(07-24-2024, 08:51 AM)kruddler link Wrote:I don't disagree with what you right here, but i feel Curnow needs someone playing devils advocate.
I think the way we use Curnow is terrible.
There was an article about kicking efficiency and best kicks inside 50 and worst kicks etc.
We had 2 in the top 10 of the bad category, Kennedy was #1 and Walsh was something like #7.
When we kick it to charlie, we kick it on top of his head.
He, like Buddy, is a freak athlete but Marking is not his strongest suit.
We are much better kicking it to him on the lead. Or even dribbling it along the ground to him. His athleticism makes him somewhat unbeatable in those situations and his skill 'on the turn' blows most defenders away.
A lot of the goals Charlie gets are either....
1. Free kicks from desperate defenders trying to wrestle/scrag him
2. Over the back types where he gets back onto the ball from a pack.
Charlie copped a lot of s*it about his finals series and i think in part it was because he didn't get the same (soft?) frees he is used to during H+A. You need to earn your goals in finals.
So yes, Charlie could chase and tackle more. He could be more involved when the ball is not in his hands. He might be struggling with injury now as well.
However, we could do more to help him as well. Perhaps treat him better and we'll get better results from him.
Yep
Let's put aside the fact that he may be playing injured for a moment.
I was watching a video of all his 2022 goals last night.
When the ball is delivered high to him he is usually being double teamed or scragged.
There are often too many in the contest, so yep...his goals sometimes come from going back and getting the ball that comes to the back of the pack.
In those situations marking is not a strength, it's his positioning.
But at the other end of the ground...
How many times has he gone back into defence this year and taken good strong marks at crucial times?
Down there his marking has proved a strength.
On the lead he's virtually unstoppable and that includes the chaos balls bouncing into the forward line.
So it is probably correct that we do him no favours with delivery high to a pack mark situation.
Those quick 'turn and go' goals, or kicks to another forward are also impressive.
That shows a degree of athleticism that's not always there in other aspects of his game.
I don't think it's because he's not capable...it may because he is playing injured.
One area where he seems to be lacking is actively contesting a ball once the initial contest is over and the ball is in dispute on the ground.
The have been times when the second efforts aren't great.
I actually don't see him bending over to get to those contested balls...which is one reason I suspect he may be carrying a lower back injury.
Charlie is a unique talent.
He's an excellent goal kicker...but he's also a 'long range' goalkicker.
He's close to the top of our talent list.
He'd be in the first three-four players picked each week.
But do we use him to best effect.