Billy Longer - where's he at??

[St Chris]

Watched Richo's "Ask The Coach" video and was pretty concerned about his comments re: Longer and Hickey

Said that Longer hasn't joined the main group (assuming that means hasn't joined since day 1??) and Hickey was in front for the No. 1 role.

Anyone know what's wrong with Longer?? Did he have surgery after 2017??

I reckon there's a massive chance Rowan Marshall plays a fair bit of AFL footy this season if Longer is underdone.

[loris]

Watched Richo's "Ask The Coach" video and was pretty concerned about his comments re: Longer and Hickey

Said that Longer hasn't joined the main group (assuming that means hasn't joined since day 1??) and Hickey was in front for the No. 1 role.

Anyone know what's wrong with Longer?? Did he have surgery after 2017??

I reckon there's a massive chance Rowan Marshall plays a fair bit of AFL footy this season if Longer is underdone.

A while back it was stated on here he had a calf strain, so wasn’t doing full training. Don’t know whether that was correct or just a S/S rumour.

[Con Gorozidis]

I thought AR said shoulder surgery?

[tony74]

Calf

[SaintPav]

Moo

[Con Gorozidis]

Calf

Yep sorry my mistake.
AR mentioned Hickey's shoulder surgery last year.

[Vazelos]

It's an even year that means Hickey will play.

[sunsaint]

That's not fair
Aren't we meant to win it next year?

[sunsaint]

For those that have seen rowan marshall - is he the real deal or still hopeful hype
The recent report was very positive but that's still a long way off afl level
I still believe there is scope for two big men in a selected side especially if they can both play forward

[Joffa Burns]

At least we know Hickey can't do a calf muscle as you have to actually have a calf muscle to strain it.

[SaintPav]

All things being equal if Hickey can recapture his 2016 form, we'll be set to have a very good year.

[stonecold]

All things being equal if Hickey can recapture his 2016 form, we'll be set to have a very good year.

Won't happen, game has gone past him!!!!!

That's why no club looked at him at trade time, despite being offered at bargain basement price!!!!!

[kosifantutti]

All things being equal if Hickey can recapture his 2016 form, we'll be set to have a very good year.

Won't happen, game has gone past him!!!!!

That's why no club looked at him at trade time, despite being offered at bargain basement price!!!!!

What price was that?

[BackFromUSA]

All things being equal if Hickey can recapture his 2016 form, we'll be set to have a very good year.

Won't happen, game has gone past him!!!!!

That's why no club looked at him at trade time, despite being offered at bargain basement price!!!!!

We all know that you are not a Hickey fan and that you believe Longer is far superior.

And you are entitled to that opinion.

However to state as fact (whether true or not) that the club were desperate to trade Tom at a bargain basement price but got no takers is cruel.

Tom is a Saints player who had a great 2016 and a 2017 destroyed by injury.

Personally I wish Tom all the best for 2018.

[Scollop]

All things being equal if Hickey can recapture his 2016 form, we'll be set to have a very good year.

Won't happen, game has gone past him!!!!!

That's why no club looked at him at trade time, despite being offered at bargain basement price!!!!!

We all know that you are not a Hickey fan and that you believe Longer is far superior.

And you are entitled to that opinion.

However to state as fact (whether true or not) that the club were desperate to trade Tom at a bargain basement price but got no takers is cruel.

Tom is a Saints player who had a great 2016 and a 2017 destroyed by injury.

Personally I wish Tom all the best for 2018.

+1

Tom is still young. How the hell can the game have gone past him? Dumb/cruel/negative/wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Drake Huggins]

When both Longer and Hickey are both fully fit, there is a fair chance it will be Hickey that is picked first. Way more versatile. Anyhow, Marshall will go past both of them in the end.

[Spinner]

Longer the better ruckman by a mile.

[stonecold]

Longer the better ruckman by a mile.

+1
Not cruel, just a fact!!!!!

Hickey is a Saints and I wish him all the best!!!!!

He will need it, but, hope he does well, no cruelty in that at all!!!!!

