switch from right to left to right. Totally ambidextrous.

I reckon they've already got one hand on the cup.

Edited July 27, 2012 by Range Rover

[Biffen 12,944]

i dont care about their politics as long as they can kick it .

[Johnny Karate 559]

Hawthorn certainly have some very damaging left footers. However, how many have Collingwood or Geelong had? I wouldn't say they've had much to do with the Pies or Cats recent dominance. Perhaps they've had something to do with Hawthorn underachieving since 2008?

I'm probably taking a jocular thread too seriously but much of Melbourne's current predicament is to do with playing follow the leader. If we are to be successful we will need to be at the cutting edge of footy trends rather than copying the other kids' homework.

[Range Rover 1,935]

What I do know is that if he stays relatively injury free, Cyril Rioli will be feted as one of the game's greatest ever players at the end of his career.

[Chook 15,022]

What I do know is that if he stays relatively injury free, Cyril Rioli will be feted as one of the game's greatest ever players at the end of his career.

How can you "know" something that is clearly wrong?

[Range Rover 1,935]

How can you "know" something that is clearly wrong?

??

[Johnny Karate 559]

What I do know is that if he stays relatively injury free, Cyril Rioli will be feted as one of the game's greatest ever players at the end of his career.

He's a freak who makes a mockery of statistics. The last two weeks he's probably been BOG to half time yet he's only had about 10 touches to that point. Guys like Swan bleed you out slowly, Cyril does it with a chainsaw.

[Little Richard 6,265]

What I do know is that if he stays relatively injury free, Cyril Rioli will be feted as one of the game's greatest ever players at the end of his career.

The way everyone already drools over him, I'd have to agree. God I wish we had him.

[Range Rover 1,935]

He's a freak who makes a mockery of statistics. The last two weeks he's probably been BOG to half time yet he's only had about 10 touches to that point. Guys like Swan bleed you out slowly, Cyril does it with a chainsaw.

Fastest recovery after hitting the deck ever seen in the game. Lethal closing speed. Lightning anticipation.

Teams actually have to re-structure play to avoid moving the ball to areas where he is at.

Most breathtaking footballer to watch since Judd circa 2004-06.

Not enough superlatives to be frank. Get on him for the Norm Smith.

[Bonkers 994]

Fastest recovery after hitting the deck ever seen in the game. Lethal closing speed. Lightning anticipation.

Teams actually have to re-structure play to avoid moving the ball to areas where he is at.

Most breathtaking footballer to watch since Judd circa 2004-06.

Not enough superlatives to be frank. Get on him for the Norm Smith.

I love it how people make generalizations about players based on flavour of the month. What we are seeing of Rioli is nothing new. Rioli & Dew ripped Geelong apart in one quarter in the 2008 grand final & were the reason IMO that Hawthorn won the game. It's not like Rioli has just popped onto the scene. Rioli is in & out of games, shows flashes of brilliance, he has always been capable of taking a game apart however hasn't been able to put it together consistently. If he can put consistent form together over one or more seasons & stay injury free maybe he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Judd.

[monoccular 17,563]

The way everyone already drools over him, I'd have to agree. God I wish we had him.

But we picked Cale ahead of him :-(((((((

[John Crow Batty 8,878]

The weight of the lefties influence at Hawthorn is much over hyped. Just about every player in their team can kick the ball with precision and penetration. Very few kicks missed the mark last night. This is also helped by their players fanatical hard work in making themselves available to accept delivery without fumbling. An exceptionally well drilled side. At the moment we are not worthy of being their toe jam.

[Little Richard 6,265]

But we picked Cale ahead of him :-(((((((

I'm still waiting with baited breath for Cale to become our Adam Goodes...

[Range Rover 1,935]

I love it how people make generalizations about players based on flavour of the month. What we are seeing of Rioli is nothing new. Rioli & Dew ripped Geelong apart in one quarter in the 2008 grand final & were the reason IMO that Hawthorn won the game. It's not like Rioli has just popped onto the scene. Rioli is in & out of games, shows flashes of brilliance, he has always been capable of taking a game apart however hasn't been able to put it together consistently. If he can put consistent form together over one or more seasons & stay injury free maybe he can be mentioned in the same sentence as Judd.

Flavour of the month my ring. They guy's first 100 games have generally been superb.

Who cares if he goes 'in and out of games' if the bits that he's in he stabs a dagger into the heart of the opposition.

The inferred pressure Rioli puts on opposition players means he influences games merely by lacing up his boots.

[Bonkers 994]

Flavour of the month my ring. They guy's first 100 games have generally been superb.

Who cares if he goes 'in and out of games' if the bits that he's in he stabs a dagger into the heart of the opposition.

The inferred pressure Rioli puts on opposition players means he influences games merely by lacing up his boots.

I'm not arguing with the quality he can produce, however your comparing him to Judd. IMO he is nowhere near it & needs to consistently perform to be mentioned amongst the greats of the game. So far he hasn't done it.

[stuie 7,374]

How can you "know" something that is clearly wrong?

Come on Chook, many posters here can see the future, in fact generally their opinions decide the future, especially RR...

[Range Rover 1,935]

Come on Chook, many posters here can see the future, in fact generally their opinions decide the future, especially RR...

Very flattering Stu, thanks. Really though I can only call it from afar. Nothing's fixed in stone remember. Ya'll still have the power to change the world.

[jumbo returns 6,741]

We had Stephen Powell....I remember one of his kicks went sideways...Classic.

[monoccular 17,563]

I'm not arguing with the quality he can produce, however your comparing him to Judd. IMO he is nowhere near it & needs to consistently perform to be mentioned amongst the greats of the game. So far he hasn't done it.

He doesnt eye gouge or chicken wing either!!

[praha 11,240]

I'm not sure why people thing left-footers are better kicks than right-footers.

Reality is that there are fewer people that kick on their left. As most kick with their right, the placement of the ball is relative to who kicks it and to where, and so therefore left-footers are developed to evolve and adapt to kicking on both sides; they're in a position to need to kick it on their opposite foot, more often than right-footers are required to kick on their left.

That's how I always looked at it. I made it as far as the Northern Knights under-16s squad and they used to take all the left-footers aside to practice kicking on our opposite foot. I ended up being better on my right than most right-footers on the team. I guess it's because I was trained to really concentrate and hold the ball a certain way, which also helped my kicking on my prefered side.

Edited July 28, 2012 by Cudi_420