There’s a lot of people would know nothing about me except that I was a very good free taker, I practiced a lot and I very rarely missed anything in my range, with no wind a 45 close to the centre was as much as I had in my locker, my favourite kick was close to the left sideline where I’d start the ball about 15 yards to the right and drop it over,
I scored an equalizing point with the last kick once from the 14 right on the sideline in a county final,
I can never understand somebody taking a routine free from the hands, bringing so many unnecessary variables into play
There was a seismic change in the late 60’s when we moved away from the old yellow ball with the brown bootlace knotted on the outside. Loads of lads met with grief attempting to punch a score or relieve the pressure of the eternally dangerous “high lobbing ball” because of the accursed lace. On a wet day these footballs absorbed the wet and you might as well be kicking a bag of potatoes.
The move to the modern white, coated ball reduced weight and removed the lace and added years to many’s the man’s career.
Used to play with a lad who was a great free taker but would never take the first free of game unless it was practically a tap over … reckoned it was a confidence thing for taking frees for rest of match …
You’d have to have a lot of confidence in your ability to take frees in big matches, if it was something I’d be worried about missing then it would be a hard free, no pressure.
I didn’t like straight in front of the posts 30-40 yards out, always felt an angle on either side was a help.
I absolutely loved kicking frees, I had the work done in empty fields with a bag of balls so it had to be worth it.
30 yards out just to the right of the post was the one that got me the most. Too much curl and it goes off to the left. Too straight and it goes wide right. Getting the balance between minimal curl and leaving enough room to get inside the right post. Further out gives it more tolerance. I remember one game I kicked one from the sideline on the left on the 14, the sideline out near the 45 from the right, and missed one that was nearly dead centre 30 yards out. The curse of free taking.
Funnily enough , he’d have a lot more medals than you, played at a lot higher level than you …but sure this is your domain- TFK the land of make believe …