Jump to content

Featured Replies

55 minutes ago, jnrmac said:

Our accuracy would be much higher if Max could kick....

It has been claimed that Michelangelo sculpted his magnificent statue of "David" with a disproportionately sized right hand deliberately because he believed only God could be perfect and every person had to have at least one flaw.  Perhaps Max has been given goal kicking as his single flaw.

 

As has been noted before, Maxie's main problem is his run up to kick.

If he runs straight, he kicks to the left. He should be reminded that he must run at an angle to the goals to allow for his left hook. Not too much to give the umpire cause to call play on, but just enough.

His ball drop is not ideal but it does not seem to adversely affect the direction of his kicks.

Practice will make perfect.

 
22 hours ago, A F said:

Obviously, he's brilliant, but quicker ball movement and targeting the central channels/lanes rather than the pockets increases the likelihood of positive conversion. So as usual, it's never just one factor.

The 'expected' stat takes into account where the shots are from.

 

I wonder if players walk off the line, say the the right for a right footer, and hook it not just because they are trying to get extra distance but also because they feel they are avoiding the man on the mark a bit by going around him rather than over him.  If so, perhaps in training they should stop using the current vertical cutouts to represent the man on the mark but use some shape which encourages the player to kick over the man on the mark.


20 hours ago, tiers said:

As has been noted before, Maxie's main problem is his run up to kick.

If he runs straight, he kicks to the left. He should be reminded that he must run at an angle to the goals to allow for his left hook. Not too much to give the umpire cause to call play on, but just enough.

His ball drop is not ideal but it does not seem to adversely affect the direction of his kicks.

Practice will make perfect.

Good observation, I'd been focusing a lot on the ball drop. He does have that natural right to left and needs to work to his strengths. 

He'll get there, already taken leaps and bounds. 

  • 4 weeks later...

Seemingly professional footballers spending excessive time on fitness and drills. But goalkicking is crucial and is so costly. Today v Freo hurts because we missed 7-8 excellent chances that should be 80% goals. 
 

Kozzy twice 

JVR 

Harmes 

Grundy 

Spargo 

Brayshaw 

all had chances from set shots and missed inside 35 metres. In fact Spargo again struggling for distance.  

 

We were so accurate in the first 7 weeks of the season. Law of averages suggested It was always going to come back the other way and for the first time this year it cost us a game of footy.

  • 3 weeks later...

After being a strong part of our game in the first 8-9 rounds , suddenly over the last 3 weeks, our goalkicking accuracy is a big weakness   

10-12 lost v Freo 7 points 

8-13 def woeful horrible blues 17 points 

8-18 def pies 4 points 

It cost us v Freo with simple chances squandered   
It didn’t cost us v Blues because they were horrible 

It nearly cost us v Pies  (my cardiologist is expecting me in today !!! ) I think we kicked 4-9 from set shots  

Some players seem almost timid, scared to take the shot. Trac has a real confidence problem imv although his two shots v pies were on 45 and perhaps the hardest of the day. Other days he wants to pass it even when he’s inside 40  

Fritsch is probably our best kick for goal and he’s still the one that I’m most confident with ball in hand, though lately even his kicking is trending more 50/50. 
 

Choco’s kicking training should be directed towards goalkicking over the bye break. Accurate goalkicking will be CRITICAL for the remainder of the year as we are so close to another flag and can’t afford for this to be a thorn. 
 

ps - stop the players spinning it , twisting it and moving the footy side to side… straight levers and biomechanics simply work 

 


It was not so long ago that we were being feted for our accuracy in front of goal -

The stats behind Melbourne’s “freakish” accuracy in front of goal in 2023.

After Rounds 1 to 7, the Demons were “ranked first for goals kicked in the competition with 118, but stunningly they’re dead last in 18th for behinds kicked with 61”. That’s a shooting accuracy percentage of 65.9.

We were still ahead of the game slightly over Rounds 8 to 10 when we scored 39 goals 35 behinds (percentage = 52.7).

However, since then we’ve gone 26 goals 43 behinds for a shooting accuracy of 37.7.

A massive decline but hopefully our coaches are saying “let’s work on it and not let it get into our heads”. Accuracy is often one of those swings and roundabouts things - we need to get it back on track for our next game against the Cats.

7 minutes ago, Pink Freud said:

It was not so long ago that we were being feted for our accuracy in front of goal -

The stats behind Melbourne’s “freakish” accuracy in front of goal in 2023.

After Rounds 1 to 7, the Demons were “ranked first for goals kicked in the competition with 118, but stunningly they’re dead last in 18th for behinds kicked with 61”. That’s a shooting accuracy percentage of 65.9.

We were still ahead of the game slightly over Rounds 8 to 10 when we scored 39 goals 35 behinds (percentage = 52.7).

However, since then we’ve gone 26 goals 43 behinds for a shooting accuracy of 37.7.

A massive decline but hopefully our coaches are saying “let’s work on it and not let it get into our heads”. Accuracy is often one of those swings and roundabouts things - we need to get it back on track for our next game against the Cats.

Exactly, the most accurate sides can still have horrible days in front of the sticks. The important part is to not beat ourselves up about it and keep honing that technique. 

23 minutes ago, Pink Freud said:

It was not so long ago that we were being feted for our accuracy in front of goal -

The stats behind Melbourne’s “freakish” accuracy in front of goal in 2023.

After Rounds 1 to 7, the Demons were “ranked first for goals kicked in the competition with 118, but stunningly they’re dead last in 18th for behinds kicked with 61”. That’s a shooting accuracy percentage of 65.9.

We were still ahead of the game slightly over Rounds 8 to 10 when we scored 39 goals 35 behinds (percentage = 52.7).

