Hickey

[White Winmar]

I know it was only GCS, but I think we got a glimpse of the future with Tom Hickey. I'm not one who subscribes to the theory we paid too much for him. He is a crucial part of our future and I believe he will go past Ben in the next couple of years. His athleticism, ability to get to the contest and skills for a guy who's only been playing the game for 5 or 6 years, speaks volumes. He is the modern ruck man. Skilful, athletic and versatile. He'll cause opposition defences plenty of headaches in the years to come. He'll also provide competition for Ben, something that the big fella desperately needs ATM.

The pelican made the right move with this one. Now we'll have some depth in the ruck and some further forward options. It's up to Big Ben to rise to the challenge. His last month has been woeful. I hope it's due to injury, illness, or a temporary loss of form. If the big boy can recapture his best next year, we'll be awesome in that area. Hickey, McEvoy, Stanley and Pierce developing. I love it!

[spert]

Tom has better skills than Ben, and more important for a big guy, is good below his knees and has a good second efforts

[gringo]

I'm excited by the big Hick. Good mark and good mover. He's good at gathering the ball and handballing it off.

[St Ick]

Can Hickey, Mac and Stanley all play in the same team?

[Griggsy]

He attacks a ruck contest harder than McEvoy who kinda lumbers in. I like that they have different styles gives the option of mixing it up, if we can afford to have both in the game I think we should. We had Gardiner and King together successfully, just need Macca to find some better form next year and Hickey to improve.

[BigMart]

Not even close to McEvoy...

And he's not a forward.... Poor mans Warnock.

[bigcarl]

Said it from day 1. Gun

[MC Gusto]

his skills are severely lacking

[spert]

Not even close to McEvoy...

And he's not a forward.... Poor mans Warnock.

I reckon McEvoy has gone backward and is not a natural ruckman..Hickey way ahead

[Dr Spaceman]

Not even close to McEvoy...

And he's not a forward.... Poor mans Warnock.

Please try to contain your excitement.

[slider]

Had my doubts about him for most of the season, but i am starting to lean toward being more positive about him after the last few weeks.

[White Winmar]

Not even close to McEvoy...

And he's not a forward.... Poor mans Warnock.

Were you watching today? Who would you say had the better game? I know you're not a fan, but seriously,pop your bias away for a moment and try to see what actually happened.

[Little Dozer]

Hickey looks the goods, he's tracking along very nicely. Top work from the Pelican.

[gringo]

Big mac must have won plenty of hit out because he had one of his best DT scores (100) from 10 possessions and not very good ones. Hickey was better around the ground.

[skeptic]

the question is does he have the potential to be better than McEvoy who for all his positives, doesn't look like developing into the A0grader we all hoped he would become

[Cairnsman]

Even in Hickeys first game against the GCS up at Metricon this year and then in subsequent games he played you could see glimpses in some passages of play that he has got some natural talent. His work in traffic and as someone else pointed out his ability below his knees looks very good and he looks like he doesn't mind putting the body in too. I reckon he's going to be a ripper...and please can we stop using him to rip into Mac, they are both different types and yes Mac has been down a bit in recent months but when he comes good, him and the Tom will be a very, very formidable ruck duo.

[Enrico_Misso]

Hickey has gone past Macca in the last month.
His tap work is quite good and likely to improve.

In 3 years Hickey/McEvoy could be the best tandem ruck duo in the comp.
With the young and promising Lewis Pierce pushing up as well we could be blessed with ruckman.

When the dust settles we will have got the better of the BJ departure.

[Bluthy]

He's developed some confidence in the last couple of games for sure and is taking the game on. When he outmarked 2 GC defenders my heart lept. But remember its been mostly McEvoy who's been the main ruck all year and coping most of the physical smashing. Hickey has benefited from playing 2nd fiddle and being protected why he physically develops.

[3rd generation saint]

He will be one of the best ruckmen in the competition by 2015. I'm calling it now.

[Jarred]

10 less hitouts than Big Mac but 7 more disposals and and goal.... I'd also say hickeys taps hit out players more than Big Macs.

[Milne]

His work below the knees is great for a ruckman. Once he starts using his size to dominate contests he will be a great ruckman for us.

[saint6709]

last 2 weeks very good IMO - rising star ??

[mr six o'clock]

It was good to see him clunking marks .

[plugger66]

Was very good today. Some of the crap written about him was way to early. <edited by mods>

[Scollop]

Nice contested mark today in the last quarter. There are signs his confidence is building - nice goal today too. He's learning to take the game on and thats a positive. Also competition between he and Macca is a positive for the team.