Higgins in 2009

[Scorlibo]

Where should he play? Much like Griffen in 2008 I would like to see him play more through the middle or on a wing. He laid 6 tackles on Friday night, the most of any player, proving that he has come a long way in the pressure department. If he can get a bit more bulk about him, he has all the tools to make the move.

[bulldogtragic]

If memory serves me right, he was a very, very good in and under player, good at getting the hardball and extracting it out. Chuck him in the middle to replace west. His body looks to have matured so i'd like to see him move into the centre and Ward into the role he has been playing. Natural evolution almost.

[ledge]

I like to see him the opportunist in the forward line,very elusive and would be awesome hanging around a good forward waiting for crumbs, also proved he can lead and mark.

[Mofra]

Higgins is our version of Porplyzia - drafted as a midfielder but too valuable as a forward right now due to a lack of options.

I woudl expect him to play a mix of forward/midfield going forward, especially as we lose Johnson as a marking small forward and Aker as a mid/forward.

[LostDog]

= Superstar

[Scorlibo]

Higgins is our version of Porplyzia - drafted as a midfielder but too valuable as a forward right now due to a lack of options.

I woudl expect him to play a mix of forward/midfield going forward, especially as we lose Johnson as a marking small forward and Aker as a mid/forward.

Fair enough, if he turns his game up to Porplyzia standard next year I would love that.

[MrMahatma]

Should be part of our A-team in the midfield.

If you look at his improvement, then consider how long he's been out injured, you can imagine what he'll be if he gets a full preseason and 22 games under his belt.

IMO - a midfield of Cooney, Griffen, Higgins, with Cross and Hill on the wing will be a very VERY hard thing to stop, perhaps as soon as next season. I think Cross is as good as he'll ever be, the others can improve a load - Cooney to play his best for 22 games, Griffen, Higgins and Hill - we still haven't seen their best.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Higgins would have to have very short stints in the midfield - maybe a minute at a time?

He's need a bloody big pre-season to get his endurance up to the level required. He's miles away at this stage.

[LostDoggy]

When Cross no longer commands a spot in the centre and is forced onto the wing he is finished. He's not quick enough and can't kick well enough to be a wingman. Not to mention his terrible football brain.

He seems to be good at getting the ball out of packs but that's about it.

He annoyed me on Friday when he came off the bench at one stage of the last quarter. Gilbee had the ball at full back and was getting ready to kick in. Cross should of stayed on the wing where he was 50metres in the clear from anyone. Gilbee would of kicked to Cooney who would of popped it over to Cross and we were away. Instead Cross just runs straight into the defensive 50 giving us no options at all.

[The Underdog]

When Cross no longer commands a spot in the centre and is forced onto the wing he is finished. He's not quick enough and can't kick well enough to be a wingman. Not to mention his terrible football brain.

He seems to be good at getting the ball out of packs but that's about it.

He annoyed me on Friday when he came off the bench at one stage of the last quarter. Gilbee had the ball at full back and was getting ready to kick in. Cross should of stayed on the wing where he was 50metres in the clear from anyone. Gilbee would of kicked to Cooney who would of popped it over to Cross and we were away. Instead Cross just runs straight into the defensive 50 giving us no options at all.

Relevance your honour? Oh I see it now. "Quote post" is a beautiful thing.

[Bulldog Revolution]

Sure, he needs to work on his fitness, but I've been wondering whether a move to defence might be a good thing for Higgins and the team

[Go_Dogs]

Midfield is where he needs to be playing next year.

[bulldogtragic]

I'd love to see a time where Cooney, Ward, Higgins and especially Griff can al rotate through the forward line and centre. They can all get the hard ball and can create all sorts of headaches.

Higgo & Coons have shown that they can de natural forwards too. I think Griff up forward would be a real luxury and real weapon.

So for me, Higgins to the middle. Boyd, Cross and West (if he plays) to secure the hard all and tags, and we need some runners to replace Ray and Eagle. Without those guys we look sufficiently slower. Perhaps Harbrow and Hill to the wings and moving forward when we swarm forward.

We have the best team nucleus outside of the grand finalists i think. We just need to fins a few more percent improvement.

[Go_Dogs]

I'd love to see a time where Cooney, Ward, Higgins and especially Griff can al rotate through the forward line and centre. They can all get the hard ball and can create all sorts of headaches.

