Brett Kirk

[FootyontheBrain]

I understand I may lose access to RWO by even intimating what I'm about to say, but does anyone else cringe when Brett Kirk is kicking.

Don't get me wrong, I love the guy and I don't think there is another player in the AFL that gets more out of his natural abilities that Kirky, but let's face it his is not a penetrating kick. A couple times last weekend I noticed his kicks into the forward line either came up short or seemed to hang in the air too long making a contest where it appeared the forward should have taken an easy chest mark.

OK, let the flogging begin.

[Mike_B]

He definitely doesn't have the best kicking skills around, but generally can hit a target. The issue he has is speed of the ball through the air (not a lot of pace on his kick) and the fact he can't keep a ball just above head head over about 40m or so (say in the mould of Jude Bolton's pass to BBBH after Tadhg's bump off Fev, run and handball in the 1st qtr on Sat). Having said that, I don't cringe when he gets the ball, because generally speaking, he is a pretty good decision-maker when it comes to disposal, so that partly makes up for that lack of penetration on his kicks.

Unfortunately for the Swans, alot of our midfielders don't have really penetrating kicks, and that, IMHO is an area that really needs improvement if we are to make the most of our potent forward line.

[ROK Lobster]

Re: Brett Kirk

Originally posted by FootyontheBrain
does anyone else cringe when Brett Kirk is kicking.

Yep. I mentioned it once before and copped a bit of flak but it is undeniable. Not a bad kick for goal but his delivery by foot is average. As you say, the kicks go too high and too slowly.

[liz]

Originally posted by Mike_B
Having said that, I don't cringe when he gets the ball, because generally speaking, he is a pretty good decision-maker when it comes to disposal, so that partly makes up for that lack of penetration on his kicks.

I agree with that comment. He would be the first player to admit he's not the most skilled but his decision making often makes up for it.

I'd add to that the fact that there are few perfect footballers going around. Chris Judd and James Hird have us spoilt about what we demand from our players. Kirky obviously has weaknesses in his game but they're more than made up for by his ability to win ball (hard ball at that) at the same time as playing a defensive role, and especially by his courage and no-nonsense approach to the game.

[FootyontheBrain]

Originally posted by liz
I'd add to that the fact that there are few perfect footballers going around. Chris Judd and James Hird have us spoilt about what we demand from our players. Kirky obviously has weaknesses in his game but they're more than made up for by his ability to win ball (hard ball at that) at the same time as playing a defensive role, and especially by his courage and no-nonsense approach to the game.

Good point. I'm hopeful in coming seasons his offensive skills will improve with his role in the team changing. His attack at the footy has more to do with desire than skill, and hopefully won't be diminished as the seasons roll on.

[Schneiderman]

I think Kirk's greatest value to the team is his ability to take a classy opponent out of the contest, and as part of the process get the ball back for his side. He wins a lot of frees from his dedication to getting to the ball first, and applies the hottest of blow torches to the "stars" from the other side.

With that in mind, not having a penetrating disposal can be forgiven. Imagine if he had a Judd, Buckley or Hird to lay off to each time instead.

[punter257]

one of the smartest footballers in the league with the way he positions his body in a contest.

but yeah i generally agree with his kicking but he makes up for it with his work ethic and attack on the pill

[Snowy]

His disposal has been very ordinary this season.

[Wil]

His kicking is shocking. No left foot and a poor technique which means he can only kick if his body is going a certain way i.e. he cant kick under pressure. From what I remember he warms up by taking shots at goal from about 35m out when the rest of the team takes shots from 50m out.

[TheHood]

He did some great things with his hands on the weekend that just shone.

Basically springing out of pack and dishing off a Black-like pass to fantastic advantage.

His kicks do make me cringe, only because they take an eternity to reach the target but he knows how to work with this because they dont get intercepted or chopped off all that often.

[sharpie]

His kicking has definitely got worse, but at the same time he is ever-increasingly becoming a more effective midfielder, so I'll take that trade-off for now

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by Wil
No left foot

If he has no left foot, I'd hate to know what you think of his right! After all, he is a left footer.

[NMWBloods]

His kicking is rather ordinary, but that is why he handballs so much. His ability to get the ball and his decision making on whom to give it to are pretty good, so we normally do pretty well out of it. If we had a classy running midfielder that Kirk could feed we notice how effective he was even more so.

[satchmopugdog]

He is one of that group of afl level players who still jerk their head down to watch the ball onto their boot. The really good kicks such as Stewart Dew barely have to look at their foot as it is instinctive. But I would have Kirk over Dew anytime.

[stellation]

He looks to have abnormally long forearms.