sign in sign up
<<
Home , Adam Goodes, Alan Didak, Brett Burton, Chris Judd, Corey Enright, Dean Cox

the science of HOW TO When he has time to go back Despite being one of the best KEY TO REACHING THE TOP behind the mark and kick the kicks in the AFL, Didak continues Kicking is the most important skill in Australian Football. The basic PL AY kicking ball, Didak’s major priority is to to work hard on his kicking skill of kicking should be taught at a young age and any faults ensure he is “nice and relaxed”. at training. rectified. It is important players learn the right technique while they Collingwood star is renowned as one of the best kicks in But even the best kicks in the “I just walk back and take a He has some advice for are young. the AFL. In this first of a series highlighting the skills of Australian game have an off day, just as he couple of deep breaths,” he said. youngsters aspiring to kick as Each week most AFL players demonstrate the ability to (a) kick did when he missed a crucial goal “When I’m having a shot for well as he does. “Make sure you under pressure; (b) pass the ball accurately to a teammate; and (c) Football, the Magpie talks about why he is such a good kick and has against North two goals, I make sure my body is get out there in a backyard or a use the ball to the best advantage of their side when kicking from a some sound advice for footy’s next generation. By Howard Kotton. weeks ago. facing the goals and keep telling paddock and keep practising your set position. In the heat of action every myself, ‘just kick straight’.” technique,” he said. lan Didak’s ability to in the backyard and at school in the hopes of the vast Magpie army week, Didak says he does not Didak prefers to use his left “Make sure you hit the target POINTS TO REMEMBER WHEN KICKING THE BALL kick the football with . are raised in expectation. have time to think about his boot, although he admits he and practise on both sides of 1. Line up your body with the target. Have your head slightly bent uncanny accuracy As a youngster, Didak practised Whether it’s putting a drop kicking too much – he just does is kicking more on his non- the body. And make sure you’re over the ball. Hold the ball over the thigh of the kicking leg. and precision did not at every opportunity. “Most of punt down a teammate’s throat what comes naturally. preferred right these days. improving your kick because 2. Guide the ball down with one hand. Ahappen overnight. the time I was kicking the footy or a miraculous snap from “I honestly don’t even think “I’m pushing up the ground there’s no point practising unless 3. Point your toes at your target – watch the ball hit the foot. The talented Magpie honed his with my mates,” he said. As Didak the boundary, he rarely lets about it, I just do it. Hopefully it a lot more and probably getting you’re getting better.” ■ 4. Follow through straight towards the target. skills over many years of practice swings on to his trusty left foot, them down. comes off,” Didak said. caught on my right-hand side a • technical advice courtesy of the The preferred kick among AFL players is the drop punt. fair bit,” he said. afl development department.

As he prepares to kick, Didak takes a long last He drops the ball vertically with his guiding hand as he Didak’s leg accelerates through impact Didak is balanced as he stride to help generate is about to make contact with his boot. His support leg as his body drives forward and up. runs towards his target, power, while the non- braces his body while the knee is tightly flexed before Contact is made high on his instep and with his weight on his guiding arm swings out quickly extending for contact. The non-guiding hand he follows through towards the target 1kicking leg. 2 and back for balance. 3 comes forward, while his head is still over the ball. 4 with his head still. 66 AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au 67 THE INTERCHANGE> HOW TO hanging with PL AY the best Who better to advise on how to take a ‘speccie’ than ‘The Birdman’ himself, . By Nick Bowen. rett Burton has always took him close to his current “When I go for a mark, I don’t loved flying for ‘speccies’ height of 185cm, Burton broke necessarily try to take the biggest but as a junior his into Glenelg’s SANFL team at 19 mark or a screamer. coaches encouraged him in 1998. Playing at centre half- “I always just watch the ball Bto stay down and crumb. forward, he finally had a licence to and try to take it at its highest Ironically, Burton has since fly for his marks and The Birdman point. I don’t take any notice of become so well known for his was hatched. anyone around me because you high-flying marks after debuting Drafted by the Crows at the end can’t affect what they’re going to for the Crows in 1999 that he is of that season, Burton brought his do, you can’t tell them to stay put now almost universally known as one-man air show to the AFL. so you can jump on them.” ‘The Birdman’. Much to the delight of crowds Now 30, Burton is continuing Burton says it was not until a across the country, his three to rack up the frequent flyer growth spurt in his late teens that coaches at – Malcolm points in 2008 as evidenced he literally started to take off. Blight, and by his classic hanger over “When I was growing up I was – gave him free rein to continue Melbourne’s Matthew quite small, I was 172cm until I doing what he does best. Warnock in round eight was about 19,” Burton said. Now in his 10th AFL season, (pictured right). “So all of my coaches throughout Burton says high marking has “For me, the hanger is one my juniors would encourage me to become almost second nature of the reasons you play footy,” stay down and crumb.” to him, so much so he rarely he said. Unperturbed, Burton continued practises it. “It is exhilarating, you get a big to practise his high marking in “It certainly comes naturally to buzz out of it. You can hear the kick-to-kick sessions at school me now and you’re best to stop crowd noise when you go up and, and by himself at home, where he thinking about it too much and if you take it, it gets even louder. spent countless hours, kicking the just letting it flow,” he said. “But it’s not just from an ball high in the air and launching “For me, it’s really all about the individual point of view. When himself at it, always trying to take timing. What I tell myself is when you see guys take hangers, it lifts it at its highest point. you see the ball, hold yourself the whole side. That’s a good Burton’s practice eventually back, then go late and try to take feeling to be able to lift your paid off. After a growth spurt the ball at its highest point. side.” ■