Spot on, this is our class, explosive pace, ball winning ability and finishing ability. All of these guys can take a good contested mark, win contested ball and have strong defensive ability (just a matter of them consistently applying it, and in Ward's case, probably adding a bit more body size so he can cope with it).

If these are the guys leading our midfield, and rotating where-ever else, we are looking very good.

Hill, and possibly Addison and Reid are others who I'd like to see in this cateogry too. Hill needs more body size and strength, but Addison could well become another important part of the mix, and could Reid based on his performance in Adelaide.

It does seem to be pretty close to a 'premiership' midfield mix.

[Mantis]

Sure, he needs to work on his fitness, but I've been wondering whether a move to defence might be a good thing for Higgins and the team

I wouldn't have thought so.

Tim Callan showed on Friday night that he will be a very good player for us in defence.

Add to him Gilbee, Hargrave, Addison and possibly Harbrow (looks ok as a small defender)we have a bit of depth down there.

Agree with the rest that Higgins will spend 75% of game time up forward with a run in the midfield. Would be looking for this to increase as the season and years continue.

[MrMahatma]

When Cross no longer commands a spot in the centre and is forced onto the wing he is finished. He's not quick enough and can't kick well enough to be a wingman. Not to mention his terrible football brain.

He seems to be good at getting the ball out of packs but that's about it.

He annoyed me on Friday when he came off the bench at one stage of the last quarter. Gilbee had the ball at full back and was getting ready to kick in. Cross should of stayed on the wing where he was 50metres in the clear from anyone. Gilbee would of kicked to Cooney who would of popped it over to Cross and we were away. Instead Cross just runs straight into the defensive 50 giving us no options at all.

Cross starts on the wing pretty much every week...

[LostDoggy]

Cross starts on the wing pretty much every week...

And apart from those 12 seconds before the ball is bounced how much longer is he on the wing for? He is not a wingman in the true sense of the word.

[Bulldog Revolution]

I wouldn't have thought so.

Tim Callan showed on Friday night that he will be a very good player for us in defence.

Add to him Gilbee, Hargrave, Addison and possibly Harbrow (looks ok as a small defender)we have a bit of depth down there.

Agree with the rest that Higgins will spend 75% of game time up forward with a run in the midfield. Would be looking for this to increase as the season and years continue.

My thinking with pushing Higgins to defence is that we need to get another playmaker into defence so that teams cannot just lock in on Gilbee. Hargrave also does a fair bit of this role, but increasingly he is getting very important jobs on small forwards and is not able to get away as much

Callans decision making and kicking seemed much improved post injury so there is every chance he may really nail a spot in 09, and I hope he does.

Whilst I love Addisons game the challenge is clearly for him to improve his decision making, and foot skills, to generate more run and drive.

[Mofra]

My thinking with pushing Higgins to defence is that we need to get another playmaker into defence so that teams cannot just lock in on Gilbee. Hargrave also does a fair bit of this role, but increasingly he is getting very important jobs on small forwards and is not able to get away as much

Callans decision making and kicking seemed much improved post injury so there is every chance he may really nail a spot in 09, and I hope he does.

Whilst I love Addisons game the challenge is clearly for him to improve his decision making, and foot skills, to generate more run and drive.
What about Everitt? He kicks well, often takes kick-outs at Willy (and occasionally at AFL level) and seems to have that extra little bit of time whenever he gets the ball.

He would have to figure in our plans for 09 given his dose of second year blues and one would assume an extra few kgs on his frame.

I would prefer Higgins switching between midfield & the forward line.

[bornadog]

What about Everitt? He kicks well, often takes kick-outs at Willy (and occasionally at AFL level) and seems to have that extra little bit of time whenever he gets the ball.

He would have to figure in our plans for 09 given his dose of second year blues and one would assume an extra few kgs on his frame.

I would prefer Higgins switching between midfield & the forward line.

You mean lack of preseason due to a knee injury.

[Cyberdoggie]

Higgins would have to have very short stints in the midfield - maybe a minute at a time?

He's need a bloody big pre-season to get his endurance up to the level required. He's miles away at this stage.

agreed.

and he needs to stay injury free for a while as well.

[dog town]

Higgins just would not be able to run out a game as a midfielder at ths stage. While I would love to predict some sort of brilliant move for him I think its more likely we will just see a slight extension of his current role. He will continue to be a smal forward with the odd stint in the midfield. Until his fitness improves we cant really expect much more than that. He is a talented kid but he needs to start stringing together some games before we can really plan for the midfield. He did run Crawford around on the wing which is a good sign for his fitness levels.