IluvHarvey wrote:I just don't see it.
Yes he gives 100% all the time but what I see is his 100% is not up to standard.
I still believe we have a better future with Hickey as he gives more around the ground.
Saying that Hickey comes with his own areas that aren't up to standard but a better option in my opinion.
Hickey cannot compete in the middle with the monsters, Longer can - it's that simple.
Plus, Hickey is not physically robust - in, out, in, out - having the skinniest tibia/fibula combo many have seen does not help.
Longer's a combative bugger, and is physically robust. Plus, his stoppage ruckwork is actually pretty good -our clearance numbers, in combination with his 'HO to advantage' numbers suggest he ain't the problem.
Look at his numbers against the 'dominant' big men - they're actually pretty good. Even against Jacobs in Adelaide last week he stood up OK.
And, something else for free - people should go and have a look at Todd Goldstein's progress. I did, last year - up until he was around 24/25, he was a duffer - every stat said so, and his climb from then said those stats were ballpark right - because they got so much better as he went up about 4 notches at 25/26 (he's 29 next month).
Billy ain't the problem, and he is a long way shy of "hopeless".
'I have no new illusions, and I have no old illusions' - Vladimir Putin, Geneva, June 2021