Pure Footy: David King and Daniel Hoyne reveal the AFL’s best and worst kicks

Who are the laser kicks, which players are missing too many targets and who should be dropped for his kicking alone? All is revealed in Pure Footy.

Bailey Dale is the best kick in the AFL, and by a big margin.

But a Port Adelaide defender’s kicking accuracy has vanished while a big-money St Kilda recruit should be dropped for missing so many targets, according to David King.

The North Melbourne champion joins Champion Data analyst Daniel Hoyne every Tuesday for Pure Footy, the show that lifts the lid on what’s really happening at your club.

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This week they revealed the best and worst kicks in the competition after five rounds based on Champion Data’s kick rating formula that ranks not just the accuracy of kicks but how tough the kicks are and how much pressure players are under when they put ball to boot.

On that measure Dale is ranked 19.1 per cent above the AFL average as he flourishes in a new role up the field. Saint Hunter Clark is No.2 on the list at 13.5 per cent ahead of another Bulldog, Taylor Duryea (13.2 per cent).

On the other side of the ledger Darcy Byrne-Jones has the lowest rating at -10.8 per cent, ahead of Carlton’s Liam Jones (-10.5 per cent), while Magpie Jack Crisp also ranks in the bottom five in the AFL.

Jack Crisp is struggling to hit targets by foot. Picture: Michael Klein

Bailey Dale is having a fantastic season. Picture: Michael Klein

But King took particular aim at Saint Brad Hill, who was recruited for his finishing skills but is letting his team down in that department in 2021.

“If you’re not going to be a contested possession player — and Brad Hill has had 16 contested possessions for the year, that’s three a week — you’ve got to be a laser by foot.

“He’s at -8 per cent on the kick rating chart, that’s in the below average to poor range. I would be dropping him on that alone.

“If his function in the team is not being served, then you have no role in the St Kilda line-up at the moment. Go back, get your kicking right, then come back into the team.

“I’m not asking you to win more ball, I’m not asking you to lay tackles, but if your function is to be a kicker, then you must deliver.”

King and Hoyne also revealed the best and worst shots at goal in the competition, the players hurting Carlton by foot, Melbourne’s biggest test against Richmond on Saturday night, why things might not be as bad for Collingwood as they look and much more.

Originally published as Pure Footy: David King and Daniel Hoyne reveal the AFL’s best and worst kicks