Fig 1.
Schematic of the experimental set-up; each kicking position was 30 m from the goal and kicks taken at the right and left positions were at a 45-degree angle to the goal.
Goal-kicking positions were representative of typical positions used in competition (as identified by Champion Data from the 2017 AFL season).
Fig 2.
Accuracy grading; a) hit vs miss and, b) lateral horizontal distance measured from the centre of goals (m).
Table 1.
Definitions of technical parameters calculated in this study.
Fig 3.
Group mean ± SD for sagittal hip (a), knee (b) and ankle (c) joint angles curves of the kick-leg (1) and support-leg (2) for accurate (blue line) and inaccurate (red line) goal-kicks during the kicking phase (kick leg toe-off: 0%, to BC: 100%).
Table 2.
Kinematic means ± standard deviations (SD) for accurate (hit) and inaccurate (miss) goal-kicks, mean differences between goal-kicks (Hit-Miss), with 90% confidence limits (CL), effect size (d), with 90% CL, and the magnitude of the effect for each parameter.
All parameters relate to the kick-leg unless stated.
Table 3.
The relationship between kinematic parameters and accuracy.
Linear, quadratic and cubic curve estimations for each parameter (r2 values (SEE)), with the chosen relationship and magnitude of relationship identified. All parameters relate to the kick-leg unless stated.
Fig 4.
Relationship between (a) approach angle and accuracy (values to the right of the dashed indicate missed kicks) and (b) approach angle and foot-path angle.
Fig 5.
The relationship between accuracy and hip ROM; (a) strong quadratic relationship between hip ROM and accuracy.
Fig 6.
The relationship between accuracy and (a) footpath angle at BC, (b) foot speed at BC, (c) ankle plantarflexion at BC.
Fig 7.
The relationship between accuracy and support-leg knee flexion; (a) a moderate quadratic relationship between support-leg knee flexion and accuracy, and (b) alterations in support-leg knee flexion in relation to left and right side of goals.