Breeding a generation of hook-foots

The release recently of the ‘Buddy Ball’ has AussieRulesBlog rather perplexed.

 

We understand marketers’ desire to associate Lance Franklin with some saleable merchandise and young fans’ desire to be associated with a charismatic figure. In our own callow youth, we wore the then-fashionable Ron Barassi footy boots in the sincere belief that they imparted magical powers.

 

‘Buddy’ boots, we wouldn’t have much of a problem with. ‘Buddy’ socks or shorts, even less so. But a Buddy Ball?

 

Despite the near universal hailing of Franklin, AussieRulesBlog sees at least one serious flaw — his kicking. The huge sweeping arc of his approach and the slicing, glancing contact of his boot on the ball which imparts the famous ‘reverse swing’ on his kicks aren’t techniques we should be lauding to impressionable young boys.

 

A ‘Gazza’ Ball? No problems. Young Gary runs in straight, kicks straight through the ball — and is a reliable goal kicker.

 

Franklin himself is never sure where his kicks are going to go. When they’re good, they’re terrifyingly wonderful, but when they’re not, like the little girl down the lane, they’re absolutely awful.

 

It’s about percentages and repeatability. It’s about reliability in the heat of a close finish with the pressure of expectation weighing heavily. Let’s give our up and coming players a role model whose technique stands up under pressure.