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Kick-Ins

Lucifers Hero
in Melbourne Demons

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This year a lot of goals are being scored by end-to-end ball movement from kick-ins after a point. 

One of the rule changes that hasn't had much attention is that the defender must 'stand' (ie not move) 10 mtrs from the top of the goal square; previously it was 5. 

This plus the 'stand' rule gives the kicker a lot more space and time to attack and he can get the ball to the center (the 'fat' part) where the width makes it harder for the opps to defend.  If the ball is marked the 'stand' rule again makes it easier to attack.  If it comes to ground there is less chance of a stoppage as players are spread and fast players (eg Langdon, Hunt) can turn on their jets.  If the opp mark it is far less likely they will score than if the mark was taken at around the 50m line and it gives defenders time to set-up.

Or the kicker can kick short (to eg Salem, Rivers) who can then kick over the pack and link up with Langdon or Brayshaw.

Not many points have been scored in our last two games so not a good sample but it looked to me we weren't kicking to Max all the time at kick-ins and using our smaller defenders and wing men much more effectively after kick-ins. 

Without that extra 5mtrs at kick-ins I'm not sure the ground would be so open and end-to-end goals so frequent.  Will be interesting to see how it pans out in the next few weeks as more teams wake up to the advantages of that extra 5mtrs.  Sydney is a good example of making the most of this little rule change.

Edited by Lucifer's Hero

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    I've watched St Kilda in two games - against us and against Essendon. In both games the Saints persisted with short kick-ins (ie, 15-20 metres, usually to the pocket) as teams used to do regularly before this rule change. It seems that they haven't modified this part of their gameplan to suit the new rules. Conversely, we appear to have done so. It helps that Steven May is such a good kick.

    We appear to have been lucky with two recent rule changes which have matched with our recruiting: Steven May to full back with the aforesaid change to kick-ins; and Ben Brown just when the rules have made it easier for key position forwards.

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    Good post. Kick ins seem to have been a weakness of ours for decades.

    One aspect of the rule changes that has been underappreciated is the premium it has placed on having a gun key defender like Steven May. All the talk has been around the return of key forwards kicking bags, but obviously teams with a big, strong 1v1 defender (and there aren't many going around) are much better placed to curb their influence. The fact that he's also such a good ball user coming out of defense makes him close to our most important player.

    Brown and May at opposite ends of the ground makes for exciting times.

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    The AFL have inadvertantly solved the kick in problem we have had for a decade or more...

     

     

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    Some good observations here.

    A little bit off topic - but I think it will be interesting going forward.  The extra running and scoring leads to more injuries (so far not us touch wood) and more blowouts.  I hear channel 7 are already nervous about the number of big blowouts this early in the season.

    This could all work in our favour:

    - Burgess seems to have us very fit with a number of best 22 players on the fringe or due back in the side in the next month.

    - we keep winning / being competitive and we will be requested in the prime time slots.  Kozzie doesn't do us any harm there either.

     

    I think last years top 4 are all suffering from being behind the rest in terms of preseason by about a month.  And I think coaches will get better at shutting down the free flow football that's seen in most games - so banking the early wins is so important!

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    55 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

    The AFL have inadvertantly solved the kick in problem we have had for a decade or more...

     

     

    yep the straight down the ground kick with Gawn as the target to tap the ball to a running midfielder is an obvious play.

    It then challenges the oppo to set up deeper which prevents the zoned lock in tactic otherwise known as the wall.

    Only works if you have a strong pack marker such as Gawn or dare I say Tom Mac.

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    6 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    This year a lot of goals are being scored by end-to-end ball movement from kick-ins after a point. 

    One of the rule changes that hasn't had much attention is that the defender must 'stand' (ie not move) 10 mtrs from the top of the goal square; previously it was 5. 

    This plus the 'stand' rule gives the kicker a lot more space and time to attack and he can get the ball to the center (the 'fat' part) where the width makes it harder for the opps to defend.  If the ball is marked the 'stand' rule again makes it easier to attack.  If it comes to ground there is less chance of a stoppage as players are spread and fast players (eg Langdon, Hunt) can turn on their jets.  If the opp mark it is far less likely they will score than if the mark was taken at around the 50m line and it gives defenders time to set-up.

    Or the kicker can kick short (to eg Salem, Rivers) who can then kick over the pack and link up with Langdon or Brayshaw.

    Not many points have been scored in our last two games so not a good sample but it looked to me we weren't kicking to Max all the time at kick-ins and using our smaller defenders and wing men much more effectively after kick-ins. 

    Without that extra 5mtrs at kick-ins I'm not sure the ground would be so open and end-to-end goals so frequent.  Will be interesting to see how it pans out in the next few weeks as more teams wake up to the advantages of that extra 5mtrs.  Sydney is a good example of making the most of this little rule change.

    The guy manning the mark after a kick in doesn't have to stand still, as far as I know. But yes the extra distance helps significantly

    Edited by low flying Robbo

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    8 hours ago, Lucifer's Hero said:

    One of the rule changes that hasn't had much attention is that the defender must 'stand' (ie not move) 10 mtrs from the top of the goal square; previously it was 5. 

    Good post, Lucifer and others. But a slight correction on these distances. This from AFL...

     The Mark shall be set at 15 metres from the centre of the Kick-Off Line towards the centre of the Playing Surface at Kick Ins. This was previously set at 10 metres.

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    8 hours ago, jnrmac said:

    The AFL have inadvertantly solved the kick in problem we have had for a decade or more...

     

     

    Someone used to post here all the time about our kick ins, as you say the AFL have solved this problem for us.

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    21 minutes ago, Bitter but optimistic said:

    Question!!!  For statistical purposes is the player who kicks out credited with a disposal once he leaves the goal square?

    They are. Is why the saints defender had a career high disposals figure against us. He took about 14 of our kick outs!

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