Can poor kicks ever improve?

[DeeVoted 583]

Kicking can be improved with hard work and a willingness to change. Constant repetition is then required. It's all about timing, ball drop, and balance.

I hope this comes across the way intented, from my own experiences. I think I was approx 8yrs old, when I was aware of changing improving my kicking.

It was timing, to try to improve distance, I would alter my height of ball drop to see what or how to improve distance. Most times it got worse than what I was already doing. But I just tried different things to see what worked out better. I would be on our naturestrip 30 ft? from a lampost, and try to hit it, stab pass, drop kicks. I couldnt kick left foot, so I put the same practice in until my left was exceptable. Months of practice, I wrecked a good sherrin doing this, the seams on the footy burst apart. Like everything else. if you put the time in. and practice the correct way, it must improve.

Back to our blokes. Those they attended training made remarks about sloppy disposals. Instead of putting the required time improving skills, they were more intent on building up their fitness. On the face of it this years results we have failed on both fronts.

If they arent fit enough to run out a full game, fatique kicks in, the legs feel weak, and skillsets fall away. But it comes down to putting the time in to get the rewards.

Edited August 6, 2013 by DeeVoted

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,909]

Getting back to the OP original question.

Notice in most circumstances a natural left footer struggles to kick with their right foot. Its not as profound these days, as they are pressured, instructed, and also aware its a requirement to be able to use both sides. Even with those facts, still today some still have no right foot. To a lesser degree it can apply to right foot kicks. If taught at an early age the transformation is easlier. How good they become, comes down to practice,and a natural abiltiy to adjust.

I think that's a problem for Dean Kent. Good, booming left foot in the mold of Luke Hodge but because he doesn't use his right the opposition will know and work out how to restrict his output.

[angrydee 842]

I hope this comes across the way intented, from my own experiences. I think I was approx 8yrs old, when I was aware of changing improving my kicking.

It was timing, to try to improve distance, I would alter my height of ball drop to see what or how to improve distance. Most times it got worse than what I was already doing. But I just tried different things to see what worked out better. I would be on our naturestrip 30 ft? from a lampost, and try to hit it, stab pass, drop kicks. I couldnt kick left foot, so I put the same practice in until my left was exceptable. Months of practice, I wrecked a good sherrin doing this, the seams on the footy burst apart. Like everything else. if you put the time in. and practice the correct way, it must improve.

Back to our blokes. Those they attended training made remarks about sloppy disposals. Instead of putting the required time improving skills, they were more intent on building up their fitness. On the face of it this years results we have failed on both fronts.

If they arent fit enough to run out a full game, fatique kicks in, the legs feel weak, and skillsets fall away. But it comes putting the time in to get the rewards.

Agree dv. No hard work leads to no improvement.

And the kicking practice should be done at various stages of exhaustion.

When I was a kid I'd aim at a tyre swinging on a tree. Did the same with handballing. A long time ago.

[DeeVoted 583]

I think that's a problem for Dean Kent. Good, booming left foot in the mold of Luke Hodge but because he doesn't use his right the opposition will know and work out how to restrict his output.

He isnt on his own there. Many more suffer from this problem at other clubs. If he cant turn on his right, then his only option to get himself out of trouble is a burst of speed to give himself some space, or handball. Brad Green had the same issue, Davey as well and list goes on.

[DeeVoted 583]

Agree dv. No hard work leads to no improvement.

And the kicking practice should be done at various stages of exhaustion.

When I was a kid I'd aim at a tyre swinging on a tree. Did the same with handballing. A long time ago.

Now thats what we call dedication. and a willingness to improve. Our players are the same, they are putting the effort in, its just not working out as hoped atm. It will turn around, some will improve their disposals out of sight and some will still mess up.

[Swampfox 190]

Great believer in only selecting good kicks in the first place

Junior coaching is as much to blame as anything as the deciding factor is on winning games not developing players

Players move progressively though tiered competition because of the age requirements

When they are drafted into the AFL system the basics are the least activity on the development agenda

[jnrmac 20,186]

I am convinced it is not so much poor kicking as poor running to position. Yes we have some atrocious kicks but watch the good teams - they usually kick to space and let the running player run on to it.

Actually you need footy smarts, desire and gut running to do that. Won't happen at Melbourne.

Richmond were worse than us a few years back. Much the same personnel and look at them. Confidence and fitness are huge in this regard.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

I don't think we have any good kicks, no one can kick well enough whether it's based on skill or decision making. Basically all of our players are too slow to dispose anyway and make terrible decisions. Trengove, for example is quite a good shot on goal but his field kicking is usually atrocious and stupid.

[old dee 23,872]

I don't think we have any good kicks, no one can kick well enough whether it's based on skill or decision making. Basically all of our players are too slow to dispose anyway and make terrible decisions. Trengove, for example is quite a good shot on goal but his field kicking is usually atrocious and stupid.

Davey is the best kick at the MFC the problem is the number he gets now is low.

The much maligned Watts is a great kick.

As for Trengove he struggles beyond 30 meters.

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Davey is the best kick at the MFC the problem is the number he gets now is low.

The much maligned Watts is a great kick.

As for Trengove he struggles beyond 30 meters.

True, but I remember Trengove kicked 2 great set shots from 50 against West Coast. Also, Davey's kicking is an argument for putting him in defence again like we did a few years back (and got limited success from), his fitness for that is probably questionable though.

