Matabele
Journey Man
This will interest those that have played at five eighth. You will catch my drift.
Assume you're standing under the goalposts at the Southern end. Filed looks flat right? Not according to Google Earth. Here are some interesting elevations that, if true, would have ramifications for a side, particularly their kicking game.
1. When you run the 100m from Southern to northern end, you run uphill by two feet. I wonder how many sides come home strong in the second half running TO the southern end, despite the fact that this would be against the prevailing winter wind?
2. At the southern end, the ground slopes away to the west by 5 foot but to the east by only 1 foot. Thus if you're running towards the southern end and hunting a 40/20, it's better to kick to towards the Arko stand as the ball will run away more.
3. Running towards the Northern end, the ground falls away to the West by 1 foot but rises to the east by a foot. Therefore, if you want to keep the ball in play, kick east towards the hill. You're more likely to get a 40/20 kicking to the west (Jane Try stand).
4. The in goal area at the southern end DROPS by 1 foot. Therefore, if you're trying to keep the ball from going dead, you'd have to "feather" the ball to get a result.
The in goal also drops off to the sides markedly - 5 foot to the west and 4 foot to the south. So don't kick to the corners.
5. In contrast, the in goals at the Northern end slope UPWARD! By 2 foot up the middle and to the west and by 6 foot(??) between the goal post and the top western corner. I question if the rise is that much, you should be able to see it with the naked eye. Regardless, if true you're far more likely to have success keeping the ball in the in goal when attacking the northern (hill) end, especially if you kick west towards the Jane Try stand.
Now someone will come on and say that the ground has been laser levelled in the off season. But it is food for thought?
Assume you're standing under the goalposts at the Southern end. Filed looks flat right? Not according to Google Earth. Here are some interesting elevations that, if true, would have ramifications for a side, particularly their kicking game.
1. When you run the 100m from Southern to northern end, you run uphill by two feet. I wonder how many sides come home strong in the second half running TO the southern end, despite the fact that this would be against the prevailing winter wind?
2. At the southern end, the ground slopes away to the west by 5 foot but to the east by only 1 foot. Thus if you're running towards the southern end and hunting a 40/20, it's better to kick to towards the Arko stand as the ball will run away more.
3. Running towards the Northern end, the ground falls away to the West by 1 foot but rises to the east by a foot. Therefore, if you want to keep the ball in play, kick east towards the hill. You're more likely to get a 40/20 kicking to the west (Jane Try stand).
4. The in goal area at the southern end DROPS by 1 foot. Therefore, if you're trying to keep the ball from going dead, you'd have to "feather" the ball to get a result.
The in goal also drops off to the sides markedly - 5 foot to the west and 4 foot to the south. So don't kick to the corners.
5. In contrast, the in goals at the Northern end slope UPWARD! By 2 foot up the middle and to the west and by 6 foot(??) between the goal post and the top western corner. I question if the rise is that much, you should be able to see it with the naked eye. Regardless, if true you're far more likely to have success keeping the ball in the in goal when attacking the northern (hill) end, especially if you kick west towards the Jane Try stand.
Now someone will come on and say that the ground has been laser levelled in the off season. But it is food for thought?
