AFL 2023: Every club’s set shot accuracy analysed

Does your club make the most of its chances in front of the big sticks? See the best and worst clubs for goal kicking accuracy to start 2023.

Brodie Grundy and Jordan De Goey

It was the Brodie Grundy observation that seemed as pointed as Josh Dunkley’s comment about a lack of pre-season running at the Western Bulldogs.

Just moments after the Demons had rammed through a remarkably accurate 21.8 against Sydney, Grundy remarked that at Melbourne the club invested in its goalkicking.

“Since I have come across to Melbourne I have been blown away by how much time and energy we put into craft and in goal kicking in particular,” he told 3AW.

“‘Choco’ Williams runs that show and I have just been blown away with the pursuit of excellence in terms of goal kicking, so no surprise that we get that result today.”

Grundy should be thrilled – Melbourne have had 43 total set shots this year for 29.9 and five total misses.

Hawthorn has had 33 total set shots for only 13.16 and four total misses, a miserable accuracy rate of 39.4 per cent.

For the Demons Ben Brown (9.1 in total, 3.1 from set shots), Bailey Fritsch (6.1 in total, 3.0 from set shots), and Lachie Hunter, Charlie Spargo, Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver (all 2.0 from set shots) cannot miss.

Yet unlike the Dogs as they point out their pre-season running is all done in drills, Collingwood isn’t complaining or explaining.

The Pies actually lead the league in set shot accuracy with a remarkable 70.2 accuracy from set shots (33.9 and five total misses).

Brody Mihocek has nailed all six set shots, Jordan De Goey hasn’t missed from four chances, Mason Cox has 3.0, and Beau McCreery and Tom Mitchell have both kicked 2.0.

If not for Darcy Cameron (0.2) and Jamie Elliott (4.3) the Pies would barely have missed a set shot.

Melbourne’s renewed investment in goalkicking came after a mediocre 2022 that saw them kick 300.284, with totals including 9.22 (Richmond in round 6), 7.14 (Fremantle in round 11) and 16.21 (Brisbane in round 15).

Development coach Williams has been in charge of field kicking and skill acquisition for some time but this year took on the goalkicking responsibilities along with forwards coach Greg Stafford.

He is footy’s mad genius given his quirks.

He remains obsessed with technique, routine and the science of the Sherrin, as Ed Langdon told the Herald Sun of his field kicking drills in 2021.

“It’s nothing technically speaking, I have always kicked the same way, but what Choco instils is a sense of calm when you are kicking,” Langdon said.

Mark Williams has been known as a master coach for skills development for years. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

Ben Brown has been deadly accurate to start 2023. (Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images)

“There is a lot going on in AFL footy, and for that split second when you are kicking, you need to be as calm as you possibly can be.

“It’s about backing yourself in when you are kicking. He puts you under so much pressure at training, he starts yelling at you to put you in that position you could be on in the field, but the implication is that you are still calm and still manage to hit a target.”

This year the Demons have backed in the set shot program after almost every practice session including the captains run, with everyone on board.

This year 19 players have already had set shot with only Rivers and Langdon (both 0.1) not hitting the mark.

It is a small sample size but their 13.4 in a loss to Brisbane limited the percentage loss and boosted it in victories over the Bulldogs and Sydney.

When the Demons needed that accuracy more than ever in the 2021 finals series they responded with 19.11 against Geelong in the preliminary final and 10.3 in the second half of the Grand Final victory.

In a league where Carlton missed the finals by 0.6 of a percentage point last year it has never been more evident that every set shot in every game matters.

Originally published as AFL 2023: Every club’s set shot accuracy analysed