Kick Ins

[Johnny Member]

I'm sure this has been raised in here somewhere, but I couldn't find it so I'll open this for discussion.........

How bad have our kick ins been this year?!


Some clubs seem to view kick ins as an opportunity to score (as strange as that may sound).

The moment the pill is in their hands in the goal square, as a spectator you get the sense they are on the attack (again, as strange as that may sound!).


But ours on the other hand, are the opposite. As a spectator, you get the feeling we're under pressure and at best, trying to inch the ball out of our D50.
We don't seem to have an intent when kicking in from a behind.


I can't recall us ever being over good at it, but this season in particular we've been horrible.

When Harves was playing, he'd be the 'get out' for the kick-in. He'd lead up and get a short kick about 30m out from goal on about a 30 degree angle. Whether it was a set play and the space was created for him, or he was just smart and knew there was always space there, I'm not sure.
But regardless, it was a decent 'plan b' for a kick-in if there wasn't a longer more attacking option available.

But at the moment, our best option from the kick-ins seems to be a long ball to the flank to a pack of 15 players! And our 'get out' now is a little 20m kick to the boundary line, with no plan after that.


Anyone else noticed this?

[Thinline]

Agree with you but pretty sure you'll find the Harvey 'spot' is now occupied by a zone defender.

[borderbarry]

I cant see the sense in why the AFL speeded up the kick in. It can give the defending side too great an advantage. They have tried it, and from my point of view it has failed. Return to waiting for the goal umpire to signal the behind and wave the flags.

[noreason41]

I cant see the sense in why the AFL speeded up the kick in. It can give the defending side too great an advantage. They have tried it, and from my point of view it has failed. Return to waiting for the goal umpire to signal the behind and wave the flags.

If used correctly it gives the team with the kick in a bigger advantage as the other team won't have flooded the 50 yet.

IMO, allows the ball to be put into play quicker and less congestion follows, but if you don't find an option quickly...then the opposition sets up their zone and the only way through it (aside from a very good kick) is 50 down the flank or a short 20m chip which leaves you stranded for your next kick.

[Junction Oval]

I think that what occurs, is relective of the general state of play at that time - is our preferred kicker on-the-spot, do we have someone free up-filed, , has the opposition got their zone in place.

I haven't noticed that our kick-ins are worse than others, but if our forward line is constantly being entered, the opposition are likely to have plenty of players up at our end of the ground, which closes down free space. This prevents quick kick-ins.

Agree with nr41 - the more quickly the ball gets into play, the more open the play is. If you wait for the flags to be waved, everything gets clogged up.

[Johnny Member]

I think that what occurs, is relective of the general state of play at that time - is our preferred kicker on-the-spot, do we have someone free up-filed, , has the opposition got their zone in place.

It could be because it's usually a mid that kicks in (Goddard or Dal) and they aren't ready to go.

But regardless, it's something we need to sort out.

Kicking a behind in modern footy is basically a turnover, and should be treated as such. However for us, it doesn't seem like an advantage. You get the feel we've been backed into a corner as opposed to gaining possession and looking to attack.

[gringo]

We are like all other teams, when the ball is in our forward half we try to cut out space for the link player. When we are kicking out we get manned up. It is the way footy is played these days, every player on the ground needs to defend when their team is not in possession. Even the bottom teams now chase down the player that is there to take the ball out of defensive 50. We were one of the first to really press from the kick in now everyone does it.

[Johnny Member]

We are like all other teams, when the ball is in our forward half we try to cut out space for the link player. When we are kicking out we get manned up. It is the way footy is played these days, every player on the ground needs to defend when their team is not in possession. Even the bottom teams now chase down the player that is there to take the ball out of defensive 50. We were one of the first to really press from the kick in now everyone does it.

I don't think we are like all other teams when it comes to kick-ins.

We're struggling badly in this area, wheras other teams are generating Inside 50s and 'coast to coast' goals from them.

[gringo]

I was at ground level in that Hawks match and you could see it wasn't the kick in it was the breaking out of the zone that hurt us. Fisher was usually the link but the next player was covered and when you hand ball in the zone it is turned over to a 50/50 contest. We played the boundary but it would turn over and the hawks would long kick it to the forward line and would often score from them. Most teams break our zone by quick kicks before we can box them in. They are flirting with the odd bit of man on man and in the Dees game quick running ball carriers breaking the lines. It looked laborious but worked.

[sunsaint]

I think that what occurs, is relective of the general state of play at that time - is our preferred kicker on-the-spot, do we have someone free up-filed, , has the opposition got their zone in place.

It could be because it's usually a mid that kicks in (Goddard or Dal) and they aren't ready to go.

