Jonathan Brown’s EJ Whitten Legends game performance shows goalkicking is a dying art in the AFL

JONATHAN Brown did the remarkable in the EJ Whitten Legends Game, but his skilful matchwinner highlighted how far goalkicking has fallen in the AFL, SAM EDMUND writes.

Jonathan Brown celebrates his brilliant after-the-siren goal that gave Victoria the win over the All Stars in the EJ Whitten Legends Game. Picture: Getty Images

“WHY is he holding it like that, dad?”

That’s when it dawned on me how far goalkicking had fallen.

My five-year-old son was watching Jonathan Brown lining up his after-the-siren set shot to win the EJ Whitten Legends Game for the Vics at Etihad Stadium last night.

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Brown was almost up against the fence. His kick came only inches inside the boundary line. He had stuff-all daylight to pierce the footy through.

Did he stand with his feet together and his back to the fence? Nope.

Did he snap it? Nope.

The Brisbane Lions premiership star didn’t even think of it. He went back and kicked the purest of drop punts straight through the middle. It was a thing of beauty wasn’t it?

Obviously the Legends Game is pure vaudeville — we’re ignoring the fact that Brown’s mark came a day after the siren sounded.

It was theatre on a large, slow-motion scale with more Jenny Craig candidates than you can poke a stick at. But how darn good was the goalkicking?

There were more barrels than a brewery. Jimmy Bartel’s monster, Mark Williams and Lindsay Gilbee off one step and Chris Johnson’s running torp.

Yes, we’re taking the P155 just a tad. The modern day game is faster, more tactically astute and definitely more skilful.

There can be no doubt that players are often exhausted when trying to execute the art.

Having said that, ‘Browny’ would have been sore from Danny Southern’s ‘fearsome’ UFC-style body slam earlier in the match.

The Legends Game, as a whole, was junk time on steroids.

First half down in the EJ WHITTEN legends match. James Bartel with all the answers. Can kick a TORPEDO 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

— Brent Staker (@stakes14) September 1, 2017

But as the goals rained down from all angles and distances, you couldn’t help but escape the ‘They don’t make ‘em like they used to’ feeling.

Maybe I’m getting old, but watching modern-day players snapping goals from close to dead in front just doesn’t feel right.

Jonathan Brown celebrates his brilliant after-the-siren goal that gave Victoria the win over the All Stars in the EJ Whitten Legends Game. Picture: Getty Images

Originally published as Jonathan Brown’s EJ Whitten Legends game performance shows goalkicking is a dying art in the AFL