Eagles cash in on ball transfer
West Coast captain Shannon Hurn believes faster ball movement has been a major part of key forwards having such a dominant start to the 2015 season.
Eagle Josh Kennedy booted 10 goals against Carlton on Friday night and that followed a six-goal haul by Adelaide’s Taylor Walker in round one. St Kilda forward Josh Bruce kicked six on Saturday night.
No player kicked six goals in the first two rounds of 2014, and Hurn said teams were trying to get the ball forward quicker this season.
“Big key forwards have always played a key role in games. If they get on a roll they can take 15 marks and have 12 or 15 shots,” Hurn said.
“We’ve got one in Josh Kennedy and a few sides have got them. Sides are trying to move the ball a bit quicker to get a one-out.
“That’s three times he’s kicked over 10. It’s good reward for him because he works really hard to create. We got the ball inside 50 and he managed to convert.”
Kennedy booted 11 majors against GWS last year and 10 against the Western Bulldogs in 2011. The performance moved him past Quinten Lynch and into fourth place for career goals for the Eagles.
Kennedy’s 289 goals has him behind Peter Sumich (514), Phil Matera (389) and Mark LeCras (299). Kennedy also kicked 11 goals for Carlton so his 10th major was the 300th of his career.
Hurn said the midfield also deserved credit for giving Kennedy plenty of supply.
“The midfield sets the tone,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re playing AFL or country footy, if you can get the ball going inside 50 with good delivery, it certainly makes the game a lot easier.”
Carlton midfielder Tom Bell says it’s going to be Chris Judd’s year, but admits it’s time the rest of the midfield stood up to support the champion veteran.
Judd, 31, made the decision to retire during last season but then changed his mind to play on in 2015.
The dual Brownlow medallist produced a vintage first quarter against West Coast at Domain Stadium on Friday night to help the Blues to an early lead.
But when Matt Rosa was sent to quell Judd’s influence after the first break, Judd and Carlton were effectively stopped as the Eagles romped to victory.
“Juddy is very dominant in there and he started on fire so it’s quite clear they (West Coast) were going to go to him. We just need to stand up in the midfield,” Bell said.
