Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

[Bornadog]

This is something I think we should have tried on Sunday, but just thinking about the performance of both players, we need to change things up abit. Both have vital experience and we can't just drop these players and bring in more young players. We already have 13 players with less then 50 games.

So Why change?

I really don't like Picken in the backline, he is giving us nothing. Under pressure, his disposal is suss. I think as a small forward he could be very good and in the past some of his snaps at goal were just fantastic. Give him a target (the goals) and he will go for it. He is a booming kick when he gets on to it, he chases hard and can apply forward pressure now lacking.

Well we know Higgins is not kicking goals, he does have some talent but seems in the forward line he is being found wanting. Rocket tried him on the HBF and I believe he played well there using his kicking skills to find targets further up field. (Some will disagree on the success of this.)

thoughts

[F'scary]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Not unless Picken is playing in the reserves.

[The Adelaide Connection]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

This is something I think we should have tried on Sunday, but just thinking about the performance of both players, we need to change things up abit. Both have vital experience and we can't just drop these players and bring in more young players. We already have 13 players with less then 50 games.

So Why change?

I really don't like Picken in the backline, he is giving us nothing. Under pressure, his disposal is suss. I think as a small forward he could be very good and in the past some of his snaps at goal were just fantastic. Give him a target (the goals) and he will go for it. He is a booming kick when he gets on to it, he chases hard and can apply forward pressure now lacking.

Well we know Higgins is not kicking goals, he does have some talent but seems in the forward line he is being found wanting. Rocket tried him on the HBF and I believe he played well there using his kicking skills to find targets further up field. (Some will disagree on the success of this.)

thoughts

I was actually thinking the same as I watched my recording at midnight last night (hardly worth staying up for I know) but I thought it might be one of those late night thoughts.

I think with Picken's ferocious tackling it could help keep the ball in our forward area and provide some scores from turnovers. He could also be used in a lockdown role on a dangerous rebounding defender at times too. Certainly worth the try.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Higgins is a midfielder that can't seem to stay injury free or get fit enough to play in that position.

Unfortunately he's slow and developed an unaccountable style of football, and he's not the only one like this in the forward line.

I'm not sure i want that in defence.


Higgins can show ability from time to time but he is far too inconsistent.
Certainly some hard calls may need to be made over Shaun or Gia in coming weeks to bring in someone quicker and more accountable because we are leaking out of the forward line.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

I'm not sure that it's easy or simplistic as swapping them around. I think thy should play in their BEST position to the BEST of their potential. Pickens made his reputation as a tagger and why they tinker with this I don't know why. Higgins is a creative goal kicker who doesn't seem to do ALL that is required by him. I don't think he has the fitness and game to go back, I would like him to add pressure, tackling and presence to his game and apply himself as the team needs.

If either can't make the most of themselves in their best positions, then they should be sent to the VFL to find form in those positions. I think it would send a bad message that those out of form can stay in the side if they get moved around positions. Bad form is bad form. And both of them were poor on the weekend. Back them in in their best positions. They decide their fate then.

[Bornadog]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

I'm not sure that it's easy or simplistic as swapping them around. I think thy should play in their BEST position to the BEST of their potential. Pickens made his reputation as a tagger and why they tinker with this I don't know why. Higgins is a creative goal kicker who doesn't seem to do ALL that is required by him. I don't think he has the fitness and game to go back, I would like him to add pressure, tackling and presence to his game and apply himself as the team needs.

If either can't make the most of themselves in their best positions, then they should be sent to the VFL to find form in those positions. I think it would send a bad message that those out of form can stay in the side if they get moved around positions. Bad form is bad form. And both of them were poor on the weekend. Back them in in their best positions. They decide their fate then.

I am agreeing with you to an extent, I don't think Picken's best role is in the backline. Lower has taken the tagging role and I believe Picken would be an excellent forward pocket.

As for Higgins, tell me where do you think you have seen him play his best football in the last three years? (I k now he has had injury concerns). HBF thats where.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

I am agreeing with you to an extent, I don't think Picken's best role is in the backline. Lower has taken the tagging role and I believe Picken would be an excellent forward pocket.

As for Higgins, tell me where do you think you have seen him play his best football in the last three years? (I k now he has had injury concerns). HBF thats where.

Higgins has been a tease for a long time. I think we furiously agree he should be out of the forward line for not meeting expectations on performance output. Where we differ I think is that:

You think he deserves a chance for a Reprieve down back, which I suppose is fair enough.

I say drop him and make him perform to his potential.

In any event, I think he is lazy and without presence on the ground. I want form improvement, I don't want to move the deck chairs on the Titanic.

[Missing-Dog]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

I just can't see Higgins being accountable enough if required to play down back.

No argument with the Picken move forward, Liam has proved handy around goals before.

Would Dahlhaus moving into defense be an option? Can distribute the ball and does have relentless pressure acts like Picken. Just a thought.

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

As for Higgins, tell me where do you think you have seen him play his best football in the last three years? (I k now he has had injury concerns). HBF thats where.

Wasn't there a game at the SCG recently where he was bloddy awful in the backline and that sealed his fate as a defender? It was either Higgins or Veszpremi or both, i think both from memory (it was a wet grey sunday arvo where we got spanked).

[Cyberdoggie]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Would Dahlhaus moving into defense be an option? Can distribute the ball and does have relentless pressure acts like Picken. Just a thought.

Was a defender at Geelong Falcons. Looked pretty good except his disposal was average and penetration was poor. Was a tackling demon though.

I think we need his creativity up forward and perhaps in the middle. We don't have a lot of speedy players with class up forward in the smalls department.

[Greystache]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Wasn't there a game at the SCG recently where he was bloddy awful in the backline and that sealed his fate as a defender? It was either Higgins or Veszpremi or both, i think both from memory (it was a wet grey sunday arvo where we got spanked).

That's correct. The Higgins experiment as a defender lasted about 3 weeks until Craig Bird kicked 4 goals on him in a performance that would have made Jordan McMahon look like Dale Morris in terms of defensive accountability.

Higgins shouldn't be in the team end of story.

Picken has to tag or play deep in the forward line.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Not unless Picken is playing in the reserves.

He'll be doing weights and swimming for the rest of the year by the sounds of it.

[bulldogtragic]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Pretty sure Picken wouldn't want to swap with Higgins now!

[Bornadog]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

Pretty sure Picken wouldn't want to swap with Higgins now!

He should still be moved to the forward line

[Sedat]

Re: Should Picken and Higgins Swap spots

I am agreeing with you to an extent, I don't think Picken's best role is in the backline. Lower has taken the tagging role and I believe Picken would be an excellent forward pocket.

Is there an unwritten rule that you can't have more than 1 run-with player? Against certain teams that bat deep with potential match winners in the middle (such as yesterday's opponent), Picken should absolutely take a run-with role. Hell, he's one of the best in the business at it.

I've had 24 hours to mull over it and I am still completely mystified by the rationale that a defensive forward with no skill should have more defensive work put into him than an outside jet like Deledio. That's not even to mention the fact that Picken has completely owned Deledio for 4 years. Just staggering.