Have a shot!

[perfectionist]

One thing that has driven me crazy all year is the unwillingness (particularly in first quarters) of some players to have a shot when they are within the 50 metre arc. While some are simply unwilling to have the pressure of the shot, most are looking for the perfect set up and go for a short pass. Alas, this almost never works.

We saw at least two examples of this on the weekend. The first involved a fifty metre penalty to Zac Dawson. This bought the man on the mark to 45 metres out with no real angle, meaning that Zac had a 50-55 metre kick. He would have made the distance easily and the value to the team of a fullback kicking such a goal at that time would have been huge, not to mention the boost to Zac's confidence. But Brendon decided to run past, in fact right next to him, take a handpass, Zac was a bit shocked, and then Brendon was confronted with the man on the mark so he had to quickly off load a pass to no-one as those up field were expecting a shot from Zac.

The other one was Adam Schneider. Whilst he marked on the boundary, he was only 30 metres out and on the best side for his left foot. But no, a muffed short pass and no goal.

By way of comparison, at the start of the third quarter, Andrew McQualter forced a poor kick from Tarkyn Lockyer and had a tight shot from the boundary. He went back, as he should have, and drilled it. From then on, we were in the ascendancy.

It would be nice if all our shots were 15 metres out directly in front. If Luke Ball marks the ball more than thirty out then, fair enough, look for the pass. But blokes like Nick Dal Santo and Farren Ray are good enough to shoot from 50, even on angles. Team play is all well and good, but sometimes the best thing for the team is to kick the goal yourself.

[WinnersOnly]

Well said PERFECTIONIST I agree totally...

This is one is the one thing that separates us from being as dangerous up forwrad as Geelong, Bulldogs & Adelaide. It is simply when in the zone not enough players are willing to take on the responsibility of having a shot!

Even GODDARD when running through the 45 without pressure tried to set KOSI up in the sqaure.

The other thing this does is puts defenders in two minds and make them come forward rather than flood back on top on Roo and Kosi.

SAINTERS takes your shots on goal when in range !

Next game we need at least 10 - 12 goal kickers not 5-6 and we will blow opposition apart. I think LYON or the forward coach needs to relax this taking around the arc movement and encourage blokes to run through the 50 and have a ping!

[st.byron]

Agree with you Perfectionist.
Schneider's attempt to centre to Kosi in Q1 on Sunday especially pissed me off. He completely wasted an opportunity to score by taking an option that was probably a lower percentage than having a shot. He was on his left side and easily within range - and as you say - the momentum gained and pressure put on the opposition by guys slotting tough shots makes it worth having a crack. If within range and a chance of slotting it - have a shot FFS.

[mustangjack]

Agree, trying to play unselfish football,but i think they took it too far

[Stillwaiting]

Agree, but it always seems to me that the first 15 mis of every game they seem to be more intent on controlling the ball as if to make a statement, which maybe why at times they dont have a shot

[kp83]

I thought the exact same thing when Schneider decided to pass - I was cursing that decision for a while considering we didn't kick another goal until into the 2nd quarter.

[WinnersOnly]

The SAINTS like to control the tempo of the game and maintain possession - because we dont like to play the fast break game of Essendon etc.. By slowing the tempo early its sets the pattern for the game...

[Stillwaiting]

The SAINTS like to control the tempo of the game and maintain possession - because we dont like to play the fast break game of Essendon etc.. By slowing the tempo early its sets the pattern for the game...

Yes spot on, they seem to make a point of it from the first bounce, almost as if to say to the opposition that the game wil be played on the saints terms.

[desertsaint]

If Luke Ball marks the ball more than thirty out then, fair enough, look for the pass.

no way - luke should shoot - kosi to mark 10 metres out dead in front!

[Stillwaiting]

If Luke Ball marks the ball more than thirty out then, fair enough, look for the pass.

no way - luke should shoot - kosi to mark 10 metres out dead in front!

[benengel14]

15m might make it a bit easier for the Kosi set shot on goal. How confident are we that Luke is going to make the extra 5? Maybe have goddard hovering around to dish it off to Kosi just in case...

[Stillwaiting]

15m might make it a bit easier for the Kosi set shot on goal. How confident are we that Luke is going to make the extra 5? Maybe have goddard hovering around to dish it off to Kosi just in case...

