Shaun Higgins

[Mantis]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I think we should keep Shaun in the side but remove the leadership role. Get him to concentrate on footy and getting himself right first. He is actually a gun player with vision and silky skills, he is worth persisting with.

But he is a defensive liability and in a team that is clearly struggling we simply can't carry this type.

If we were playing the type of footy we have shown thru 2008-2010 we could get by, but we need all hands on deck at present and Shaun is either unable or unwilling to play his part.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Why is it as soon as the truth is talked about here the old "scapegoat" tripe gets thrown around. It's almost like that cringeworthy "Un Australian" crap gets trotted out!
Higgins was awful and has been for a while, he just isn't intensity or effort in his game.
He's lazy and the only stat he won today was the finger pointing variety.
Watch the game instead of looking through bulldog goggles

How can you say I'm wearing 'bulldogs goggles' when what we're discussing is concerned purely with the internal structure of the team?

I have read a fair few of your posts and it's pretty clear you don't have a clue, so I won't waste too much time correcting you, but..

Higgins produced four good games before injury. He was disappointing before being subbed off against the Eagles in his first game back, and performed on par with most of the team today. So either you find some consistency in your opinion and call most of the team 'awful' or just keep quiet.

I agree!

'Hey Tom, your role to work hard so jets like me and Gia can shine! I am a leader, it says so on this badge Rocket gave me.'

No one went harder at the contest than Gia today, and no one was more dangerous around the forward fifty. Both of these players outperformed Tom today, who had a shocker.

You know what Rocco, you can learn how to post by reading Doc26's post, not this rubbish you dish out.

I know your saying it in jest but I know you mean what you are saying.

Higgings is not playing well and deserves to be dropped.

Here are 12 players who were worse than Higgins today:

Hall
Reid
Liberatore
Hill
Gilbee
Jones
Wood
Lake
Howard
Williams
Sherman
Wallis

Every one of the above players should be dropped ahead of Higgins.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Gia was good today Scorlilbo, you're right.

By what means do you see Higgins as being 'better'? Sure, he did 'more' than a few others but his type is a massive liability to the team. Not meaning to be a smartarse but did you watch the game live or on TV? (genuinely think there's a massive difference when it comes to Higgins).

His SC score might have been higher than most and he did a lot more 'nice' things than the vast majority but his defensive pressure was absolutely pathetic and a 'leader' berating kids like that is simply not on.

Selection isn't just on who are the best 22 players at the club, we have probably already done that long enough (understandable when you're a contender). I know Shaun will offer us 'more' than his replacement but that's an extremely short term approach.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Here are 12 players who were worse than Higgins today:

Howard
Williams
Sherman
Wallis

Every one of the above players should be dropped ahead of Higgins.

Drop a bloke after his first game? He didn't look out of place today.

[Greystache]

Re: Shaun Higgins

How can you say I'm wearing 'bulldogs goggles' when what we're discussing is concerned purely with the internal structure of the team?

I have read a fair few of your posts and it's pretty clear you don't have a clue, so I won't waste too much time correcting you, but..

Higgins produced four good games before injury. He was disappointing before being subbed off against the Eagles in his first game back, and performed on par with most of the team today. So either you find some consistency in your opinion and call most of the team 'awful' or just keep quiet.



No one went harder at the contest than Gia today, and no one was more dangerous around the forward fifty. Both of these players outperformed Tom today, who had a shocker.



Here are 12 players who were worse than Higgins today:

Hall
Reid
Liberatore
Hill
Gilbee
Jones
Wood
Lake
Howard
Williams
Sherman
Wallis

Every one of the above players should be dropped ahead of Higgins.

You clearly weren't at the game today.

[Mantis]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Maybe it is a cop out as all things being equal he should be supporting the 'babies' in his leadership capacity.

Maybe I'm reading way too much into it and will be proven wrong but to me tonight's game just appeared a watershed for Shaun.

The restriction in his movement was simply so evident to suggest his days, at least this season, must be limited. The realisation of this for Shaun must be incredibly difficult to reconcile with.

I'm just struggling to kick him while he's down.

I just don't see that.

I agree that he was moving extremely well thru the pre-season and probably isn't moving as freely now (who is??), but I don't see him 'labouring' like you explain at present.

[giaco]

Re: Shaun Higgins

His first full game for about 5 weeks.

Far from our worst today. I just don't understand the hate for Higgins. He'll be better next week.

