Why do Goddard and Dal kick out?

[The Sainter]

Why do we waste 2 of our best attacking players kicking out when a point is scored? I know they are both good kicks but they create so many attacking moves when the ball is in their hands further down the ground plus they also can kick goals when dashing through the centre. Gwilt is a long kick so perhaps he could be used in this role. Evidently Ross must have no faith in Zac's ability to kick out otherwise he would be using him and not wasting the talents of two of out topline footballers.
This is not a whinge, just an observation on something I find hard to work out why one of our best 5 players is out of the play when an opposition team scores a point.

[SaintTom]

We need to get it out of the full back line before we can think of attacking, we set up a lot of our attack from the half back flank. It's becoming increasingly difficult for teams to get the footy out of that kick out, so Goddard is certainly the man I'd want with it. Is precise with whatever kick he makes, also with the distance to launch it 55-60 metres if needed.

[Milan Faletic]

We need to get it out of the full back line before we can think of attacking, we set up a lot of our attack from the half back flank. It's becoming increasingly difficult for teams to get the footy out of that kick out, so Goddard is certainly the man I'd want with it. Is precise with whatever kick he makes, also with the distance to launch it 55-60 metres if needed.

Agree, and then they follow up and run up the ground and form part of the run and carry in to attack. The key is that we get maintain possession from the kick out and then they both follow the ball forward.

[saintsRrising]

Why do we waste 2 of our best attacking players kicking out when a point is scored? .

Because they are two of our best kicks.

On kick-ins today it is often very crowded due to forward presses and so it is more important than ever to have a precise kicker for kick-ins from FB.

[Saintsfan]

Had to laugh after Raph tried to take a kick in from Dal Santo and suggested he should do it...

No Raph...

[busso mick]

Why do we waste 2 of our best attacking players kicking out when a point is scored? .

Because they are two of our best kicks.

On kick-ins today it is often very crowded due to forward presses and so it is more important than ever to have a precise kicker for kick-ins from FB.

Apart from their precise kicking it also breaks the flow temporarily if they are being tagged as some taggers don't like being pushed too far forward.

[The Sainter]

I appreciate the replies and reasons why but surely someone like a Blake or Fisher are more than capable of kicking to a player on his own say about 30 or 40 metres out from goals? Each has played over 100 games so should know now how to kick to a teammate who is not manned up after a behind is scored.

[sainta]

Even with Dal and Goddard some of the kick in's have been close calls. So close to goals I'd definitely rather someone who can kick doing it than someone who can sorta kick to someone 30-40m away by themselves. We can't always go the soft kick when teams decide to man up.

[plugger66]

I appreciate the replies and reasons why but surely someone like a Blake or Fisher are more than capable of kicking to a player on his own say about 30 or 40 metres out from goals? Each has played over 100 games so should know now how to kick to a teammate who is not manned up after a behind is scored.

No they couldnt and luckily never will.

[shmic_s]

The best kicks in your team should take the kickout. Any mistake can cost a goal.
Not only do they need to be able to spot someone up 30 to 40 metres out, but also kick it 50 metres if no easy options, or even kick it to themselves and run off for a pin point pass on the wing.
The backmen are there to quickly cover their man if there is a turnover. Hard to do if they're taking the kick.
Saying that, I'm sure Blake and Fisher are more than capable. But still, i'd want Dal or BJ taking them.

[Young Georgie]

I think sometimes it gives the opposition time to man up or zone when Dal or BJ run up to take the kick whereas a player closer to the ball and goal could get it moving quicker.

While Dal is one of the best he did 2 shockers in a row on Sunday with 1 horrible turnover resulting in a goal.

Just seems a bit too predictable for mine and could make it more difficult to move out of defence.

[Beej]

Why do we waste 2 of our best attacking players kicking out when a point is scored? .

Because they are two of our best kicks.

On kick-ins today it is often very crowded due to forward presses and so it is more important than ever to have a precise kicker for kick-ins from FB.

Yep, you could argue that the kick-in is equally as important as the kick inside 50.

[sunsaint]

I think sometimes it gives the opposition time to man up or zone when Dal or BJ run up to take the kick whereas a player closer to the ball and goal could get it moving quicker.

While Dal is one of the best he did 2 shockers in a row on Sunday with 1 horrible turnover resulting in a goal.

Just seems a bit too predictable for mine and could make it more difficult to move out of defence.