Whilst this is funny, please dont bag Bally, I am a fan,we need him. You might start another all in with these comments

[Solar]

totally agree with this... in fact this is one area where roo has put his foot down. When in range he takes the responsibility of the shot. Basically the rule should be, take the mark/free, run back 10 metres backwards while looking for an option. If after 2 seconds there is not a open option then take the shot. Not rocket science

[Stillwaiting]

totally agree with this... in fact this is one area where roo has put his foot down. When in range he takes the responsibility of the shot. Basically the rule should be, take the mark/free, run back 10 metres backwards while looking for an option. If after 2 seconds there is not a open option then take the shot. Not rocket science

Yes true and I think when within range they should have a shot, but I still think early they are almost saying, "we will do whatever we want and however we want". Its almost like they are sayin we will kick the goals in our good time

[perfectionist]

...Whilst this is funny, please dont bag Bally, I am a fan,we need him. You might start another all in with these comments

Alas, it is the reality, and a tragic one at that. If you have any games from 2004 and 2005, have a look at his kicking - it was as good as Chris Judd's or Luke Hodge's. Fifty metres easily on the right and 40 on the left. Strong, direct kicks. After Chris Judd recovered most of his kicking after his OP, I had high hopes that luke would too, and I suppose he did also. His kicking would not get him on the list draft picks these days. Fortunately, he has other skills and great character.

[Stillwaiting]

...Whilst this is funny, please dont bag Bally, I am a fan,we need him. You might start another all in with these comments

Alas, it is the reality, and a tragic one at that. If you have any games from 2004 and 2005, have a look at his kicking - it was as good as Chris Judd's or Luke Hodge's. Fifty metres easily on the right and 40 on the left. Strong, direct kicks. After Chris Judd recovered most of his kicking after his OP, I had high hopes that luke would too, and I suppose he did also. His kicking would not get him on the list draft picks these days. Fortunately, he has other skills and great character.

Hopfully he will regain some of that kicking ability, am sure he will. I expect that he will be there in the prelim

[SainterK]

Agree with you Perfectionist.
Schneider's attempt to centre to Kosi in Q1 on Sunday especially pissed me off. He completely wasted an opportunity to score by taking an option that was probably a lower percentage than having a shot. He was on his left side and easily within range - and as you say - the momentum gained and pressure put on the opposition by guys slotting tough shots makes it worth having a crack. If within range and a chance of slotting it - have a shot FFS.

The commentators even highlighted that this was his favourite kind of spot, I am not sure why he dished it off...

[Teflon]

Good thread.

Still think when we were at our absolute best mid year we had multiple goal avenues - we just cant rely on kicking it to Roo/Kosi ALL the time.

Milne HAS to stand up in a final and Schneider to but some goals from the 50 arc from a few mids/running half backs will really stretch the opposition IMO.

[Enrico_Misso]

Agree.
Add Kosi to the list - he marked on the members flank on 50.
Not an easy shot, but within his range.
Then decided to pass to no-one in particular.
Maxwell ran it out.

HAVE A SHOT SON !!!

[bigcarl]

Good thread.

Still think when we were at our absolute best mid year we had multiple goal avenues - we just cant rely on kicking it to Roo/Kosi ALL the time.

Milne HAS to stand up in a final and Schneider to but some goals from the 50 arc from a few mids/running half backs will really stretch the opposition IMO.

yep

[Iceman234]

Good thread.

Still think when we were at our absolute best mid year we had multiple goal avenues - we just cant rely on kicking it to Roo/Kosi ALL the time.

Milne HAS to stand up in a final and Schneider to but some goals from the 50 arc from a few mids/running half backs will really stretch the opposition IMO.

Yes, but watch the replay, Milney was actually very good. Didn't kick the goals but watch him from the 2 minute mark onward, he was there and he was a nuisance, quite often his hand was in the way, and sometimes in the backline when we didn't expect it.

Schneider could have had 3 goals but tried to do the team thing.

[widereceiver]

I think Yapper got pantsed on Sunday. I really wanted him to silence the knockers but didn't do enough on Harry O.

The little guys do need to contribute more. If we become too one/two dimensional it will be easier for opponents to negate Roo and Kosi.

Top effort for Mini to bob up, hard to believe after the year he's had, he was given the flick. Great angle shot and ball-tearing tackle on Didak. Is he the most accurate kick in the team?

[Moods]

The other thing about always passing the ball off - is that it doesn't get the crowd involved as much. A running goal or a snap (Roo in the last 1/4) gets the crowd out of their seats and provides that real adrenaline release - for us and for them. Set shots rarely gets the crowd roaring (unless its gardy in the dying seconds of the match of the year after splitting a pack )

It's being a hyper critical to a team that's barely lost a game this year - and I'm not sure any of us can complain about it, but in a perfect world I'd love to see more running goals. THis is why Milney is so important, b/c he's capable of igniting the team and the saints crowd.

[Saints94]

Great point mate, we don't want to be to un selfish

[aussiejones]

Another point re Sunday ...... Several shots at goal just failed to make the distance .....a little more OOMPF they would have been goals.

The team thing is good .....but if you are in range take the shot .
I am sure the forward coach will be on to this .

We are not going to get it easy come the GF