DD#23
Norm Smith Medallist
- Dec 31, 2013
- 9,127
- 12,400
- AFL Club
- Adelaide
definitely laziness and probably feeling some extra pressure as captain as well, he can still kick the huge bomb so I can't blame the knee.To me, the biggest problem with Tex is his goalkicking degradation. He has always been lazy on the chase, and, no doubt his marking attempts are more measured than before the injury. However, from memory he was kicking very well, and long, after his recovery, but his goalkicking has regressed badly recently. This is exceedingly bad, since his deadeye goalkicking was his major distinguishing leadership characteristic, providing many morale-boosting and team-lifting moments.
In this respect, now, he is ordinary. Everyone has noticed how he is RS from 30m and that he now sometimes doesn't even make the distance. I find it hard to believe that his knee is now limiting the kicking, since he looks very unflustered and casual in his approach. Is he just getting lazy? Surely a bit of mental toughness and practice should see him return to his inspiring goalkicking form?
in my opinion he was at his best when he payed the opposition little respect and ran on instinct.
always mind over matter on set shots, need to be able to remove yourself from the context of the game a bit and go through the routine. There's no reason why a goal you kick 99 times out of 100 at training should be a 60% proposition in a game - its like serving in tennis, the guys who are best at it put the ball in when it counts, not the guys who serve 220 but double fault to bring up 2 break points.
I think for Tex he seems to relish the long range ones because they're lower percentage chances, so lower expectation and its a massive lifter when they go through i.e. positive thoughts. When were down early and desperately need a settler from right out in front its a completely different proposition.