Just in case we haven’t done it enough already this week, we need to talk about Gary Ablett Jr.
The Little Master is reminding everyone just how special and brilliant he can be in the twilight of his career.
A fortnight out from turning 35 and the little champ in the hoops is still churning out best-on-ground performances and is a vital asset in his club’s tilt at glory in 2019.
This year for Gary was the start of something new. A move to a new position in an area of the ground where he had drifted but never called home.
From the best midfielder in the game, he has turned into one of the best half forwards and is handling himself with aplomb.
The numbers from Champion Data back that up.
In the forward category, he’s first for disposals, second for score assists, second in ground-ball gets (2.8 a game), first for score involvements (8.7 a game), and first for kicks marked inside attacking 50.
What he is producing is remarkable.
Like Chris Judd, Leigh Matthews and Wayne Carey did before him, Ablett has changed the game.
And the role that he’s playing now should be a lesson to all other 17 clubs in the land.
(Photo by Adam Trafford/AFL Media/Getty Images)
It begs the question: what is the most important kick in a game of footy?
And who are the elite kicks in the competition, and where do you want your best kickers lining up on the field of play?
Most attacking plays are set up from the back half and are reliant on good ball movement from the defensive side the ground.
That’s why we see many of the AFL’s top kickers deployed off half back and running up the ground.
Jake Lloyd, Heath Shaw, Lachie Whitfield, Caleb Daniel and Brodie Smith are a few examples of prime ball-users off half back who continue to rack up high kicking efficiency numbers over the first six rounds.
But is the first kick in the chain the most important?
Ablett stresses the importance of the last link in the chain – the ball that gets delivered inside attacking 50.
It’s the link that brings a lot of teams unstuck – particularly those who have been dwelling down the ladder in recent seasons.
The delivery of the football so often separates the good sides from the rest in the competition, and Ablett’s role as the link player and main deliverer of the football is one of the reasons why Geelong have become so potent forward of centre.
Most clubs have their man that they mould into that position.
Adelaide’s Tom Lynch has made that role as the Crows’ link player his own, generating plenty of scores.
Lance Franklin’s field kicking is grossly underrated. His delivery of the football inside attacking 50 has become a feature of his game. In 2018, Franklin was second in score involvements, trailing only Dustin Martin.
Medium forwards and bull midfielders like Patrick Dangerfield, Lachie Neale and Dustin Martin are who you want kicking the ball to you if you are a forward.
With the new 6-6-6 formation at every centre bounce – as much as winning the clearance has now become essential for some teams to score – clubs need the personnel to win the ball and use it effectively.
Late in his career, Ablett is proving that quality forward entries are the most important kick in the game.
While some will say that Ablett can do anything, few expected the output we are currently getting from the little champ – a little reminder that this future hall of famer is a special footballer, who even in his later years is still finding ways to keep opposition coaches up at night.
How many games he has left in his nearly 35-year-old body, who knows.
But let us celebrate him while we can and continue to marvel at the way he plays and changes our game.
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