BulldogBelle
25-04-2009, 10:11 PM
Higgins in Clayton's sights......
Gold Coast aims for young midfield talent (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25385307-19742,00.html)
The Herald Sun
Jay Clark | April 26, 2009
TALENTED Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins faces a million-dollar decision about whether to become the public face and future captain of the new Gold Coast football club. The 21-year-old rising star is out of contract at Whitten Oval this season and has become a priority target for the Gold Coast following disinterest from Geelong onball genius Gary Ablett and Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin.
Higgins already is in talks with the Dogs about a long-term deal, but by extending his contract by only one season he would certainly ensure an astronomical offer to join the 17th AFL franchise late next year.
The skilled midfielder is among the first few AFL players to have to seriously consider the option of moving north, although it is believed Higgins, a former Geelong Falcon junior, will put his club before cash.
In Queensland, he could earn up to $800,000 a season as a vice-captain or, potentially, as the captain, or roughly half that chasing a premiership with the tight-knit Western Bulldogs.
Complicating Higgins' decision is the future of his out-of-contract coach, Rodney Eade.
In two years Higgins will be 23 and primed to become one of the competition's midfield stars.
Western Bulldogs' football manager James Fantasia said all clubs were approaching a difficult phase trying to keep their players, but he was confident Higgins would remain a big part of the promising future at Whitten Oval.
Gold Coast has an extra $1 million in its salary cap with which to lure the AFL's premier players and can poach a maximum of one player from each club next October.
Coast chiefs believe its luxurious draft concessions, including nine first-round picks in next year's National Draft will allow it to challenge for a premiership within its first four years.
Higgins, whose first four games this season have underlined his standing as one of the AFL's best young midfield/forward talents, is already a respected member of the Dogs' leadership group and is being groomed to one day skipper the club.
Gold Coast recruiting manager, Scott Clayton, who crossed from the Dogs last year, has a strong connection with Higgins, having first drafted him with a steal, pick 11 of the 2005 National Draft.
Higgins' maturity, leadership, kicking efficiency and goalscoring capabilities are attributes' high on Clayton's wish list, with the new club chasing a classy playmaker of his calibre to build a midfield around.
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt is still high on the Coast's agenda, although the club's focus has intensified on the current middle-tier players and youngsters, like Higgins, with significant upside.
Other known early Gold Coast priorities include Queenslanders' Dayne Beams, from Collingwood, St Kilda pair Sam Gilbert and David Armitage, Adelaide key forward Kurt Tippett and Fremantle onballer Rhys Palmer.
Gold Coast aims for young midfield talent (http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25385307-19742,00.html)
The Herald Sun
Jay Clark | April 26, 2009
TALENTED Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins faces a million-dollar decision about whether to become the public face and future captain of the new Gold Coast football club. The 21-year-old rising star is out of contract at Whitten Oval this season and has become a priority target for the Gold Coast following disinterest from Geelong onball genius Gary Ablett and Hawthorn superstar Lance Franklin.
Higgins already is in talks with the Dogs about a long-term deal, but by extending his contract by only one season he would certainly ensure an astronomical offer to join the 17th AFL franchise late next year.
The skilled midfielder is among the first few AFL players to have to seriously consider the option of moving north, although it is believed Higgins, a former Geelong Falcon junior, will put his club before cash.
In Queensland, he could earn up to $800,000 a season as a vice-captain or, potentially, as the captain, or roughly half that chasing a premiership with the tight-knit Western Bulldogs.
Complicating Higgins' decision is the future of his out-of-contract coach, Rodney Eade.
In two years Higgins will be 23 and primed to become one of the competition's midfield stars.
Western Bulldogs' football manager James Fantasia said all clubs were approaching a difficult phase trying to keep their players, but he was confident Higgins would remain a big part of the promising future at Whitten Oval.
Gold Coast has an extra $1 million in its salary cap with which to lure the AFL's premier players and can poach a maximum of one player from each club next October.
Coast chiefs believe its luxurious draft concessions, including nine first-round picks in next year's National Draft will allow it to challenge for a premiership within its first four years.
Higgins, whose first four games this season have underlined his standing as one of the AFL's best young midfield/forward talents, is already a respected member of the Dogs' leadership group and is being groomed to one day skipper the club.
Gold Coast recruiting manager, Scott Clayton, who crossed from the Dogs last year, has a strong connection with Higgins, having first drafted him with a steal, pick 11 of the 2005 National Draft.
Higgins' maturity, leadership, kicking efficiency and goalscoring capabilities are attributes' high on Clayton's wish list, with the new club chasing a classy playmaker of his calibre to build a midfield around.
St Kilda captain Nick Riewoldt is still high on the Coast's agenda, although the club's focus has intensified on the current middle-tier players and youngsters, like Higgins, with significant upside.
Other known early Gold Coast priorities include Queenslanders' Dayne Beams, from Collingwood, St Kilda pair Sam Gilbert and David Armitage, Adelaide key forward Kurt Tippett and Fremantle onballer Rhys Palmer.