Jayden Short has emerged as the most dangerous kick-in exponent (H-Sun)

[one-eyed]

Who is your club’s kick-in weapon?

Jon Ralph,
Herald Sun
13 Feb 2019

Jayden Short has emerged as the most dangerous kick-in exponent in the league, as clubs experiment with how to maximise new kick-in rules.

The Richmond rebounder earned a significant pay rise last year with his superb defensive play, and now the Tigers will hope to cash in with his booming right foot and attack from the defensive goalsquare.

New rules allow players to play on from that square without touching the ball on their boot, potentially stealing an extra 10m or even taking on the man on the mark.

While Robbie Tarrant has the best kick-rating from 2018 of plus 14.1 per cent (ranking how often a player hits an expected target), it is Short who gets the score on the board.

Of all players to take kick-ins last year, he generated 14 shots at goal from his 105 kick-ins.

Critically, Richmond’s opponent only scored five times going back the other way from his kick-ins.

Short’s numbers might not seem astronomical, with Richmond scoring from about 10 per cent of his kick-ins.

But the reason why the AFL has changed kick-in rules is because there were only 350 shots at goal generated from kick-ins that went end-to-end last year.

Worryingly, there were over 700 shots at goal from teams defending a kick-in.

The league is hopeful the new rule, combined with the 6-6-6 centre bounce set-up, will allow teams more room to set up attacking thrusts.

The AFL is hopeful players like Lloyd, Short and GWS defender Lachie Whitfield will show tactical innovation with their kick-in strategies.

If clubs are forced to defend kick-ins deeper up the ground, there will be space to find a teammate 35m out from goal who then has a pocket of space to boot the ball into the attacking half of the ground.

They could also run straight at the man on the mark, handball over his head to a teammate, get the ball back and launch it into the centre square.

Some clubs might even decide to put two men on the mark, or in that area, to keep rivals from stealing too much room from a kick-in.

Short’s kick-in rating is not as high as Richmond teammate Nick Vlastuin, who mostly hits conservative targets in the pocket.

But in the new world of attacking kick-ins, his long raking kicks down the middle might provide even more bang for buck.

https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/who-is-your-clubs-most-effective-kickin-exponent-as-new-rules-come-into-play-for-2019/news-story/6e347a237d2d503c40cddcdfdbe60eb8

[georgies31]

My only concern for him is defence wise I hope they have worked on that preseason playing to loose and opponent's get to loose.Didn't stand up in finals either.

[mightytiges]

My only concern for him is defence wise I hope they have worked on that preseason playing to loose and opponent's get to loose.Didn't stand up in finals either.

Collingwood deliberately targeted Short every time the ball was in his area. He didn't handle the extra attention. Hopefully, he's more prepared for it this year.

[Gracie]

My only concern for him is defence wise I hope they have worked on that preseason playing to loose and opponent's get to loose.Didn't stand up in finals either.

Collingwood deliberately targeted Short every time the ball was in his area. He didn't handle the extra attention. Hopefully, he's more prepared for it this year.

I always think of Steve Waugh when the opposition targets a weakness. Hopefully, like Waugh, Short will adapt his game keeping his strengths strong and improving his deficiencies and eliminating what does not work.

[Slipper]

My only concern for him is defence wise I hope they have worked on that preseason playing to loose and opponent's get to loose.Didn't stand up in finals either.

Collingwood deliberately targeted Short every time the ball was in his area. He didn't handle the extra attention. Hopefully, he's more prepared for it this year.

I always think of Steve Waugh when the opposition targets a weakness. Hopefully, like Waugh, Short will adapt his game keeping his strengths strong and improving his deficiencies and eliminating what does not work.

Yep, hopefully like Waugh, not Tom Moody.