There's been plenty of talk about the wayward goal-kicking in the AFL this year.
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But a couple of brothers at Kolora-Noorat are regularly finding the middle of the big sticks.
Ryley and Darcy Hutchins, who both play forward, are kicking bags of goals in their Warrnambool and District league grades.
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Ryley, who made his senior debut in round one, has booted 34 goals and is just two behind Panmure's Chris Bant on the senior goal-kicking table.
The 17-year-old is one of the rising stars of the competition. He also booted 100 goals across two junior age groups in 2019.
Darcy, who is a bottom-age under 15s player, has scored 63 majors and is first on the under 15s goal-kicking ladder.
Along with their dad, Shane, the brothers have spent hours at Noorat Recreation Reserve honing their goal-kicking these past few years.
Otherwise, they grew up using the trees in their backyard as goal posts.
Interestingly, they prefer the traditional drop punt rather than snap around the body which has become popular in the AFL in the past decade.
"Just over the years in the AFL, how they snap it from straight in front - Dad and I, we don't really like how they do it, I rather just a drop punt," Ryley said.
Darcy, 14, said he found it easier to kick a drop punt for goal.
Like most footballers, they enjoy taking shots from the boundary line before training to test their skills.
Their dad taught them how to kick and they have developed their own goal-kicking routines.
The brothers are inspired by Kolora-Noorat senior footballer Ben Fraser, who typically lines up at centre half-forward.
"He would probably be one of my favourite goal-kickers around here....he's always been kicking goals for the Power and I've just been watching him since I was playing under 12s," Ryley said.
Darcy said he liked how Fraser "kicks goals from everywhere".
The siblings are also keen Essendon supporters and enjoy watching Cobden export, Zach Merrett.
Darcy Parish, who is enjoying a breakout season, is another of their favourites.
The brothers are part of a family heavily involved at Kolora-Noorat.
Shane is a former player at the club.
Their mum Leanne is a netballer, as is their older sister, Tori.
Their younger sister, Tilli, 7, is also involved with football and netball programs at the club.
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