As we get close to September and start playing for keeps, being able to get the pigskin through the big sticks becomes life or death.
These days with a more even spread of goal kickers, rather than the big key forward from the goal square kicking most of the goals, accuracy has been compromised. From the three games on the weekend, being a split round, the collective total was 59 goals and 55 behinds. That is a goal-kicking ratio of 51.7 percent.
Echuca kicked 13 goals, 6 behinds, which was the best of the weekend. That is going at 68 percent, which is where most forwards and clubs would like to be. The great full forwards are up around that goal-kicking ratio with Tony Lockett at 69.7 percent and Peter Hudson at 68.7 percent. But they are two players that stayed at home and would have most of the time been taking a set shot at goal without having just ran 100 metres and then line up with jelly legs, like the modern day player.
As we go into the finals, the stakes are higher and the pressure is far greater as any result can hinge on one shot at goal. Cast your mind back to the 1993 decider at Deakin Reserve between Shepparton Bears and Rochester. The result was not decided until after the final siren, with an accurate set shot that catapulted the Bears to the ultimate prize.
The little man in the back of the head is saying, “don’t miss”, but for the sides that can defeat that little man and kick truly, the ultimate success awaits them in September.
