Who is currently the best kick in the AFL?
Former Blue and Crow Bryce Gibbs has had a crack at answering the highly debated question, listing six players who he believes are in contention to be the competition’s best user by foot.
Speaking on SEN’s Saturdays in SA, Gibbs gave specific criteria that were pivotal in determining the current cream of the crop.
“When I think about good kicks in the AFL, efficiency obviously needs to be high, not being rusty early in the season… and then kick difficulty,” he said.
“Some guys that are better kicks have confidence to go for it through the 45, which those kicks open up the whole game, they’re very confident in their skill and they go for the more difficult kicks to help break open the game.”
See Gibbs’ selections below:
Mitch Duncan - Geelong
“He’s just very balanced, he’s very composed,” Gibbs said.
“He doesn’t look rushed and more often than not he’s hitting targets.”
Shai Bolton - Richmond
“His creativity, especially forward of entre in terms of hitting up leads, providing goal assists and obviously hitting the scoreboard himself.
“We’ve seen when he’s come into the midfield as a small mid, his burst out of stoppage and ability to hit up forwards is pretty impressive.
“He’s a wizard.”
Caleb Daniel - Bulldogs
“Doesn’t have a lot of penetration in his kick but what he does is those little short, 25-30 metre stab passes, changes the angles, not afraid to hit a difficult kick. “He sets a lot of rebound up for the Dogs through his kicking.”
Jack Lukosius - Gold Coast
“He has just got a beautiful action, again another one that’s really well-balanced, they’ve tried him off half-back, they’ve tried him as a half-forward.
“Whether he is coming off the half-back, putting it on guys’ chests or delivering the ball inside 50, I think he’s a beautiful kick.”
Steele Sidebottom - Collingwood
“A guy that can go on both sides, left or right, where do you want it.
“Probably doesn’t look as smooth of an action than some of the guys that I’ve mentioned in this list so far but for him to go left or right foot, I think he’s just about the best both-side-kicker in the comp at the moment.
“With that creativity with his kicks too, he’s one that goes for those tough difficulty (kicks) through the 45 amongst congestion.”
Daniel Rich - Brisbane
“Just for pure penetration and hitting targets, kicking the ball over a 40-50 metre distance.
“Whether it’s kicking in from full-back or getting a handball receive off half-back and delivering the ball to midfielders or forwards over a long distance.”