The Difference Eye Contact Makes

I've always maintained that it's important to capture a competitor's eyes to make a good image. And if you're lucky enough to capture the competitor looking directly at the camera it can make quite a difference as illustrated by the following two images of Alex Couling.

Lens: 85.0mm, 1/125s, f/1.8, ISO: 250

In the above image Alex appears to be looking directly at the viewer. However, in the image below, she is looking straight past me (as she should!). To me, the image below is much less compelling as a result.

Lens: 85.0mm, 1/125s, f/1.8, ISO: 250

Do you agree or am I talking a lot of rot?

Two images of the same stance but with eyes focused on different points would illustrate this better but I don't have a better example I can think of.

Lens: 85.0mm, 1/160s, f/1.8, ISO: 250

And just to change the subject slightly, the image above has Courtney Meleisea is looking straight ahead, nowhere near me, but I find in looking at the image you are naturally drawn to her eyes all the same.