[stonecold]

Rubbish Scallops, bad seafood!!!!!

3Rd man up rule finished him!!!!!

[BackFromUSA]

Rubbish Scallops, bad seafood!!!!!

3Rd man up rule finished him!!!!!

In your opinion NOT fact.

When fit Tom has a superior leap to Longer and when fit he can properly use that asset.m

It was his strength in 2016. The 3rd man up did not help him when he could leap
- if anything it helped the grappler preventing Tom’s leap.

And comparing their around the ground contribution is like chalk and cheese.

I love Billy’s grapple, bash and crash but to say Tom is finished is again cruel.

However if the AFL clamps down on paying free kicks under ruck interference rules then Billy might struggle.

Then again he fight reinvent himself.

Saying who is more valuable / better depends on fitness / opponent / rule interpretations.

It is Vidivic vs Everett. Both extremely valuable ruckman.

Very glad we have both of them and Pierce and Marshall developing.

[saintspremiers]

Rubbish Scallops, bad seafood!!!!!

3Rd man up rule finished him!!!!!

In your opinion NOT fact.

When fit Tom has a superior leap to Longer and when fit he can properly use that asset.m

It was his strength in 2016. The 3rd man up did not help him when he could leap
- if anything it helped the grappler preventing Tom’s leap.

And comparing their around the ground contribution is like chalk and cheese.

I love Billy’s grapple, bash and crash but to say Tom is finished is again cruel.

However if the AFL clamps down on paying free kicks under ruck interference rules then Billy might struggle.

Then again he fight reinvent himself.

Saying who is more valuable / better depends on fitness / opponent / rule interpretations.

It is Vidivic vs Everett. Both extremely valuable ruckman.

Very glad we have both of them and Pierce and Marshall developing.

If Hickey becomes half the player Spider was I’d be delighted.

What 2018 may tell us is the impact Hickey’s injury has on his 2017 season. Jury is out.

[stonecold]

Easy to see some posters on here lack genuine 'Ruck knowledge or understanding of the game'!!!!!

Any wonder not many posters bother posting anymore!!!!!

Remember the times when everyone was allowed an opinion, Nanny Country, Nanny Rules, Nanny Forum!!!!!

[saynta]

Easy to see some posters on here lack genuine 'Ruck knowledge or understanding of the game'!!!!!

Any wonder not many posters bother posting anymore!!!!!

Remember the times when everyone was allowed an opinion, Nanny Country, Nanny Rules, Nanny Forum!!!!!

Sigh. The good old days. Evidently we both pine for them. When anyone with an alternative view to the ratbag lefties could express it on the general forum without the threat of being banned even.....Sigh.


Site these days is mostly plain vanilla with anybody questioning forum gods getting threatened by mods or reported by fools.


I fully expect to catch a warning for posting the above.

[Wrote for Luck]

When I read 'game gone past Hickey' I just took it to mean (correctly or not) referring to changes to the third man up rule, but not sure I would agree and would put his discontinued form down to injury hopefully. That said when playing last year he was horribly out of sorts, confidence low (perhaps due to injury, perhaps due to self doubt).

My biggest concern with Hickey in terms of his development, when fully fit, is how much footy ability he's got to help take him to the top tier. His battles against Gawn prove what he can do, but someone like Marshall, who seems a terrific all-round footballer, may take Hickey's next-in-line position if he's not careful.

In the absence of one of our three key forwards I was preferring Hickey as a dangerous tall marking forward option, as I think his marking game in the forward line has got potential and can cause problems for defenses, but again, Marshall is now competing for that type of role as well. Will be interesting to see what happens. Challenge is on.

[Drake Huggins]

I suspect you are correct about Marshall, WFL. Marshall is a potential gun. He is a bit of a hybrid between Hickey and Longer, being more Hickey than Longer. Marshall has the versatility to play a key position as well as ruck effectively. Exactly what we are looking for. There isn't room in the 22 for both Hickey and Longer. There is, however, room for one of them and Marshall. Interesting times ahead. Good post, btw, WFL. Keep them coming.