[McQueen 17,867]

For me personally, my kicking's improved the most over the last 5 years of my career (35 - 40) accuracy wise but distance is falling away.

I'm definitely of the opinion it can be improved with the right training and coaching. It's all in the mind as they say.

[Frosty Demon 153]

Kicking can definitely be improved as can anything. Number of times equals certainty. Drill, drill, drill. Instead of meetings and over complicating this game the players should be practicing until they can hit targets with their eyes shut. Nathan Jones is one example who I have seen improve in this area. I played twenty years of local footy and most players can hit targets. These guys are full time they can certainly improve as long as they are working on it. Get out of the meeting rooms and on to the track.

[Swooper Northey 494]

No doubt players can improve their kicking. I remember Robbo was an erratic kick when he started and became one of our most reliable players in front of goal. Even Schwarta was average very early in his career and improved so much that by 1994 he was kicking them out of his backside.

[Straight Sets Simon 23,113]

The other factor that we need to remember is who the players are kicking to. Melbourne players don't run hard enough so they are seldom in space, meaning the player with the ball is often kicking to a teammate already under pressure.

[titan_uranus 25,043]

I think there are aspects of the technical side of kicking which can be improved. Howe used to try to kick the ball too hard when he kicked, but he's eased back a bit. Ball drop is also fixable (McDonald's ball drop is a bit iffy at times).

Decision making, though, is just as important, and that's where most players are just woefully substandard. This doesn't just involve choosing which player to kick to, or how to kick it to that player. It's about the entire decision making process, from when you start thinking about getting the ball, to getting the ball, through to disposal.

How many times do you see a Melbourne player run past the player who's just marked it, demanding a handpass, getting the handpass, then running into trouble? How many times do you see a Melbourne player look forwards briefly, then play on sideways/backwards before stopping and going back the way they came? Our overall decision making is abysmal and leads us into difficult, pressured situations which then lead to most of our turnovers.

[Deestroy All 14,266]

Rhys Shaw was abysmal. Now very reliable.

But the point is made, there are few few examples of bad kicks turned good, so logic says avoid poor kicks.

So we try and draft as many poor kicks as possible and make one of them captain. Thumbs up.

[rjay 25,088]

I think that's a problem for Dean Kent. Good, booming left foot in the mold of Luke Hodge but because he doesn't use his right the opposition will know and work out how to restrict his output.

The old one about not kicking on the non preferred, this argument comes up a few times a year. Most players very rarely use their non preferred foot, they are encouraged not to use it and have been for decades by coaches who think it is too much of a risk, it was a team rule with Alan Jeans and probably still is with most coaches today.

It's very unusual to see a player go on his wrong foot these days unless it's someone like Sam Mitchell (and maybe one or two other that slip my mind at the moment) who is exceptional on both sides. Most will use the side of their foot before going to the other foot.

It still amazes me how players still get away on their left though, even in AFL ranks where they do all the video stuff, opponents still run to block the right. It's going to be the least of Kent's problems believe me.

[DemonFrog 1,356]

Yes and No

Yes poor kick can improve unless they play in the current MFC team.

[old dee 23,872]

Yes and No

Yes poor kick can improve unless they play in the current MFC team.

Or over the last decade

[rpfc 28,779]

yep...and weve got upteen threads on that rpfc...lets keep this one about kicking huh

No, it's a relevant point.

You just don't like it because it is a very good point and it diminishes this argument that "we have such bad kicks!!1!"

We don't have good mids to work hard get the effing ball.

More worried about that then what they would do with it...

[PJ_12345 1,098]

Of course they can its just a matter of finding an example

Davey has the most accurate short kick, Kent has the best long kick, and Watts has the best set shots

Blease has the most inaccurate short kick (struggles with pressure and rushes), Howe the worst long kick (doesnt come back far enough off the mark so either gets smothered or creates a hospital kick almost always gets turned over) and Kent has the worst set shot

[beelzebub 23,383]

No, it's a relevant point.

You just don't like it because it is a very good point and it diminishes this argument that "we have such bad kicks!!1!"

We don't have good mids to work hard get the effing ball.

More worried about that then what they would do with it...

ffs we , many of us were discussing the dynamics and such of kicking....IN ISOLATION. Can someone improve their kicking. That was the OP...you did see and read it didnt you?

Then you come barging in and want to expand it to the great were f'n useless in the midfield. You cant see a difference.. Everyone else can.

What you wish to discuss is irrelevant here .Again..go peddle your wares in one of the myriad of WE have a F';n useless midfield threads.

[dpositive 1,684]

I think enough posters here from thought or experience would suggest that kicking can be improved.

But you do need to analyse why it is poor. Technique eg ball drop, leg action etc

or process ie decision making etc

or just confidenc

Probably all contribute

I reckon all players in any team will kick poorly if not given time and space and it seems Melbourne players almost always dont have either

Perhaps concentrate on making that space for teamate if giving them the ball or giving them space if they have it might improve the kick

Receiving the kick is also the most important feature of how good it is . Some players can make a poor kick look good

[Bluey's Dad 3,419]

I'm sure Travis Cloke is hoping the answer to this question is 'yes'.

I'm happy our players don't have the monopoly on this particular affliction.

[beelzebub 23,383]

I think its simply comes down to some, you can work with, but of those who by now have poor kicking then a fair % will never improve.

Some either have it or they dont ( good kicking )