Saints looking at Shaun Higgins

[Faulky63]

GEELONG will need to contend with St Kilda in enticing contracted North Melbourne midfielder Shaun Higgins out of Arden Street.

AFL.com.au understands the Cats and Saints are circling hardest for Higgins with the lure of chasing a premiership to finish his impressive career.

Higgins, 32, has a year to run on his deal with the Roos but is open to the possibility of departing to open up salary cap room and provide another draft pick for his rebuilding club.

It is understood Higgins has been told he is free to look elsewhere to secure himself a longer term with the Roos only willing to guarantee his future for 2021.

Having offered Higgins a three-year deal to 2022 at the end of last season, the Cats are the frontrunners to land the former Geelong Falcons junior who still has family in his hometown.

The Cats will make room for Higgins on a two-year deal to 2022 should he wish to depart, with the possibility of the Roos paying a portion of his wage for 2021.

The Saints have also thrown themselves into the Higgins market to add polish to their midfield.

After several years of underspend in their cap, the Saints have the room to target more midfielders this season and are also chasing Giants rising star Jye Caldwell on a long-term deal.

Saints list advisor Graeme Allen also spent time consulting for the Roos during the 2018 season as they targeted, and missed, high-profile talent to accompany Higgins.

Higgins is currently holidaying in Noosa and this week bumped into several St Kilda players during a Saints beach session as they prepare for their first finals campaign in nine years.

[fugazi]

Well that's a bit surprising.
Not in our age demographic.
We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves

[bergsone]

Reall liked the idear of getting him 2 years back,not too sure now

[bigcarl]

Do we need him? We've got some up and comers. He'll keep them out of the team

[CQ SAINT]

Well that's a bit surprising.
Not in our age demographic.
We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves

I read elsewhere from Leathlean that we would trade agressively, in and out. Higgins class might be to make up for some that we lose, while others develop.

Higgins as a free agent,
Taranto and Caldwell for our 2020 FRDP and ?????????

[saynta]

Well that's a bit surprising.
Not in our age demographic.
We may be getting a bit ahead of ourselves

Nope good move . Will cost us nothing and the guy is pure silk.

[johnearljames]

Nothing under pick 60 and 2 years only.

[Joffa Burns]

Very classy skilled player and shook off his softer tag from early years at Bulldogs to become deceptively tough.

I'm normally a no to older players but if he was cheap say 5th rounder and North paid some salary why not.
He's in very good condition and not suffering from soft tissue like Hannebery was when recruited.

[saynta]

Very classy skilled player and shook off his softer tag from early years at Bulldogs to become deceptively tough.

I'm normally a no to older players but if he was cheap say 5th rounder and North paid some salary why not.
He's in very good condition and not suffering from soft tissue like Hannebery was when recruited.

If he is already in Noosa with the boys it may be a done deal.

[skeptic]

Mmm...
Not a huge fan of this suggestion.

It’s one thing with Ryder or a guy like Ben Brown in areas where we struggle for depth but Higgins along with Hannebery though the latter pbly won’t play many games will ultimately stifle longer term development

The midfield needs longer term investment/development

That being said... Higgins cheap with with us bringing in some class mid youth and cutting fat could work

[Joffa Burns]

Very classy skilled player and shook off his softer tag from early years at Bulldogs to become deceptively tough.

I'm normally a no to older players but if he was cheap say 5th rounder and North paid some salary why not.
He's in very good condition and not suffering from soft tissue like Hannebery was when recruited.

If he is already in Noosa with the boys it may be a done deal.

Perhaps johnearljames can tell us if we are in the "box seat" top secure Higgins?

[johnearljames]

Very classy skilled player and shook off his softer tag from early years at Bulldogs to become deceptively tough.

I'm normally a no to older players but if he was cheap say 5th rounder and North paid some salary why not.
He's in very good condition and not suffering from soft tissue like Hannebery was when recruited.

If he is already in Noosa with the boys it may be a done deal.

Perhaps johnearljames can tell us if we are in the "box seat" top secure Higgins?

Don't agree with both but we are into Ben Brown and Shaun Higgins.

[Ghost Like]

It appears to have worked this year with Ryder who improved our 22 whilst giving Marshall some breathing space to further develop in a dual role.

