Dean Kent

[dpositive 1,692]

As Neeld said, was he supposed to draft 14 new kids? They moved on that many, they had to get more from somewhere. They got the best mature players they could. A case could be made for not getting rid of the players he did, but his job was to cut out the cancer and that's what he did. I said at the time that he shouldn't have been going so hard at Pedo, but plenty of others said he would be a great pickup, so it's not like he was a known spud. I seem to recall someone saying that Gillies was a great athlete and would be playing on the wing for us this year with his speed and skills. I really like what Rodan has been doing around the club if not on the field. Byrnes, not so much. He seems to have folded under the extra pressure.

Well that sums it up an athletic winger not played din that position

Hopefully we have an interim coach who can let players develop their attributes in a game plan that uses them rather than trying to reinvent them the

martin Flannigan "cook" analogy

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

Plenty to like about Kent. Speed, aggression and a decent left foot. Under the right coaching and leadership he could become a terrific little player for the MFC over the long haul. One of the few good news stories in 2013.

Agree about his left foot. But can he kick on the right? Does anyone know?

(As an aside, I remain astounded at the inability of so many players across the competition to play on both sides. You'd think in a professional competition they would have learned to play on both sides of their bodies as young men, if not in under-age competitions.)

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

Agree about his left foot. But can he kick on the right? Does anyone know?

(As an aside, I remain astounded at the inability of so many players across the competition to play on both sides. You'd think in a professional competition they would have learned to play on both sides of their bodies as young men, if not in under-age competitions.)

It's simply not that easy to be dual sided. In fact most AFL players are encourage to get back onto their preferred foot instead of going on their opposite foot. Some of them are bad on the opposite foot but most are actually pretty decent they just don't use it.

The pressure applied to modern AFL footy means accuracy by foot is so important. The windows of space that players kick into these days with aggressive manning of the mark, zone defenses and forward pressure are tiny.

The time for kicking on the opposite foot is for when you've got a simple shot on goal if you kick on on the non preferred or if you have a man in so much space and have to get him the ball quickly.

Coming off half back with opponents manned up and under pressure it isn't smart to use your non preferred.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Agree about his left foot. But can he kick on the right? Does anyone know?

(As an aside, I remain astounded at the inability of so many players across the competition to play on both sides. You'd think in a professional competition they would have learned to play on both sides of their bodies as young men, if not in under-age competitions.)

It's simply not that easy to be dual sided. In fact most AFL players are encourage to get back onto their preferred foot instead of going on their opposite foot. Some of them are bad on the opposite foot but most are actually pretty decent they just don't use it.

The pressure applied to modern AFL footy means accuracy by foot is so important. The windows of space that players kick into these days with aggressive manning of the mark, zone defenses and forward pressure are tiny.

The time for kicking on the opposite foot is for when you've got a simple shot on goal if you kick on on the non preferred or if you have a man in so much space and have to get him the ball quickly.

Coming off half back with opponents manned up and under pressure it isn't smart to use your non preferred.

Last player I can remember who could kick as good on his left as on his right was Nathan Ablett

Being ambidextrous isn't as necessary any more. Provided you're accurate, there is no obligation to swap when having shots at goals.

Can lead to players being too used to banana-ing to compensate (see Franklin during Coleman Medal winning season) - but if you're accurate its fine (see Watts with this shots at goal on wrong side this year)

[whatwhat say what 22,948]

isn't it sam mitchell who can kick longer off his left than his natural right?

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

Last player I can remember who could kick as good on his left as on his right was Nathan Ablett

Being ambidextrous isn't as necessary any more. Provided you're accurate, there is no obligation to swap when having shots at goals.

Can lead to players being too used to banana-ing to compensate (see Franklin during Coleman Medal winning season) - but if you're accurate its fine (see Watts with this shots at goal on wrong side this year)

Sorry I didn't explain what I meant. I meant if you are say at a ball up say 20m from goal and you get the ball with free space on your left and an open goal square but tacklers bearing down on your right then you are much better putting it on the boot. If you kick it firm but with balance you will get the goal. That's the perfect time to just pull the trigger. The other time as I mentioned if you have someone free in space and can make the kick quickly without pushing back from the mark.

[Demonsterative 3,020]

I'm presuming you don't call Matt Jones or Dean Terlich "young"? They are a considerable distance ahead of Kent in terms of what they have shown this year. Nothing against Kent, I like him.

I'm talking about our young recruits who have come from junior leagues. Even so, I'm not comparing Kent to Terlich or Jones. Kent has come from along way back playing in the Colts league in WA to the AFL. Impressive IMO

[RalphiusMaximus 6,088]

Agree about his left foot. But can he kick on the right? Does anyone know?

(As an aside, I remain astounded at the inability of so many players across the competition to play on both sides. You'd think in a professional competition they would have learned to play on both sides of their bodies as young men, if not in under-age competitions.)

I'm pretty sure I've seen him step around players to the right and kick on that side. I can't recall how good a kick, but I'm sure I've seen him use it.

[pm24 451]

Were they Neeld's or Vineys? Also the recycled players from Afl clubs are probably fails at this stage.

I think Rodan has been a positive, and Byrnes has also been a positive in many games. No one expected them to dominate, we expected them to show leadership and help develop the culture of the club.

In my mind the only questionable move was not bringing in Pedersen, but bringing him in and signing him for 3 years. I would have been ok with 2 years, but three seems a bit much. However, I think he could become a useful defender, and as we have little in the way of depth in the back half, we need guys like him that can swing forward and back. It's just an unfortunate reality.

I think we have 5 AFL quality defenders who are pretty good when you look at Terlich, Garland, Frawley, McDonald (disposal aside), and Grimes (rather than in the midfield) but they are supported by guys like Dunn, Sellar, Pedersen, Davis, Clisby (some good signs), Strauss (could be a good half back flanker still), Tynan and Nicholson. We lack a quality small-mid sized defender and general depth for tall defenders. So guys like Pedersen and Sellar are needed at the moment.

But back on topic, Kent is fast becoming one of my favourite young prospects. This guy is just hard at the ball, has a booming kick, and a real hunger to win. He's what Tapscott should be.

[What 18,810]

i think it was the Hawthorn game when Dean Kent smashed some Hawk player over the boundary then stood over him and stared down at him like he was a little maggot

Warmed my heart

[baysidedave 246]

Has been a positive in an awful year. While he hasn't dominated, he has shown some very impressive cameo's. Out of all our 'young' draftees he has shown the most IMO (except for Viney, maybe?)

Considering 12 games ago, 9 months, he was playing in the WA colts and has had no senior experience, he has adapted well to the speed and physicality of the AFL. Obviously he needs consistency, but he is hard at the ball and man.

Give him a full pre season who knows what he can be. Hopefully he will buck the trend and 'develop" rather than tease

Agree totally, he will be a good player with a few more years under his belt.