Higgins

[saynta]

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.

Tend to agree. The tigers dumped our two small forwards, didn't they?

[samoht]

I mean Kent, Butler, Higgins, Lonie, Robbie Young, etc... it's wasteful recruiting.

[CQ SAINT]

On of Lonie’s hallmarks was his forward pressure

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

When you plan on being second to the ball, it's not that difficult.

[B.M]

What rot!!!

[CQ SAINT]

What rot!!!

Makes sense that you don't go get it and then play defensive doesn't it.
Lonie was a lurker, a baulker and staging free kicks was pretty high on the list of his skill sets.
He had a few tricks and a big engine but his kicking wasn't good enough for AFL standards, he was selfish and got him self into terrible positions.

He'll be killing it in the amateurs.

[WellardSaint]

The talented small forward is a rare animal.
Butler in 2020 gave us a lot of hope (how did he poll in the B n F?)
Now he's a disappointment to most of us except the coaches.
Higgins made us hope for Schneider Mk2, but nah.

Maybe our culture is the key.
Name some dangerous small forwards-
Charlie Cameron
The little mozzies at Tigerland
Fredericks at Dockers seems to flash in and out of games...
I can't think of too many more that have X Factor

[Impatient Sainter]

Small forwards are a product of what our tall forwards and mids produce. When we have Max going 3 out, teams intercepting and rebounding, the smalls have no hope.

When we could get even number 1 on 1 contests in forward 50 our smalls did their job. They are not our major concern, its the game style of the ball yo yoing into and out of the F50, because we have had to compress so far up the ground.

[Munga]

Higgins doesn't crumb. He flies for marks against King. It's idiotic.

He's a very good contested mark one on one though.

[bangaulegend]

IMO Higgins is a pretty handy player & before his head knock this year was playing pretty well. Had a bit of a spell & just didn't seem to have the same confidence which is only natural when you have his history with brain injury . I have to say that IMO Higgins & Butler just don't seem to gel & don't think you can play both in the same team so how we work around that might be a job for the forward coaches during the off season

[Sainternist]

The Butler-Higgins combo has been a complete bust all along! One of the two has to go! Our forward line has looked dreadfully dysfunctional at times since we’ve had both.

Butler was a great pickup initially. I think we got him for a third round pick. We gave up a little more for Higgins, however. Honestly, I’m feeling unsure to which one should make way for the other. Although, I feel Butler would make for decent trade bait.

[spert]

Higgins IMO plays a lazy brand of footy, goes missing for parts of a game and I would still be on the lookout for a classy half forward.

[wally]

I thought last year Higgins seemed to hit up further up the ground providing another marking option but hasn’t done that as much lately. If he got his kicking accurate and got 2 or 3 goals a game then discussion over .
So if we took a gamble on Stenglien would he have been as good in our side?
Butler was good first year but now?

[Rubyjo]

Butler may be able to play the Hill role once Hill has gone.

[Scollop]

Butler may be able to play the Hill role once Hill has gone.

Butler hardly ever does a normal kick….way too difficult for his team mates to mark the footy from his dribble kicks I reckon

Butler has his strengths, but elite passing of the ball by foot is not one of them

[Banger9798]

Higgins is a smart forward, good instincts but not so good defensively. Another tall forward to help King and he will become more dangerous.

He is still developing needs to kick those sodas like his mate Max.

Stick with him