Levi Casboult has what it takes to be an elite forward in the AFL — if only he knew how to kick
THESE are the stats that show Levi Casboult has what it takes to be an elite forward of the competition — but there’s one problem that needs to be fixed.
Carlton
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LEVI Casboult is somewhere between an average key forward and an elite one.
Kick the ball to him and Carlton fans can bank on their hulking forward wrapping his large mitts around it.
What happens next with his right foot is anyone’s guess.
Casboult in the best contested mark in the competition but his goalkicking is among the worst.
Now into his fifth AFL season, Casboult’s goalkicking is as erratic as ever with six goals from 19 set shots, which includes six attempts that have missed altogether.
His accuracy in front of goal this year is 30 per per cent — ranked second worst, ahead of only Essendon’s Joe Daniher.
Commentator Brian Taylor, who kicked 527 goals in 140 games with Richmond and Collingwood, said Casboult’s wayward kicking will cost him the chance of a lucrative contract.
“If he’s a marking forward, as he is now, and a goalkicking specialist, he is a $700,000-a-year forward in the market as distinct from a $500,000 (forward),” Taylor said on Triple M this week.
At 201cm and 102kg, and with strong hands, the 26-year-old has the attributes to become an elite forward.
Casboult is an “elite” contested mark with an average of 3.1 per game, ranked No.1 in the league.
His 1.3 inside 50 contested marks inside 50 a game is also elite, according to Champion Data.
He’s rated above average in marks (6.6 per game) and marks inside-50 (2.6).
Casboult is also one of the best offensive one-on-one players in the games, winning 44 per cent of his contests, making him an extremely difficult match up for the opposition.
In Carlton’s upset 15-point win over Collingwood last Saturday, Casboult clunked a career-best seven contested marks, including five in the opening half, and again was a dominant presence up forward.
There was still the usual mixed bag in front of the big sticks against the Magpies but Casboult booted three critical goals, all from set shots, including the match-sealer from outside 50.
Casboult kicked Carlton’s first goal — no gimme for him despite being only 10m out on a slight angle — after taking a huge mark running with the flight of the ball.
He grabbed another contested mark before booting his second goal from a similar spot just before halftime to extend Carlton’s lead to 11 points.
Blues coach Brendon Bolton said Casboult has worked hard to improve his goalkicking and got his reward against Collingwood.
“That one in the last should be a real spirit-lifter for him,” Bolton said after the game.
“We must acknowledge that (his inaccuracy) is not through lack of effort. He’s been nearly kicking his leg off (at training).
“Hopefully this is a little step forward. We know it’s not totally remedied. We’ve got to keep working hard on it.”
Champion Brisbane forward Jonathan Brown noticed a difference in Casboult’s routine, which he said will help him nail the clutch shots more often.
“He didn’t go too far out to the right … also his ball drop was a lot lower, so a lot less margin for error,” Brown said on Fox Footy earlier this week.
“The confidence he’ll gain from kicking a big pressure goal will do him wonders.
“Of course he needs to keep working on it, he hasn’t got the greatest mechanics but I think we’ll see vast improvement now.”
SOURCE: Champion Data
Originally published as Levi Casboult has what it takes to be an elite forward in the AFL — if only he knew how to kick
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