‘Purest action I’ve seen’: The data that shows why Matthew Lloyd rates Adelaide Crow Darcy Fogarty as the best kick for goal he’s seen in a decade
Essendon great Matthew Lloyd reckons emerging Crows superboot Darcy Fogarty is the best kick for goal he’s seen in a decade. And we have the data to back him up.
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He has been rated by Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd as the best kick for goal he has seen in the past decade.
And now exclusive Champion Data statistics have revealed just what a deadeye dick exciting Adelaide teenager Darcy Fogarty is.
Of the 19-year-old’s 15 AFL career goals, 13 have been kicked from outside 30m and nine from 40m or more.
In an age where former stars are critical over the standard of goalkicking, powerfully built utility Fogarty hasn’t missed from inside 30m and is shooting at an elite accuracy percentage of 76.47 from further out, justifying Lloyd’s big call.
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He has booted 4.1 from 31-40m, 7.2 from 41-50m and 2.1 from outside 50m, highlighting his superboot status.
Fogarty, who booted a career-best five goals against premier West Coast in just his second AFL game of the season last Sunday — and 12th of his career after playing 10 in his rookie campaign last year — kicked 9.3 in his debut year.
He has booted 6.1 in his two matches this season, which have come in the past two weeks against St Kilda and the Eagles.
Lloyd, who is Essendon’s greatest all-time goalkicker with 926 in 270 games from 1995-2009, rates Fogarty as the best shot for goal he has seen for “10-to-15 years’’ and the current player he would want kicking for his life.
“Watching Darcy Fogarty, and he’s only kicked 15 career goals, he is the best kick I have seen in terms of for goal in the past 10-to-15 years,” Lloyd told Channel 9.
“I won’t say ever because he’s played less than 20 games but his set shot (is so good) I actually grabbed my son and said ‘come and watch this guy kick for goal’ because he’s got the purest action I've seen, uncomplicated.
“Just the technique, so simple and beautiful, big legs but just kicks through the ball and the timing of the footy.
“I just got excited, he got it (a goal) five times (against the Eagles), so I just hope he plays a lot of football so we can enjoy the spectacle he’ll put on.’’
Glenelg product Fogarty — the Crows’ first selection at the 2017 national draft (No. 12 overall) — was so impressive against West Coast that Lloyd said he “wondered where has he been’’.
“When you’ve got this talent, you give him an opportunity,’’ Lloyd said.
“I’m not sure what the reasons were for not playing him earlier this year, he (coach Don Pyke) has played him at centre half-back (in the SANFL), they are saying maybe he’s not fit enough.
“But he’s explosive, he’s dynamic and I know there’s been other clubs who have been interested in him because he’s not been getting a chance.
“But I think (Josh) Jenkins will leave as a result of the game he played (against the Eagles).’’
Crows co-captain Rory Sloane described the 193cm, 94kg Fogarty’s breakout performance in Perth as “awesome’’.
“All the boys love ‘Fog’, he’s such a great character to have around the footy club, a really loveable kid,’’ he said.
“It was awesome to see him perform so well.’’
Sloane said he was not surprised by Fogarty’s goalkicking prowess because he watches him practise alongside joint captain Taylor Walker, who also is a fine set shot.
“He’s pretty handy in front of goals, he doesn’t miss too many,’’ Sloane noted.
“But I don’t want to put the moz on him, so I’ll touch wood on that one.
“Tex (Walker) has always been pretty handy as well and those two do a bit of work together in front of goal.’’