Part 3 of a series on how to play the game – overhead marking

This is one of the most spectacular features of 4 The ball is met slightly in front of the head with Australian Football. It takes great skill and athleticism arms extended. It is firmly gripped in the fingers. to launch yourself in the air, but a player who takes a consistent high mark can inspire teammates and bring The grip other players into the game. Ensure the fingers are outstretched and the thumbs Main teaching points almost together. Burton runs in to On making contact With his eyes still He has taken the ball 1 Line body up with the flight of the ball. Keep bring his body in direct with his opponent firmly focused on the slightly in front of General coaching hints line with the flight of with his legs, Burton ball and head still, he his face with arms eyes on the ball. The ball should be pulled down quickly on to the ball. His eyes are is extending them to has brought his hands extended and has flexed 2 Jump off one foot and swing the other knee up focused firmly on the push his body upwards together in the classical slightly at the elbows to the chest when marking in front of an opponent. ball and he has jumped to gain extra height. “W” position with absorb the force of the to gain maximum height and protect yourself. 1 2 3 4 When the ball is wet, the hands are brought close powerfully off his take-off He is moving into perfect thumbs almost touching and ball, as it is firmly gripped with 3 Eyes are kept on the ball; fingers are (left) leg to launch himself position to take the ball as fingers outstretched. His arms the fingers. He has started to together; the fingers tap the ball down where it towards the ball. high as he can. are extended towards the ball. pull the ball down to his chest. outstretched and thumbs almost together. is gathered on the chest. • Technical advice in this series courtesy of the AFL Development Department.

18 AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au 19 HOW TO PL AY movement at the

DEAN COX (DT) v (Vic) (DT) v STOPPAGES Cox attempts to palm the ball sam mitchell (Vic) Split-second decisions that can determine (DT) v into the space in front of Leon (Vic) Davis, the likely go-to man. Put the best negating player in (DT) v the outcome of a contest are made at every Fraser is looking to push the the game on the best winner (Vic) Pendlebury is poised to hunt the ball away from that space for of the ball at stoppages. Kirk stoppage. By Peter Ryan. ball and move into the opposition’s , Nathan Foley or is also blocking Mitchell from Davis moved from the forward hit zone in front of Leon Davis, Sam Mitchell to run on to. Cox moving into the space Dean line to become the go-to player. inning stoppages sometimes football’s equivalent backing himself to reach the ball looks to have the ascendancy. Cox is attempting to hit the He has space in front of him before Davis. This is a risk. If Davis ball into, keeping the hit zone and is aiming to tap is crucial. At of Russian roulette. “It’s totally a beats him to the ball and he is not free of opponents. Mitchell is the ball in his direction. Power each stoppage, judgement call,” he says. able to make an effective , hunting the ball. should be tighter, but has an he has made the wrong decision advantage if wins teams are trying The best midfield combinations as Joel Corey will be loose and able the ball. Wto execute a pre-arranged and have a balance of ball hunters, to accept the handball. Corey can peel off for the handball if the ball well-drilled plan. man hunters and space hunters. goes in Davis’ direction. If the ball The ideal is for the ruckman Good players can fulfil several lands at the ruckmen’s feet, Corey can either hunt the ball at the risk to hit the ball to a teammate roles, happy to pick up a man of Pendlebury becoming a loose who is on the move either in the but then roll off them into space option if Chris Judd wins the ball or direction of goal or moving away if their teammate wins the ball. stay tight with Pendlebury. from goal into space. Some teams They can also tighten up if the use a theoretical clock face to opposition wins it. quickly communicate where they As soon as the ball is bounced, want the ball to be hit. Unless each player at the stoppage has a one ruckman is dominating, split-second decision to make. Do teams cover all bases at stoppages, I try to win possession? Do I peel employing a go-to person, off into space? Do I play tight and a blocker and a sweeper at stay on my man? centre square stoppages (see “That’s how stoppage players definitions in box). live their life,” McKenna says. Teams must hedge their bets “If you can hold the ball up or between defence and attack slow the ball down, it doesn’t because a quick, clean clearance matter where your opponent is, to the opposition will inevitably but if you make that call to affect end in a scoring opportunity. the contest and get in there and Collingwood assistant coach lose the ball or lose position and Guy McKenna was in charge the opposition get it, then your of stoppages for the Dream man is going to bite you on the Team during the Hall of Fame backside by heading back or Tribute Match. He concedes the running forward to hurt you at decisions made at stoppages are that stoppage.” ■