If Higgins can do a similar role by improving our 22 whilst giving our younger mids opportunities to develop as well as learn from him then that's a big YES. If it's a fourth rounder then it's money for jam.

[saintsRrising]

Higgins as a free agent,

Higgins is under contract, and so is not a free agent.

North might let him go for a late pick, or exchange of late pics, just to free up salary cap space for themselves.

Higgins is good, but his age is a real worry though. Offsetting that his trade cost would be little.

[saintsRrising]

Perhaps johnearljames can tell us if we are in the "box seat" top secure Higgins?

I am sure he will be almost first with the news, once someone else has been first with the news.

[saynta]

Roos are open to trading him out

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/nor ... 55yqw.html

"North Melbourne have indicated to star midfielder Shaun Higgins that if he can find a deal that extends beyond his current contract they would be happy to consider trading him.

After contemplating a move to Geelong ahead of last year's trade period, the 32-year-old signed a two-year deal with the Kangaroos, recommitting to the club until the end of 2021.
Shaun Higgins has been told North would entertain a trade if he gets an offer beyond 2021.

Shaun Higgins has been told North would entertain a trade if he gets an offer beyond 2021.

He played every game this season but is understood to have been told that the club could not guarantee him a deal beyond the end of next season and they would not stand in his way if he was able to move, as long as they got a return at the trade table commensurate with his talent.

Geelong are understood to have maintained an interest in Higgins, who has been an outstanding player in six seasons at the Kangaroos, winning two best and fairests (in 2017-2018) and being All-Australian in 2018. But the Cats are still working through their list management decisions.

Higgins, who crossed from the Western Bulldogs to the Kangaroos as a free agent at the end of 2014, has been a key figure at the club and loyal throughout the initial stages of their rebuild.

He would be attractive to several clubs if he feels he has to move to secure his future beyond next season and put himself in with a chance to cap his career with a premiership.

The Kangaroos have made no secret of the fact they are embarking on a list overhaul. Their young midfield, which includes Jy Simpkin, Bailey Scott, Tarryn Thomas and Luke Davies-Uniacke, is emerging while they have two early picks in this year's national draft.

They have put out-of-contract forward Ben Brown on the trade table and delisted 11 players this week as they accelerated their rebuild under Rhyce Shaw."

[Goose is king]

Barrett saying watch this space with Saints and Ben Brown. Thoughts?

[saintsRrising]

Barrett saying watch this space with Saints and Ben Brown. Thoughts?

Can he play CHB?

[saynta]

Barrett saying watch this space with Saints and Ben Brown. Thoughts?

https://www.afl.com.au/video/510549/is- ... 0918587001

Yeah, maybe but Barrett is a know all no nothing turd lmho.

[CURLY]

Barrett saying watch this space with Saints and Ben Brown. Thoughts?

Please no

[Goose is king]

[quote=saynta post_id=1872134 time=1600925461 user_id=126]
[quote="Goose is king" post_id=1872131 time=1600924981 user_id=17709]
Barrett saying watch this space with Saints and Ben Brown. Thoughts?
[/quote]

https://www.afl.com.au/video/510549/is- ... 0918587001

Yeah, maybe but Barrett is a know all no nothing turd lmho.
[/quote]


He may know nothing but I’d like Brown if his knee isnt going to be an issue. It would be up to the coaches to make him and King work. Then I 4 years time we move him on for Ben the FA

[The_Dud]

I feel a $1.6M contract coming on...

[Vortex]

I feel a $1.6M contract coming on...

He's only "holidaying" in Noosa.

[nostalgicsaint]

Would seriously add where we are lacking.

Anyone who thinks we have enough depth in our midfield has rocks in their head and should go back and watch the west coast, Collingwood or Geelong games.

Beyond that his silk is what we need more of.

Seems like he could play on ball for two years and then would be handy on a flank for a third.

I'd happily part with our first round pick for him and pay him 1m plus.

[saynta]

Would seriously add where we are lacking.

Anyone who thinks we have enough depth in our midfield has rocks in their head and should go back and watch the west coast, Collingwood or Geelong games.

Beyond that his silk is what we need more of.

Seems like he could play on ball for two years and then would be handy on a flank for a third.

I'd happily part with our first round pick for him and pay him 1m plus.

He's gettable for cheaper than that and the roos wouldbe paying some of his salary..