But regardless, it's something we need to sort out.

<snip>

this is a huge gripe for me.
Given that Goddard & NDS are the only kickers in our team that "allowed" to carry out this duty, it is the no1 reason we are at such a huge disadvantage. It sets up the painfully slow movement forward which often ends in a hope for the best kick to a pack on the wing. It is also another reason NDS & goddard can rack up possesions with the old one - two play.
If those two ARE our best play makers, then they must be in a position down field.

[Thinline]

I think that what occurs, is relective of the general state of play at that time - is our preferred kicker on-the-spot, do we have someone free up-filed, , has the opposition got their zone in place.

It could be because it's usually a mid that kicks in (Goddard or Dal) and they aren't ready to go.

But regardless, it's something we need to sort out.

<snip>

this is a huge gripe for me.
Given that Goddard & NDS are the only kickers in our team that "allowed" to carry out this duty, it is the no1 reason we are at such a huge disadvantage. It sets up the painfully slow movement forward which often ends in a hope for the best kick to a pack on the wing. It is also another reason NDS & goddard can rack up possesions with the old one - two play.
If those two ARE our best play makers, then they must be in a position down field.

Gwilt takes more than his share.

[sunsaint]

Gwilt takes more than his share.

as he should, he is a backman. And guess what his role is the long kick.
My point is that we are robbing peter downfield with paul's 15mt pocket kcik with our two best midfielders.
Would be good to find actual number stats on kick in duties.

[SainterK]

We have a plan for our kick ins, find Gwilt.

[saint66au]

The one thing that gets right up my nose is when the "Non-desginated kicker" has the ball in his hand after a behind. Rather than just kick it in..he puts the ball on the ground and waits for the designated player to come for it. Whats the point of being able to kick in quickly and break a zone if youre gonna do that?

Surely theres some flexibility as to who kicks it out?

[terry smith rules]

I cant see the sense in why the AFL speeded up the kick in. It can give the defending side too great an advantage. They have tried it, and from my point of view it has failed. Return to waiting for the goal umpire to signal the behind and wave the flags.

I think it has almost naturally returned to this. There is the rare quick kick in but generally now the umpire has to wave them on more often than not.

The proof is in how long the quarters are now.

I also believe that with the new interchange rules teams are using it as a chance to take an extra moments rest

[True Blue Sainter]

We definitely have struggled from kick ins. I think if you looked at the stats for "coast to coast" goals we would be near enough to the bottom. We never really seem to have a structure - it's either the long one down the line to a contest or the get out kick to Joey in short.

[borderbarry]

It says something about Dawson when our fullback doesnt participate in the kick ins, even as a target usually.

[sunsaint]

It says something about Dawson when our fullback doesnt participate in the kick ins, even as a target usually.

no it says something about our whole backline
Baker, Fisher, Blake, Gilbert, Dempster, Peake, Ray all very very rarely take kick ins.
so apart from gwilt, it is usually goddard and NDS that take the duty.
the setup suggests the coach does not believe the backline has the necessary skills
the setup means we are slow to get it out of back 50
the setup means our best onballers are now behind the ball

[Solar]

this is one reason why developing some more running backs is a must. We have one out, short kick to the pocket then long to the boundary. Works if you can wn clearances but we don't do that anymore.

[Maxstar22]

I've thought for a number of years that our kick ins were a weakness.

We always seem to stop, wait, look around, wait some more, look around and then the whistle blows to play on.....by this time the opposition have either manned up or zoned up and makes it very difficult to break.

Some of the more successful teams don't wait and just go.

[stinger]

It says something about Dawson when our fullback doesnt participate in the kick ins, even as a target usually.

no it says something about our whole backline
Baker, Fisher, Blake, Gilbert, Dempster, Peake, Ray all very very rarely take kick ins.
so apart from gwilt, it is usually goddard and NDS that take the duty.
the setup suggests the coach does not believe the backline has the necessary skills
the setup means we are slow to get it out of back 50
the setup means our best onballers are now behind the ball

i have seen ray and schneider also kick in....

[Thinline]

Facts don't belong here Stinger. Leave 'em out.

[sunsaint]

Facts don't belong here Stinger. Leave 'em out.

thats funny because I thought about adding something along the lines of
"..but i saw <insert players name here> kicking in"

but thought nah too obvious

[Teflon]

Agree this is a problem - embarrassing how slow we are sometimes to bring the ball in and i too hate it when a player puts the ball on the ground while waiting for the "designated kicker" to arrive.

[bergsone]

Have money on it,NDS kicks in short to Gwilt in back pocket
set play,predictable