Matthew Croft is a much respected ten year player at the Western Bulldogs.  He is renowned and admired for his consistency, determination, tenacity and persistence, but there is another aspect to his game. An aspect of the Matthew Croft game that has gone left un-noticed for far to long. That aspect is the baulk. Matthew Croft is slow and unlike players like Kingsley Hunter who can turn on a dime, his turning circle resembles an ice skating rink, yet he still manages to befuddle and baulk past the AFL's most athletic and agile opponents. A Matthew Croft baulk is poetry in motion, you might say watching a Matthew Croft baulk is like witnessing the birth of your only baby, it makes you feel blessed to be present. But perhaps a more accurate description is watching a Matthew Croft baulk is like watching Anna Kournikova play tennis, it is graceful, beautiful and elegant.
BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS
Phase 1 - Croft runs away from opponent on a 90 degree angle
Phase 2 - Croft stretches arm out to full extent showing the ball to the opponent and giving the unfortunate player a false sense of confidence

Analysis: uses the extensor carpi ulnaris muscles and the biceps rectus, short and long heads to reach full extension.  The moment arm is approximately 120 cms with the fulcrum (the elbow) in the center allowing Croft to fully utilise his extraordinary rangy arms

Phase 3 - the outsmarted opponent reaches for the football,

Analysis - the less intelligent opponent fully extends arm using shoulders as force to remove the football from player Crofts arms.

Phase 4 - Croft swiftly brings football back towards his body and safely our of reach of awestruck opponent

Analysis: Player Croft sums all available mometum to bring the football back towards his body and out of reach of the less rangy and inferior opponent

Phase 5 - Croft runs around and past discombobulated opponent

Analysis: Croft uses his extraordinary acceleration (Mass x Force) to leave opposition player in his dust

Phase 6 - Opposition player looks on befuddlingly

Analysis: The opposition player bewildered by the ease of which he was beaten looks on in amazement of the baulking machine that is Matthew Croft

The Croft baulk has become a trademark for the man who has come to symbolise the spirit of the western suburbs.To put it into context we decided to list some other peoples trademarks move:
-Kingsley Hunter's runs from the half back line before pumping the ball forward, or frequently throught the goals from impossible distances
-Tim Hardaways crossover dribble
-Shane Warnes flipper
-Aaron James' urinating on members of the opposite sex
-Andrew Dimattina turnovers
AND JUST IN CASE YOU DON'T KNOW WHO ANNA KOURNIKOVA IS THIS IS HER
AS IS THIS
STILL UNSURE???
APPARENTLY, SHE ALSO PLAYS TENNIS
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