[EasternWest]

Re: Shaun Higgins

His first full game for about 5 weeks.

Far from our worst today. I just don't understand the hate for Higgins. He'll be better next week.

I don't think it's hate, I think it's that expectations are very high.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Gia was good today Scorlilbo, you're right.

By what means do you see Higgins as being 'better'? Sure, he did 'more' than a few others but his type is a massive liability to the team. Not meaning to be a smartarse but did you watch the game live or on TV? (genuinely think there's a massive difference when it comes to Higgins).

His SC score might have been higher than most and he did a lot more 'nice' things than the vast majority but his defensive pressure was absolutely pathetic and a 'leader' berating kids like that is simply not on.

Selection isn't just on who are the best 22 players at the club, we have probably already done that long enough (understandable when you're a contender). I know Shaun will offer us 'more' than his replacement but that's an extremely short term approach.

RJ, I watched the game from the third row.

I witnessed several instances of good defensive pressure from Higgins. Most of these were in tight, where he was determined to find the ball. When in space I can't comment too much, I can't say I kept one eye on him the whole game, like most here probably, I was focusing on those players like Lake and Gilbee who looked lost when they showed great reading of the play not long ago.

I tend not to comment on reports of 'pointing' and 'berating' as none of us have any idea what such actions actually meant, and how they were delivered (does anyone actually have any proof of 'berating'?).

So you think Shaun (23) is not in the long term future of the club? I would say that he, Ward, Griffen and Cooney will form the core of our team for years to come and need to be given as much time together through the middle as possible.

Drop a bloke after his first game? He didn't look out of place today.

He didn't look out of place in the sense that he showed promise, but we need more than what he will offer us this year. It comes down to what you are selecting the team for, success, or future success. Personally, I've had it with the 'future' and selecting for the 'future', it's about time we demanded success now, and demanded it from the senior core who we know are capable of producing very good football.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Shaun Higgins

You clearly weren't at the game today.

Cool post.

I was at the game, and I would challenge you to defy my statement, there were 12 players on the ground, wearing bulldogs colours, who were worse than Higgins.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Shaun Higgins

He didn't look out of place in the sense that he showed promise, but we need more than what he will offer us this year. It comes down to what you are selecting the team for, success, or future success. Personally, I've had it with the 'future' and selecting for the 'future', it's about time we demanded success now, and demanded it from the senior core who we know are capable of producing very good football.

How can we tell what he will offer us? He could be anything. As you say, he showed promise - for a first gamer, that's a positive.
I agree about the senior core needing to produce - not so sure the words "Bulldogs" and "very good" will be closely linked this year.

[Rocco Jones]

Re: Shaun Higgins

So you think Shaun (23) is not in the long term future of the club?

Of course I do/hope, that's what I am concerned with, the long term.

I don't agree with how extreme you are but I do agree that he brings enough value to be in our best 22. However, long term I think it's best for him to be out of the side for a while.

[Greystache]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Cool post.

I was at the game, and I would challenge you to defy my statement, there were 12 players on the ground, wearing bulldogs colours, who were worse than Higgins.

Oh dear.

You know there's more things going on during a game than who has the ball in their hands. Just a tip.

Guerra was pretty much BOG.

[Doc26]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I just don't see that.

I agree that he was moving extremely well thru the pre-season and probably isn't moving as freely now (who is??), but I don't see him 'labouring' like you explain at present.

Might be my eyes failing me but he looks hampered to me.

Will be interested to see what plays out with Shaun in the coming weeks.

[Mantis]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I witnessed several instances of good defensive pressure from Higgins. Most of these were in tight, where he was determined to find the ball. When in space I can't comment too much, I can't say I kept one eye on him the whole game, like most here probably, I was focusing on those players like Lake and Gilbee who looked lost when they showed great reading of the play not long ago.

See I can.

I watch closely when the opposition who like to chip the ball around can do so with ease. I watch for which players aren't willing to do the hard yards to find a man and stick with him. I watch for the players who try and cover up their inadequacy in this area by trying to get others to cover for them.

I rated Higgins, Ward & Boyd the worst in this area.

I tend not to comment on reports of 'pointing' and 'berating' as none of us have any idea what such actions actually meant, and how they were delivered (does anyone actually have any proof of 'berating'?).

Body language of the individuals involved gives a very good idea of what's occuring and it was pretty clear that on a number of occassions Shaun was 'berating' his younger team-mates.