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Learn the Torp

Farmer
Farmer
in Melbourne Demons

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In today's Age Malcolm Blight extols the virtues of the torpedo punt, as well he might because he used it magnificently.

i want to tell all Demon supporters that we have an equally great exponent.  Last year, 90 minutes  before the first final v Geelong, Harmes and Fritsch amused themselves by having dozens of shots at goal from out on the old cricket pitch area. Harmes landed a few decent long shots. But Bayley  Fritsch was a revelation. He kicked an amazing number of goals using a torp from 60m plus, and they were going through half way up the posts, with unerring accuracy. I've never seen anything like it! In my view Bayley should always play in the forward line.

Things are pretty hopeless aren't they? .Lets have a bit of fun. Put Fritsch on the forward line and tell him to go for it

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    The best was from Hunt after the siren (3qtr time) with the pressure of a real game result to worry about.

    In case someone needs reminding:

     

     

    It will be a long time before someone beats it in my book.

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    1 minute ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    The best was from Hunt after the siren (3qtr time) with the pressure of a real game result to worry about.

    In case someone needs reminding:

     

     

    It will be a long time before someone beats it in my book.

    Was just looking this up to post here as well.  The torp is a thing of beauty when it works... which is maybe 15% of the time.

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    I wonder if this can be merged into the 'worst team kicking inside 50' thread, as it would seem relevant.

    If we only retain posession 1 time in 4 from kicks inside 50, maybe there's no harm in taking the literal long shot once in a while.

    If it falls short, well, there's still the possibiltiy of a contest at the drop.

    The unrealiability of the torp becomes a variability, an unpredictability, which mixes up our attacks and makes things just that little bit more chaotic.

    If our strategy going inside 50 is to have so many happening that the defenders eventually crack and their system breaks down and we come through in 6 goal waves before they are organised again, surely adding that extra factor to consider just adds to the useful chaos.

    New team rule: if you take a mark, are within 80m of goal, don't have a clean option, and not too close to the boundary, feel free to launch a torp and see where it lands.

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    8 minutes ago, TeamPlayedFine39 said:

    Was just looking this up to post here as well.  The torp is a thing of beauty when it works... which is maybe 15% of the time.

    I'm guessing Hunt (and most players) have licence to use it only after the siren and when a long way out.  Nothing to lose so15% is good odds in the circumstances.

    Edited by Lucifer's Hero

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    27 minutes ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    I'm guessing Hunt (and most players) have licence to use it only after the siren and when a long way out.  Nothing to lose so15% is good odds in the circumstances.

    Mostly I find AFL coaches the opposite of innovative - particularly in relation to attack/offense -  as mentioned in other posts notably by @binman I believe. The torp of course when pulled off is a thing of beauty, can beat a line of defensive players by 10 yards or so...but as coaches  are risk averse - you'd be dropped for daring to pull it out mid play as a deliberate strategy.

    Goodwin was clearly trying some different things - high press, 7/8 players coming off the back square etc - but he is one of the few to test these things out.

    Edited by Engorged Onion

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    3 minutes ago, Demonland said:

    I always assumed the Torpedo Punt wasn't mainstream because of accuracy issues. 

    Much harder to mark cleanly too.

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    24 minutes ago, Engorged Onion said:

    Mostly I find AFL coaches the opposite of innovative - particularly in relation to attack/offense -  as mentioned in other posts notably by @binman I believe. The torp of course when pulled off is a thing of beauty, can beat a line of defensive players by 10 yards or so...but as coaches  are risk averse - you'd be dropped for daring to pull it out mid play as a deliberate strategy.

    Using the torp without a licence from the coach during play cost Dunne his career at the dees (kick in after a point).  iirc he didn't play for us again.  So agree, it would be a brave player to try it in play. 

    A time and place for it and Hunt chose it perfectly.  Was very surprised Myers didn't try it vs Swans to win the match last week! 

    Edited by Lucifer's Hero

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    1 hour ago, Farmer said:

    In today's Age Malcolm Blight extols the virtues of the torpedo punt, as well he might because he used it magnificently.

    i want to tell all Demon supporters that we have an equally great exponent.  Last year, 90 minutes  before the first final v Geelong, Harmes and Fritsch amused themselves by having dozens of shots at goal from out on the old cricket pitch area. Harmes landed a few decent long shots. But Bayley  Fritsch was a revelation. He kicked an amazing number of goals using a torp from 60m plus, and they were going through half way up the posts, with unerring accuracy. I've never seen anything like it! In my view Bayley should always play in the forward line.

    Things are pretty hopeless aren't they? .Lets have a bit of fun. Put Fritsch on the forward line and tell him to go for it

    What about Lynden Dunn?