Part 4 of a series on how to play the game – stoppages

Basic roles at stoppages (DT) v (DT) v (DT) v Go-to player: Attacking player looking to receive the ball from the ruckman NATHAN FOLEY (Vic) RYAN O’KEEFE (Vic) (Vic) or quickly adopt a defensive role if the ball goes the opposition’s way. Foley’s potential to make Goodwin backs Dean Cox to win the Enright touches Goodes and a decisive breakaway means tap to Leon Davis. If Davis beats stays between the ball and his Sweeper: Like a goalkeeper, is the last line of defence if an opponent Burgoyne is expected to play Scott Pendlebury to the ball and opponent to ensure Goodes receives the ball. Has to force the opposition to at least kick the ball tight. He is also trying to push handballs to Joel Corey in space, can’t run past for the handball. Foley into congested space. then Goodwin can be a spare option under pressure so the backline can impact the next contest. forward. O’Keefe will roll the dice if the ball is in dispute, either pushing Blocker: Either protects the space for the go-to player to receive the forward himself or playing tight ball or blocks opponents from moving into the hit zone. on Goodwin. O’Keefe is also a slim • Stoppage descriptions courtesy of Collingwood chance to receive Josh Fraser’s tap. and Dream Team assistant coach Guy McKenna.

70 AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au 71 THE INTERCHANGE> HOW TO PL AY tapPING in to ruckwork In the fifth of a series, star West Coast Eagle Dean Cox discusses the finer points of ruck play. By Howard Kotton.

s Dean Cox prepares rather than hit it in an open for a ruck contest space, which provides a greater at stoppages and risk of turning it over. boundary throw-ins, Cox is rarely flustered on the Athe star West Coast Eagle’s field, but is not happy when major priority is to be in front his hit-out is sharked by the of his opponent. opposing midfielders. Cox says that taking the front “I get stuck into my position gives him more control midfielders, just like they would over where to direct his hit-out. do if I’m not getting my hands on But his strategy at centre bounces the football,” he said. “My role is can vary, depending on the tactics to tap it to a certain area and their employed by the opposition. role is to get there.” “Being in front makes it a lot As a young ruckman, Cox more difficult for the opposition picked up plenty of tips from ruckman to get a clean hit on the former teammate Michael football,” he said. “In the centre, Gardiner, as well as other it varies. You might have some experienced ruckmen including players who might jump early or , might come from different angles. and . “It helps to mix it up with a “I suppose I wasn’t as strong as different run-up or angle, so you them and I tried to learn from a don’t become so predictable.” very young age the way they got The triple All-Australian in the best body position,” Cox, ruckman spends plenty of time 26, said. during the week at training “Once my strength came, I’d working on set-ups with his get in the right position and midfielders. He prefers to palm be able to tap it down to our the ball to a running teammate midfield.” ■

Part 5 of a series on how to Play the game – ruck Basic roles THE LEAP PERFECT TIMING DIRECTION THE BLOCK The role of the ruckman is a crucial one in Australian Football. A good Cox leaps towards the ball He times his leap to reach He hits the ball with his open He follows through towards ruckman sets up play from a variety of contests such as the centre bounce from one foot and swings maximum height at the point hand and firm fingers. The ball his target and contact by his both arms up to gain height. where he will contact the ball. His is directed towards the target opponent has no effect on the or boundary throw-in. To create opportunities for his smaller, running He watches the ball and palming arm is straight and his and he follows through with his direction of the ball. He is in a 1prepares to palm it with his right hand fingers are spread to get maximum control arm in the direction of the tap. By leaping good position to block his opponent from players, it is important that a ruckman has the skill to direct the ball to his 2 3 4 to the space in front of his receiver. His of the ball on contact. His eyes are focused to meet the ball at his maximum height, he further involvement in the play and to teammates’ best advantage. It is worth watching top-class ruckmen such body is turned side-on to his opponent on the ball and his left arm moves in a beats his opponent to the ball and taps it take possession himself if the ball goes as the ’ Dean Cox and Port Adelaide’s to for protection. natural balancing action. cleanly before contact has occurred. to ground. see how they use their various skills. • Technical advice in this series courtesy of the AFL Development Department.

18 AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au AFL RECORD visit afl.com.au 19