Western Bulldogs forwards consultant Brad Johnson has revealed why the club is getting players to wear blindfolds while practising their set shot routines.
Channel Seven’s cameras caught the bizarre technique on camera at Whitten Oval last week and Johnson says it’s all to enhance the other senses as players kick for goal.
With their vision gone, Johnson says that the blindfold tries to get players to lean more into the ‘feel’ of their set shot routines with how they hold the ball, the ball drop and the connection off the boot big focuses.
While the Bulldogs are ranked 4th out of 18 in goal kicking accuracy so far in 2024, Johnson hopes the training technique helps the side improve further in the key aspect of the game.
“First off, the blindfold is just part of the set of episodes or structure that we've created from the goal kicking program that we've introduced at the club,” Johnson told SEN Sportsday.
“With the blindfold, I experienced this as a player, that's why I love this and love trying to teach it because you've got your routine and your set routines, but it really becomes just that feel (with the blindfold).
“You feel the Sherrin, you feel it on your boot, your ball drop, you start to understand those things without actually visually seeing it so it can become second nature to you.
“Then if you are kicking and you're just off a little bit, you start to understand in your mind why that is the case.
“It's just an element. They put the blindfolds on, they could just close their eyes and do it as well, but the blindfolds are just a little bit of a layer to add a bit of fun to what we're trying to achieve.”
The Bulldogs have converted 53.3% of their attempts at goal so far in 2024.
They’ll put their goal kicking to the test when they face Essendon at Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Photo: Channel Seven