    Hang on.  We sacked him for torping.

     

    If things don’t work out FCS, Melbourne need to go for someone left of centre like a young Blight or Terry Tan.  50 years of a conservative approach has yielded jack shizen.

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    Have been thinking about this more so this season, teams set up really well in rolling zones. If you can’t get quick ball movement then it tends to lead to turn overs.

    Any time you have to hold the ball up from a mark or free kick for too long it clogs up ahead, why not try to get over the back with some torps, ffs it couldn’t be any worse than how we have been doing it.

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    I was at the Goldy on the weekend and Frosty was practicing Torps out of the square pre-game. Most were mongrels unfortunately ? but when he hit the sweet spot they launched!! Must be in the repertoire for some at least?

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    i would love to see melbourne kickin with a reliable kicker sending a torp down the center of the ground. Surely you could figure out a play where players run to the flanks then double back to the center for the torp. gather bounce kick for goal.

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    Many years ago i remember a melbourne player who regularly kicking out from full back with a drop kick anyone remember his name?

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    46 minutes ago, Cards13 said:

    Have been thinking about this more so this season, teams set up really well in rolling zones. If you can’t get quick ball movement then it tends to lead to turn overs.

    Any time you have to hold the ball up from a mark or free kick for too long it clogs up ahead, why not try to get over the back with some torps, ffs it couldn’t be any worse than how we have been doing it.

    And have our half forwards play really high,  in the square...  and our deep forwards play higher than normal.  Want decent space over the back of our Tall forwards...  and bring the mosquito's in.

    Hopefully,  creating space  behind our deep Key forwards (Preuss and Hunt, with Jeffy at the feet),  and in front of them as well,  which Hunt can lead into, & sometimes up to the centre.

    If the  Half-Backs  hang back,  in the hole,  we kick over them,  using the space around the front of the square.    This is where we need our longer kicks, & torp kickers,  in the midfield...  & sometimes Hunt can work in this area, as well.

     

    Wings and Half-Backs,  who can  'Bang-a-Torp' on the run,  would be very advantageous thru here, at times.

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    31 minutes ago, Deecisive said:

    Many years ago i remember a melbourne player who regularly kicking out from full back with a drop kick anyone remember his name?

    Phil Rhoden in the ressies. Best drop kick I have seen in 60 years of watching footy.

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    1 hour ago, Tricky said:

    I was at the Goldy on the weekend and Frosty was practicing Torps out of the square pre-game. Most were mongrels unfortunately ? but when he hit the sweet spot they launched!! Must be in the repertoire for some at least?

    I hope he's practicing them,  to perfect them in time.

    Maybe we could get a Torp kicking specialist in...  to help our players develop this Kick.

     

    Can someone please tell me the new rule on kickins ?  Where does the defender have to stand ?

    .

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    36 minutes ago, Deecisive said:

    Many years ago i remember a melbourne player who regularly kicking out from full back with a drop kick anyone remember his name?

    ah,  'Dciv'...   you beat me to it.

    ... the Old Drop Kick  from the goal square.

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    3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    The best was from Hunt after the siren (3qtr time) with the pressure of a real game result to worry about.

    In case someone needs reminding:

     

     

    It will be a long time before someone beats it in my book.

    Absolutely right!  But if Fritsch or Hunt have a shot from 50m , why not give it a go? Apart from anything else it prompts defenders to play further up the field, in case someone kicks goals from 55 m

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    6 minutes ago, DV8 said:

    ah,  'Dciv'...   you beat me to it.

    ... the Old Drop Kick  from the goal square.

    Tas Johnson is your man!

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    3 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    I'm guessing Hunt (and most players) have licence to use it only after the siren and when a long way out.  Nothing to lose so15% is good odds in the circumstances.

    Barassi always used a torp kicking for goal. It is not hard to kick. If u r kicking for goal  u r not hoping someone will mark the  ball except the kids 15 rows back

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    5 minutes ago, Farmer said:

    Tas Johnson is your man!

    I remember Tassie...  from the goal square into,  of just over the centre circle...  when I was just a wee lad.  Primary school days at the footy,  with a younger friend...  Both of us under 11 Yrs of age,  at the footy,  alone. 

    Not these days.

    .

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    2 minutes ago, Farmer said:

    Barassi always used a torp kicking for goal. It is not hard to kick. If u r kicking for goal  u r not hoping someone will mark the  ball except the kids 15 rows back

    Peter Hudson used a torp for set shots.

    Twiggy Dunn used a torp to level scores with 40 sec left  in the famous drawn GF of 1977

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