A FORMER Essendon goalkicking specialist says it would only take several sessions with Joe Daniher to correct the Bomber's wayward form in front of goal.
Daniher's misses were costly for the Bombers in their loss to Melbourne last week, with the key forward booting 1.6 in the defeat – with all of his behinds (and an out-on-the-full kick) coming in the first half.
The club's leading goalkicker of the past three seasons has booted 13.16 for the season, including 3.4 in his best-afield display against Collingwood on Anzac Day.
Kicking expert Ben Perkins, who has worked with several AFL clubs in the past and is credited with fixing the kicking of former Port Adelaide captain Warren Tredrea, was at Essendon for a brief period in 2012 as a goalkicking consultant.
In his short time working with Michael Hurley, who was then Essendon's main forward option, Perkins helped simplify Hurley's technique with immediate results.
Hurley kicked 11.2 over two weeks in the middle of that season in his best patch as a forward before getting injured, and recognised Perkins' advice as important for his accuracy. Perkins believes Daniher would only need a little realigning to get things right.
"I said to [former Essendon coach] 'Bomber' Thompson two years ago that Joe Daniher in my opinion is going to be the best player in the game. But it seems like he doesn't understand the goalkicking process," Perkins said.
"He's an athlete and when an athlete understands the process it's so easy for it all to click into gear. When you see Daniher get the ball and he's going to have a shot for goal, you can see his mind is racing and thinking 'I wonder what is going to happen this time' and then he tosses the coin up inside his head.
"It wouldn't take many hours at all to get right. Once he understands the process he'll be sensational."
Perkins worked with key forwards Jarryd Roughead and Lance Franklin on their goalkicking at the end of 2010, and in the past has also had stints at Geelong and Gold Coast.
He has also worked with the Wallabies rugby union side, guiding the progress of star player Matt Giteau.
Essendon had former great Matthew Lloyd in a goalkicking position throughout the 2015 season, with forwards coach Hayden Skipworth overseeing Daniher's goalkicking program the past two years.
Daniher, who is out of contract at the end of the season, has been snapping more often this season from set-shots, with mixed results. He told AFL.com.au last month he plans to persist with that style.
"I've done a lot of work on [my goalkicking] and I'll continue to do so. Like any player with a flaw in their game, they try to work it out and iron it out as best they can. It's something I'll continue to do right throughout my career," he said.
"In the pockets, on the 45 [degree angle], I try to open up the angle a little bit more and feel really comfortable doing that. It's something I'll keep practicing and sticking with."
There is a contrast between Daniher's excellent field kicking and his inconsistent shots for goal, and Perkins said the gap between the two can be closed.
"One is when he's in free flow and the other is when he gets the opportunity to take his time about it. In many ways it should be easier when he gets given the time to actually settle himself down and go through the process," he said.
"He's got such athletic ability, so you're dealing with someone who has coordination and it would be simple to get it right. He would be unstoppable."
