‘Ain’t working’: Jock Landale AFL trick shot exposes Boomers woes

Boomer and Houston Rockets big man posted a wild trick shot on Instagram but a telling part of his caption has exposed our Olympic issues.

If only you could kick it through. Photo: Instagram and Getty Images

If only it counted when you kicked the ball through the hoop.

Aussie big man Jock Landale has shared a remarkable trick shot after he kicked an AFL footy from one end of a basketball court through the goal at the other end of the court.

And it was first go — the 211cm giant said he has witnesses.

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The Melbourne-born hooper could not have got it cleaner if he tried, hitting the bottom of the net with a brilliant drop punt.

The 28-year-old celebrated wildly in the empty stadium, screaming: “Oh, oh my f**king god”.

In another video, Landale is asked how he felt about it.

“I feel great. Like I could s**t gold. Like I could s**t f**king gold mate,” he added.

AFL stars liked what they saw with Mason Cox sharing four fire emojis, while Brodie Grundy added: “Light work”.

Even Sherrin Australia posted: “We might be biased but we feel that’s the greatest swish of all time”.

Atlanta Hawk Dejounte Murray didn’t believe it though: “Nahhhhhhhhhhhhhh LOL This Ain’t Real!!!”

But it was Landale’s caption that may have revealed an uncomfortable truth for the Boomers ahead of the Olympics.

“No word of a lie, first try. Got witnesses if necessary!”

No not that part …

“Found my new shooting technique cause that other thing ain’t working!!!” Landale wrote.

Landale signed with the cellar dwelling Rockets after stunning for the Phoenix Suns last year.

While the Suns crashed out in the conference semis to eventual champions Denver, Landale was a breakout star, even starting in the sixth and what would be final game of the series, going +7 and scoring 13 points, five rebounds, one assist and a block in 31 minutes of game-time.

And fans were impressed with the effort from the Aussie and it had many believing he’d be making bank going forward.

An unrestricted free agent, Landale signed with the Rockets before he suffered an ugly ankle injury in a warm-up match that saw him miss the Boomers’ disastrous basketball World Cup campaign late last year.

Mainly stuck behind big man Alperen Sengun, Landale hasn’t been able to stamp his authority on the Rockets, averaging 2.3 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists for the side and is struggling for game time, playing over 10 minutes in just 13 of the 29 matches he’s played this season.

Landale has been struggling this season. Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images/AFP

Landale is important for the Boomers’ Olympic campaign. Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images

It’s a long way short of his career averages of 5.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 0.9 assists.

But most worrying is his drop off in shooting.

Landale is averaging just 0.471 per cent from two point range — down from 0.604 per cent from his career.

From three, it’s even worse — just 0.111 per cent (two from 18 attempts), down from 0.272 per cent for his career.

It gets even worse for Landale as the Rockets just signed New Zealander Steven Adams.

It’s increasingly likely Landale will be traded at the end of the year with his four-year $32 million contract only guaranteed for one year.

Landale told the Chronicle he had come to the franchise on “half an ankle”.

“My ankle was completely (messed up) when I first got here,” Landale said.

“I wasn’t in a good spot health-wise to go out and compete. My biggest asset is how hard I play and moving around the court and getting on the boards. My body couldn’t keep up with the level of play I was used to playing.

“Around game 20, we really figured out my rehab process, and I got to a point I was healthy and could be back to the Jock Landale the Houston Rockets had signed. That kind of created an identity at that point. It’s been tough to crack back into the rotation since then. I definitely feel I’m ready to go.”

But it’s Landale’s stats this season that further exposes the Boomers issues with Australia’s biggest NBA stars not getting enough game time and not exceeding expectations when given the shot.

The Boomers are the reigning Olympic bronze medallists, having ridden Patty Mills’ 42-point performance to the Aussie men’s first international medal.

Hopefully the Boomers can go back. Photo: Adam Head

Josh Giddey has endured a turbulent season for the OKC Thunder and has had his minutes reduced for the rapidly improving team.

Giddey is still getting on the court for the Thunder, albeit he likely won’t see many minutes in the playoffs after a recent trade for veteran Gordon Hayward.

Even today, he had 10 points, five rebounds and five assists in 27 minutes in OKC’s 127-113 win over the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

Giddey, 21, was given the keys to the Boomers’ offence at last year’s FIBA World Cup with Mills playing a supporting role as the changing of the guard began.

The 35-year-old Mills always seems to grow an extra leg when playing for Australia but has played just 19 matches for Atlanta this season.

“You don’t want one of your mainstays for your national team playing zero minutes over 12 months and last season he didn’t play a lot either,” Andrew Bogut told his Rogues Bogues podcast last year.

“The World Cup was probably not his best tournament when you compare the bronze medal run and runs before that. You don’t want to float into (the Olympics) having no form.”

Joe Ingles has just returned from injury, Dyson Daniels suffered a torn lateral meniscus recently, with Ben Simmons you can choose injury issues or even whether he’ll commit for the Olympics.

Then there’s Duop Reath, Dante Exum and Josh Green who have impressed but aren’t exactly the players that will win you an Olympic medal.

Originally published as ‘Ain’t working’: Jock Landale AFL trick shot exposes Boomers woes