Higgins in 2009

[MrMahatma]

Re: Higgins in 2009

When Cross no longer commands a spot in the centre and is forced onto the wing he is finished. He's not quick enough and can't kick well enough to be a wingman. Not to mention his terrible football brain.

He seems to be good at getting the ball out of packs but that's about it.

He annoyed me on Friday when he came off the bench at one stage of the last quarter. Gilbee had the ball at full back and was getting ready to kick in. Cross should of stayed on the wing where he was 50metres in the clear from anyone. Gilbee would of kicked to Cooney who would of popped it over to Cross and we were away. Instead Cross just runs straight into the defensive 50 giving us no options at all.

Cross starts on the wing pretty much every week...

[LostDoggy]

Re: Higgins in 2009

Cross starts on the wing pretty much every week...

And apart from those 12 seconds before the ball is bounced how much longer is he on the wing for? He is not a wingman in the true sense of the word.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Re: Higgins in 2009

I wouldn't have thought so.

Tim Callan showed on Friday night that he will be a very good player for us in defence.

Add to him Gilbee, Hargrave, Addison and possibly Harbrow (looks ok as a small defender)we have a bit of depth down there.

Agree with the rest that Higgins will spend 75% of game time up forward with a run in the midfield. Would be looking for this to increase as the season and years continue.

My thinking with pushing Higgins to defence is that we need to get another playmaker into defence so that teams cannot just lock in on Gilbee. Hargrave also does a fair bit of this role, but increasingly he is getting very important jobs on small forwards and is not able to get away as much

Callans decision making and kicking seemed much improved post injury so there is every chance he may really nail a spot in 09, and I hope he does.

Whilst I love Addisons game the challenge is clearly for him to improve his decision making, and foot skills, to generate more run and drive.

[Mofra]

Re: Higgins in 2009

My thinking with pushing Higgins to defence is that we need to get another playmaker into defence so that teams cannot just lock in on Gilbee. Hargrave also does a fair bit of this role, but increasingly he is getting very important jobs on small forwards and is not able to get away as much

Callans decision making and kicking seemed much improved post injury so there is every chance he may really nail a spot in 09, and I hope he does.

Whilst I love Addisons game the challenge is clearly for him to improve his decision making, and foot skills, to generate more run and drive.

What about Everitt? He kicks well, often takes kick-outs at Willy (and occasionally at AFL level) and seems to have that extra little bit of time whenever he gets the ball.

He would have to figure in our plans for 09 given his dose of second year blues and one would assume an extra few kgs on his frame.

I would prefer Higgins switching between midfield & the forward line.

[Bornadog]

Re: Higgins in 2009

What about Everitt? He kicks well, often takes kick-outs at Willy (and occasionally at AFL level) and seems to have that extra little bit of time whenever he gets the ball.

He would have to figure in our plans for 09 given his dose of second year blues and one would assume an extra few kgs on his frame.

I would prefer Higgins switching between midfield & the forward line.

You mean lack of preseason due to a knee injury.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Higgins in 2009

Higgins would have to have very short stints in the midfield - maybe a minute at a time?

He's need a bloody big pre-season to get his endurance up to the level required. He's miles away at this stage.

agreed.

and he needs to stay injury free for a while as well.

[dog town]

Re: Higgins in 2009

Higgins just would not be able to run out a game as a midfielder at ths stage. While I would love to predict some sort of brilliant move for him I think its more likely we will just see a slight extension of his current role. He will continue to be a smal forward with the odd stint in the midfield. Until his fitness improves we cant really expect much more than that. He is a talented kid but he needs to start stringing together some games before we can really plan for the midfield. He did run Crawford around on the wing which is a good sign for his fitness levels.