Imagine, if you will, the press box at the Melbourne vs Footscray match:
~~ "Did you see Wheatley's kick-out?"
~~ "No, I was at the buffet table."
~~ "I missed it, too, I was at the bar.
~~ "Anyone see Wheatley's ball burster?"
~~ "Nope, I heard it was a bomb."
~~ "Uh uh, I heard it landed in the guts."
~~ "Not here, I heard it landed in the centre circle."
Peter Hanlon, The Age:
HOT AND COLD
Hot was Paul Wheatley, who wins the Malcolm Blight "save the torpedo" award with a kick in the last quarter that landed in the centre circle (with Doggie Dylan Addison, unfortunately).
Bruce Matthew, The Herald Sun:
WHEATLEY MAKES BIG IMPRESSION
No wonder Melbourne's Paul Wheatley is revered for possessing one of the most powerful right boots in the AFL. Wheatley loaded up with a monster torpedo punt from a kick-off following a behind two minutes into the last quarter. The ball landed at a marking contest in the centre circle, with the length of the bomb estimated to be at least 70m.
The kick indeed was a barrel, but while it landed parallel with the centre circle, it landed well away from the centre circle.
Annoying thing was those beernut eating monkeys were correct in saying it landed on the chest on a Dogs player. Unfashionable and impromptu acts like that in modern footy deserve to get rewarded. Good thing for TV was the camera caught the kick from behind Wheatley. Fair torp.
Surprised he didn't shank it 30 metres, straight to Brad Johnson, to get a cheap goal and get him into the game.
Posted by: RT | 07/14/2008 at 01:22 PM
Wheat's never shanks his kicks - they're always dead straight. Unfortunately they're usually dead straight to a completely unrealistic contest or an opposition player.
Posted by: Adam 1.0 | 07/15/2008 at 09:43 AM
Luke Ball is the same. Dead straight kicks, but only 20 metres and usually sideways, backwards or to a 1-2 contest, not to mention holding the ball up to allow the opposition time to man up. Frustrating is not the word - more like something else starting with F. Robert Harvey on the other hand can't kick over 25 metres these days, but rarely do I see him miss a target.
Posted by: Adsy | 07/15/2008 at 03:10 PM
Wheatley is not quick enough to get into good space to cleanly hit targets down-field, or those down-field are not quick enough to get into good space to offer a clear target.
Either way, too often he seems to be kicking around the corner, or kicking over an oncoming opponent.
Posted by: Tony T | 07/15/2008 at 09:26 PM
It's 1993. The Bombers score a point. Salmon runs out past centre half back and marks the long corridor kickout from the opposition full back. Well, it worked on Carlton.
Posted by: Lad Litter | 07/15/2008 at 11:32 PM