Shaun Higgins

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I think this may be due to cutting some kilos. He looks a lot leaner than he did a few years ago, so he's probably lost a bit of strength, but it looks to have helped him because he is moving really well. Running on top of the ground and is pretty good in terms of agility, too.

He's progressing nicely. I've been a critic in the past, but he's had a good start to the season.

His defensive efforts and the contested side to his game have improved a fair bit - we've always known he has elite skills, so the two mixing together has produced some well rounded games.

This is what I have noticed most of all this year. I was impressed seeing him under a number of packs too.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Higgins was one of the most prominent "went missings" in the second half against Richmond. I watched the replay. In the last quarter, I'm pretty sure he had one possession. He can be flashy, is very photogenic but he'll never be in the best 12 mid-sized players in our current side(Griffen, Libba, Cooney, Boyd, Murphy, Macrae, Dahlhaus, Wallis, Hunter, Picken, Giansiracusa, Stevens and Smith - oops that's 13 - proves the point). He is just a fringe player.

He's already comfortably amongst the best mid sized players! Time for the Higgins haters to put a sock in it I reckon . He's a very, very good player who just needs a good run at it without getting injured - simple as that!

[Remi Moses]

Re: Shaun Higgins

The whole side went missing when they got that run on.
I still think the signs are promising, but it's fraught with trepidation.

[Bulldog Joe]

Re: Shaun Higgins

He's already comfortably amongst the best mid sized players! Time for the Higgins haters to put a sock in it I reckon . He's a very, very good player who just needs a good run at it without getting injured - simple as that!

Wholly agree Scorlibo.

A lot of the negatives that fans have on Higgins come from when he was trying to play through a succession of injuries particularly when he had OP. At that time he was simply unable to do what was required.

[EasternWest]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Wholly agree Scorlibo.

A lot of the negatives that fans have on Higgins come from when he was trying to play through a succession of injuries particularly when he had OP. At that time he was simply unable to do what was required.

That's a cop out though.

It's his refusal to do some things when he IS able to do what's required that have been the knock on him.

I'm happy, and have always been, happy to acknowledge that I am a critic of him. But that doesn't mean I don't want him to overcome/succeed because I do.

I think Higgins apologists need to drop the "leave Britney alone" position as much as the rabid critics need to drop the Higgins scapegoating.

[azabob]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Higgins certainly is an interesting character. I do wonder how popular he is with his teamates on and off the field. When Williams got outmarked for the hundredth time in the last quarter all defenders (Morris, Murphy, Wood and Picken I think) went to him to give him a show of support and or encourgement bar Higgins.
Higgins just walked straight past him and the other players and started talking to another play about the defensive set up for the next centre bounce.

I know a few posters have a link inside the club, I'd love to know is he popular or an outsider?

[LostDoggy]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I think Higgins has been very good so far this season given he missed all of the last year and most of pre-season. His defensive efforts have improved significantly and his kicking has been a standout. Bloody disappointing to still hear supporters bagging him on the weekend especially considering it was probably our best win under Macca.

[Mofra]

Re: Shaun Higgins

One of the highest tallies of "pressure acts" in the team this season by all accounts. Makes such a difference when he gets a pre-season into him.

[Ozza]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I think this may be due to cutting some kilos. He looks a lot leaner than he did a few years ago, so he's probably lost a bit of strength, but it looks to have helped him because he is moving really well. Running on top of the ground and is pretty good in terms of agility, too.

The loss of some kilo's seems to have really helped him. His movement is better.
In terms of his kicking, I think we will find that he will gather some more metres as the season goes on, and strength and flexibility continue to improve.

[Scorlibo]

Re: Shaun Higgins

That's a cop out though.

It's his refusal to do some things when he IS able to do what's required that have been the knock on him.

I'm happy, and have always been, happy to acknowledge that I am a critic of him. But that doesn't mean I don't want him to overcome/succeed because I do.

I think Higgins apologists need to drop the "leave Britney alone" position as much as the rabid critics need to drop the Higgins scapegoating.

I appreciate what you are getting at (and acknowledge that, as with any player, he has had deficiencies in his game), but I object to "he'll never be in our best 12 mid sized players". That to me is just so far from reality that I can't help but interject. Talk to anybody from outside fan circles and they are a big wrap for Shaun Higgins.

Were you a critic of his in 2009?

[ledge]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I think the common thought of Higgins through fans is he is a gun but injuries have held him back.
Simple as that.

[Bulldog4life]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Higgins certainly is an interesting character. I do wonder how popular he is with his teamates on and off the field.
I know a few posters have a link inside the club, I'd love to know is he popular or an outsider?

Meet Sean and Griff at the Peninsula Club last year at a function. Griff said they were mates off the field and were in business together and were currently developing properties in Geelong together.

[Maddog37]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I think Higgins is finding a much better balance in his game between defence and attack. He seems to be happy to just play his role and"go" when it's his turn.

If, and it's a big if, he has a good run with injuries, I would expect some top quality football befitting a player that could be rated as one of our best half dozen on the list.

[EasternWest]

Re: Shaun Higgins

Error

[EasternWest]

Re: Shaun Higgins

I appreciate what you are getting at (and acknowledge that, as with any player, he has had deficiencies in his game), but I object to "he'll never be in our best 12 mid sized players". That to me is just so far from reality that I can't help but interject. Talk to anybody from outside fan circles and they are a big wrap for Shaun Higgins.

Were you a critic of his in 2009?

Fair enough. I think when fit (and on that note, he actually does look pretty fit right now) he is definitely and easily in our best 22.

Was I critical in 2009? Yes and no. I thought he looked like a good player but I was concerned he didn't work defensively hard enough. I never really saw what other people seem to see in him, maybe that's it. I've never really seen him as a workd beater. He's a good player, his skills are very good and his speed is average - that's about the summation of it for me.

All that being said, apart from going missing in the third (and he wasn't really alone, so I'm not hanging him for that), I was very satisfied with his game on the weekend. I was satisfied because he got the ball and used it pretty well, but I was more pleased that he always seemed to be getting a hand in, or thereabouts when we didn't have the ball.

I just don't have high expectations of him, but he did his job pretty well against Richmond, and that's all I care about.