Im with georgie on this one.
Leaving aside that the statistics this year for ball movement from kick ins has been on the poor side.
I also would love to see how many of those first kicks were dinky 15mt sideward kicks. No ground gained and all you have done is put the ball in the hands of someone who cant kick(according to those that subscribe to the "best kick" theory) and that person now has fewer choices in regards to the fact that he is deep in a pocket.

I dont see the problem as one of "you need the best kick", but rather you need to get movement from the onballers to present many options.
Its when things become very static that precision becomes a big issue.

[MC Gusto]

i tend to agree. i know they are both great kicks but we have others and having them as options to receive the kick in is quite tempting in our current form...might just help us spark a bit more of attack in our game?

i will get lambasted for this but why not zac? the boy is a decent kick...seriously he is!.. and it could do wonders for his confidence; just getting his hands on the ball and being a part of a linked up play.

Could go either way in reality but i would be happy seeing more of our gun midfielders receiving the ball and less kicking out from goal so long as it all didn't go to complete and utter tatters!

[Wrote for Luck]

Zac is a good kick. But is a good mark too, so is Blake and Fish. Once in the hands of receiving defenders they know better than most what to do next.

[plugger66]

The best kicks must kick out as long as it is possible. Just about the second most important kick in a game and yes they do sometimes kick 20 metres to an unmarked player but it is when they want to spot up someone 60 metres out that only the best can do. the last thing we need to do is take that out of our game. It will slow us down even further.

[bobmurray]

We need our own Dustin Fletcher...kick outs from Full Back landed deep into the centre square...we can't do it everytime but occasionally would be good.....

[derby Street]

I appreciate the replies and reasons why but surely someone like a Blake or Fisher are more than capable of kicking to a player on his own say about 30 or 40 metres out from goals? Each has played over 100 games so should know now how to kick to a teammate who is not manned up after a behind is scored.

I think it's best left to the better kicks (Dal & BJ) - it's difficult enough hitting a target. I can't readily think of any better options with the poise and skill to execute this task consistently.

[sunsaint]

The best kicks must kick out as long as it is possible. Just about the second most important kick in a game and yes they do sometimes kick 20 metres to an unmarked player but it is when they want to spot up someone 60 metres out that only the best can do. the last thing we need to do is take that out of our game. It will slow us down even further.

I dont have stats to back it up but I would say 60mt long kicks happen so rarely you could count them on one hand, the 20mt sidewards kick is the norm.
So in line with what both you and bobmuuray want, I have given this some thought and here is the plan. You keep Fish and Blake out deep as marking options, you have (if we must) Goddard and NDS cruising around close by and you use, wait for it...
Raph for the kick in.
I can hear the howls already, but one of his faults is when has to operate under pressure. Given the time a kick in affords him, I believe he could develop into the Fletcher long kick type.
He has a beautiful low, hard, fast kick, that can travel 50mt with ease

[PJ]

Most teams have copied the forward pressure model set by Ross and the saints last year so the required kick needs to be "perfection", couple of metres out and you are in deep shizen. BJ & Dal for mine.

[CeilidhSaint]

BJ could kick out long to the centre square like Dustbin Fletcher but it ain't Saints Footy!
Get with the program!

[Enrico_Misso]

I agree with the OP.
Using one of our best play-makers to kick in limits our ability to carry the ball down for a rebound goal.

Hasn't Zac got just about the our best kicking efficiency?
Not just his 1 from 1 last week but he is normally over 80%.

One of Geelong's strengths is that they can rely on Hunt for their kick-ins.
Hunt is otherwise a pretty ordinary player.
But is a good kick-in.
That means his kick-in options include ALL of their better players.

If Zac is to retain a place in our side, and let's face it, he is struggling, then we need to develop him as our kick-in man.
Then he might be passing to Dal or Goddard who can set up the play.

[bobmurray]

BJ could kick out long to the centre square like Dustbin Fletcher but it ain't Saints Footy!
Get with the program!

Saints Footy struggles to win....what sort of program is that ...........
our kick ins are shite..we need some alternatives to the 20 metre chip kick..... obviously some people think it is the way to go but the opposition nearly always allow the dinky chip kick,it's the 2nd kick that counts...

[borderbarry]

I would prefer BJ to be receiving the kick-in.

[saintdooley]

is it "why DO Goddard...." or "why DOES Goddaed...."
i think its does.
please change it