Watmough

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Rexx

Reserve Grader
Whilst not playing badly, it's no surprise Watmough's name is not getting mentioned in rep team selections. I think he'll run into some form later in the season. He was unlucky not to score three time yesterday, and with a bit more confidence may well have done.

But they are two areas where he needs help ridding himself of technical deficiencies:

1. Catching
When catching a kick he looks like he's going to knock on - and he too often does. Two reasons. Firstly he only uses his hands and a puffed-up chest, and not his arms to catch the ball. His elbows are wide apart when he takes the ball to his chest. This leaves no room for error. The ball pops out. He should be taught to hold his elbows together when chest marking and take the ball in lower. This creates a large bucket that captures the ball and makes it very difficult for it to escape. Still use your hands and chest but use your arms too, and bring the ball in lower as you cup your chest and bend your head down. It's a cradle effect. Second, he catches the ball front-on so if it spills it can only be knocked forward. He should turn side on and have his body sway backwards with the ball on receipt. This has 2 effects. It creates a soft intake which increases the chances of catching it. And it virtually guarantees that if it is spilt, it goes backwards. The late Bob Batty was a master at these techniques. I can't remember ever seeing him knock on a chest mark - and as a fullback in the days of kicking duels, he took plenty.

2 Defence
Watmough's defence was found wanting again yesterday. Widders got past him with relative easy and very nearly scored. The impression I have is that Watmough is grabbing at players rather than driving into them with his shoulder. He has the speed to not be beaten, but his technique is awry.
 
Yep, I think he's having major problems. That Widders miss was a shocker. His hands are bad, and he has brain explosions where he tries to pass in our own half and screws it up. He threw a bad forward pass as well, and his runs are too one-out. He really needs to be worked on. Where are our forwards coaches !!!
 
In chocs defence he has a real go, plays 80 minutes and does make a lot of valuable metres. He isn't far off the mark, just needs to eliminate the the 1 or 2 drop balls each game and he will be fine.
 
Agreed, Wheel. Wasn't having a go at Watmough. He made some great metres yesterday, and was probably unlucky not to have won the game himself (without the need for a field goal) on his attacks at the try line. Just think he needs some technical help in a couple of areas, and it's frustrating not seeing these areas being fixed up.
 
Some extra training with an Aussie rules team, and I suspect they may give him some tips to correct his handling problems.
 
One of the tips Aussie Rules coaches give when players are having difficulties marking is to watch the ball onto the hands. It's not a natural thing to do, and it takes conscious effort to retrain yourself to do it.

If you watch the slow-mos of Federer and Hingis, you'll notice that their eyes stay on the point of contact more intensely and longer than other players. I think that's why they hit the ball sweater. It'd be interesting to see the slow-mos of the best handlers catching a ball versus the average and worst catchers.

We get Arnold to train people to kick goals - and hasn't that paid off! Watmough needs a specialist to train him to catch.
 

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