However, since then we’ve gone 26 goals 43 behinds for a shooting accuracy of 37.7.

A massive decline but hopefully our coaches are saying “let’s work on it and not let it get into our heads”. Accuracy is often one of those swings and roundabouts things - we need to get it back on track for our next game against the Cats.

Fatigue? Harder opponents? More weight of pressure on each shot? Goals harder to come by in this period of the season?

All I know is that my gut feeling was that we were going to kick inaccurately yesterday and that almost every set shot goal felt like a 'bonus' or a small miracle of sorts, barring ANB's snap in front.  It was just one of those games, we were never going to kick accurately and blow them out by 5+ goals. Had that 2008 GF vibe about it, but we never panicked in defense and stood tall against any momentum they tried to generate, unlike the Cats on that day!

Edited by John Demonic

In his presser Goody said this is probably the least of his worries. They’ve done a lot of work on it and it will turn around quickly.

Edited by Dee Zephyr

By all reports we as a club do a lot of work on goalkicking and kicking skills in general, more so than the average. Teams go through bad goalkicking patches and always have. A balancing act because putting more of a focus on it can invite further pressure and have a negative effect. If we can keep generating chances it will eventually turn.


Swings and roundabouts, nothing to worry about at this stage. The turnaround is imminent, evidenced by our first 9 rounds of footy this year. 

I am really hoping Trac becomes the elite player that we all know he is.  He is a star.  No doubt.  We all love him and he’s truly one of my favourite players ever.
But at the moment his foot disposal and goalkicking is letting him down.  I think you can see it in his approach to goalkicking that it’s a mental weight on him.  He’s actually a weapon across the forward zone (as shown in 2017 26 goals 6 behinds; & 2021 29g 19b ) but last year and this year it seems a problem.   Really really really hope he can regain his zen for goalkicking.   

Wow Port are the standout team having 50odd more shots than the next best side just as well they aren’t the most accurate side.!!!!

1 hour ago, Demonland said:

The last 3 weeks have seen us drop to 3rd. 

 

Very (naively) surprised about the No Score amount for each team. 🤔


2 hours ago, DeeZone said:

Wow Port are the standout team having 50odd more shots than the next best side just as well they aren’t the most accurate side.!!!!

...thus far 😬

2 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

Very (naively) surprised about the No Score amount for each team. 🤔

I'm confused - surely they are not all out of bounds?

Also, ones marked in the goal square/goal line?

 
3 hours ago, Engorged Onion said:

I'm confused - surely they are not all out of bounds?

Also, ones marked in the goal square/goal line?

Interesting that (along with GC) Marvel tenants North, Essendon and the Dogs have the least NS.


Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Unfortunately, your content contains terms that we do not allow. Please edit your content to remove the highlighted words below.
Reply to this topic...

Featured Content

  • PREVIEW: Carlton

    Good evening, Demon fans and welcome back to the Demonland Podcast ... it’s time to discuss this week’s game against the Blues. Will the Demons celebrate Clayton Oliver’s 200th game with a victory? We have a number of callers waiting on line … Leopold Bloom: Carlton and Melbourne are both out of finals contention with six wins and eleven losses, and are undoubtedly the two most underwhelming and disappointing teams of 2025. Both had high expectations at the start of participating and advancing deep into the finals, but instead, they have consistently underperformed and disappointed themselves and their supporters throughout the year. However, I am inclined to give the Demons the benefit of the doubt, as they have made some progress in addressing their issues after a disastrous start. In contrast, the Blues are struggling across the board and do not appear to be making any notable improvements. They are regressing, and a significant loss is looming on Saturday night. Max Gawn in the ruck will be huge and the Demon midfield have a point to prove after lowering their colours in so many close calls.

    • 0 replies
  • REPORT: North Melbourne

    I suppose that I should apologise for the title of this piece, but the temptation to go with it was far too great. The memory of how North Melbourne tore Melbourne apart at the seams earlier in the season and the way in which it set the scene for the club’s demise so early in the piece has been weighing heavily upon all of us. This game was a must-win from the club’s perspective, and the team’s response was overwhelming. The 36 point win over Alastair Clarkson’s Kangaroos at the MCG on Sunday was indeed — roovenge of the highest order!

    • 4 replies
  • CASEY: Werribee

    The Casey Demons remain in contention for a VFL finals berth following a comprehensive 76-point victory over the Werribee Tigers at Whitten Oval last night. The caveat to the performance is that the once mighty Tigers have been raided of many key players and are now a shadow of the premiership-winning team from last season. The team suffered a blow before the game when veteran Tom McDonald was withdrawn for senior duty to cover for Steven May who is ill.  However, after conceding the first goal of the game, Casey was dominant from ten minutes in until the very end and despite some early errors and inaccuracy, they managed to warm to the task of dismantling the Tigers with precision, particularly after half time when the nominally home side provided them with minimal resistance.

    • 0 replies
  • PREGAME: Carlton

    The Demons return to the MCG as the the visiting team on Saturday night to take on the Blues who are under siege after 4 straight losses. Who comes in and who goes out?

      • Like
    • 222 replies
  • PODCAST: North Melbourne

    The Demonland Podcast will air LIVE on Monday, 14th July @ 8:00pm. Join Binman & I as we dissect the Dees glorious win over the Kangaroos at the MCG.
    Your questions and comments are a huge part of our podcast so please post anything you want to ask or say below and we'll give you a shout out on the show.
    Listen LIVE: https://demonland.com/

    • 29 replies
  • POSTGAME: North Melbourne

    The Demons are finally back at the MCG and finally back on the winners list as they continually chipped away at a spirited Kangaroos side eventually breaking their backs and opening the floodgates to run out winners by 6 goals.

      • Haha
    • 253 replies