Higgins

[Scollop]

Inspired recruiting...not!!


Lucky his captain just gifted him with a snag


If he ends up with a few goals for the match people will say he had a fair game.

[Otiman]

Gets himself in the right positions, and short of some set shot misery has had a passing grade for 2022.

[The_Dud]

Can’t continue to carry him and Butler

[Life Long Saint]

Should have kicked the first two. Not a discussion if he did.

[Yorkeys]

Not worth keeping. Say we ever made a final soon he would let the side down.

[Life Long Saint]

Not worth keeping. Say we ever made a final soon he would let the side down.

As if he's the only one.

[B.M]

His kicking is below AFL standard

[Life Long Saint]

His kicking is below AFL standard

Again...As if he's the only one

[SaintPav]

It is a thread about Missy.

Superfluous to needs.

Butler was doing ok before we recruited Jack.

[B.M]

He is one of about 6 that doesn’t execute regularly

Lack of preparation

Needs to be singled out for his professionalism

Not the only one

[Hack]

I’d say one more year to get his fitness and disposal up to to afl standard

[skeptic]

Higgins is one that needs to be singled out for some special attention this off-season

Kid clearly has the tools.

There some weird head space that he gets into at times. It looks to me like he gets caught up in the excitement at times and absolutely tries to kick the stuffing out of the ball or blast away without surveying his options.

Clearly at other times, he gets the heebey jeeebies kicking at goal.

Then on other occasions... he looks like a superstar that can do no wrong.

He’s a great mark for his size... gets into a lot of dangerous positions and can pop up against the run of play.

He reminds me a bit of Raph Clark in that difference between when he plays on instinct as opposed to when he gets into his own head is like night and day.


I reckon he’s a real test for the coaching staff and our development because IMO, he’s clearly got the tools to be close to elite or at least elite in his position.

If I was Ratts... or whoever, this off-season with Higgins would focus on two things... 1: keep working on skills... 2: I would work on discipline/structure with Higgins. Where to stand in a pack, what positions to run/lead too, what’s too far for him, what type of kick from which angle etc
I’m loathe to give him any praise, but I reckon Ross Lyon would have done wonders with Higgins. Kid has all the instincts and x-factor already... he actually needs to be a bit more regimented and structured in his approach.

His skills aren’t good enough yet to play like a mercurial x-factor forward pocket that attempts a random high degree of difficulty shot out of nowhere from the boundary. He needs to be a bit more like... 40m out is my range... these are the angles/positions I’m confident from... way more confident on the right then the left (or whatever) this situation I’m better off passing or squaring up. Needs to play to his strengths more

[B.M]

His technique is awkward

Not a good kick of the footy

[dalboy]

His kicking technique has changed this year, clearly still a work in progress. He's now dropping the ball much closer to his boot. Get this sorted and i reckon he's a keeper.

[Rubyjo]

Who else is there ? Who else can we get ..if we improve as a team he will improve ..

[Scollop]

It’s not just his kicking. He doesn’t provide enough pressure to hold the ball in our forward line

Zero tackles today. He reminds me too much of Lonie who couldn’t stick a tackle…and another area where he reminds me of Lonie…

His decision making is crap

[B.M]

On of Lonie’s hallmarks was his forward pressure

He generally rated very high in that area and averaged near 3 tackles per game

[Scollop]

2.6 tackle per game might like good, but the reality was that Lonie couldn't stick most of his tackles.

Just because a player gets credited with a tackle, doesn't necessarily mean it was an effective tackle. Also doesn't mean that the tackler wins a free kick

[mr six o'clock]

I thought he started the season well but then had a couple of concussion mid season which may of screwed with his already damaged noggin .
At times he looks like he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders , definitely a confidence player !

[D.B.Cooper]

Higgins has the ability to get multiple shots on goal in games from very good ground positions, this skill is quite rare.
Has very good ground awareness and runs to the correct positions regularly.
He is very good on a lead and pretty good overhead for a guy his size and looks good when on the lead up around the wings.
Also has some freakish talents.

However his set shot goal kicking is atrocious for a full time forward, absolutely atrocious.
It must be frustrating for his teammates up field to bust their arse to get him the ball 30 out directly in front for him to constantly shank it.
He also runs a lot harder forward to get possession than he does defensively.
He's the typical gun junior who won the ball on skill as opposed to work-rate.

King is a very good field kick, hence I believe his set shot will come good with work.
Higgins is average by foot all over the ground therefore this area is a major concern.

Needs a higher base fitness level and countless hours of set shot technique work IMO.
Has too much skill and talent to not persevere with.

[Kick-it-lace-out]

I'd have to say that we probably have the worst small forwards in the competition. Butler offers pressure but very little in terms of scoreboard impact, and Higgins offers very little in terms of pressure and is a very unreliable kick for goal. I look at Geelong's small forwards and the way they turn backlines inside out, and think there's the model we need to copy.

[Yorkeys]

I'd have to say that we probably have the worst small forwards in the competition. Butler offers pressure but very little in terms of scoreboard impact, and Higgins offers very little in terms of pressure and is a very unreliable kick for goal. I look at Geelong's small forwards and the way they turn backlines inside out, and think there's the model we need to copy.

Agree.
In the last quarter when Jack and Dan were benched because we had to score I thought finally the penny has dropped. Those two are a significant part of why we missed the eight.
And why has Campbell been out in the cold. Selection and it's rote nature this year has been perplexing esp when you see the flexibility and innovation of successful teams. And how good is Long, selectors?

[older saint]

Higgins has a great football brain. His kicking needs work however he gets to the right spots continually to provide opportunities.
He developed a couple bad habits in regard to selfishness - which to me is an indictment of the group - Geary/ Steele/ Membrey/ Howard as leaders as had he done it at Richmond Jack would have ripped him a new one and he wouldn't have done it again.

This time of year we always have get rid of this one or that one. OK but need to replace them with something better or will be better.

Delisting:

Hannebery
Ryder
Geary
Kent

Add probably
Joyce

that's 5 changes before trades and other delistings

That's quite a lot for a side which isn't bottom 4.

Each decision should ask the question does this make us better both now and longer term (salary cap considered also). If no then why are you doing it?

[CURLY]

He is one of about 6 that doesn’t execute regularly

Lack of preparation

Needs to be singled out for his professionalism

Not the only one

Of all players I'm sure this isn't true baout Higgins.

[samoht]

We need to develop a midfield where we can afford to rest Steele and other medium-sized ball-winning players such as Owens in the forward line.

We need medium-sized forwards (not small forwards) who can lock the ball in the F50 with ferocious tackling, who can win their own ball and who don't get easily outmarked and outbodied. Who can take F50 marks.

I think our small forwards (who are just "finishers") will need to be made redundant - for us to improve as a side.

Small forwards are a luxury we can't afford to keep carrying.

3 mediocre small forwards ... Lonie, Higgins and Butler ... don't make a Cyril Rioli.