The Last 10 mins vs Port - Higgins

[DelRe Nose Best]

Had the day off work today and was fortunate enough to catch the last quarter of the replay of Saturdays game.

Something that I didn't pick up on on Saturday was Shaun Higgins' last 10 minutes after Port got back within a goal.

2 handballs under pressure to Aker to set him up for two goals, and then unloaded from the 50 (sprayed it unfortunately - he looked like he was stuffed) straight after the second Aker goal.

I realise that this board can be a Shaun Higgins lovefest at times, but this is the sort of stuff I like to see from our young blokes. Under pressure, doing the hard things, when they need to be done.

Great work Higgo.:thumbsu:

[The_Bulldogs_Bite]

On one of the AM stations, it may of been SEN, they absolutely praised Higgins' game. Ditto Johnson, stating it was his best game for the club.

At the time I thought; "are you serious?"

I didn't think he had that much of an impact, but thinking back, there was several instances that Higgins put his body on the line which enabled us to get the ball. He got crunched a few times, but also set up a few pivotal plays including the two Akermanis goals.

This is a huge positive for us, as it shows Higgins is prepared to put his body on the line to create opportunities for others, DESPITE being a very very good finisher himself. He spent a fair bit of time in the midfield, so considering all this, he actually DID do pretty well. Players that are capable of effectively playing an inside game but also capable of finishing off very well are the most dangerous and elite players around (Judd, Hird, Buckley). Hopefully Higgins is able to build on this.

[Dogs_r_barking]

Higgo also collected two sizeable bumps - they were really targetting him to knock him around early in the piece.:mad:

Listening to SEN and a few others he seems to be up there along with Pendelbury and Selwood as a favourite for the NAB Rising Star. Wouldn't it be great if he won the nab and Johno won the coleman....:cool:

[bulldogrob]

Great work higgo. Some on the main board are saying that Aker is only good at recieving hand balls to finish off. One of the goals kicked in the last quarter, aker acctually made the first tackle then ran forward to take higgins handball. Great stuff by the two guys:thumbsu:

[Astro_]

Cant remember if it was Aker's 2nd or 3rd goal but Gia came in hard and knock the port guy off balance to force the ball free to higgins, ending with Aker's goal.

That was Gia's goal more than anything.

[Aquamarinejewel]

Cant remember if it was Aker's 2nd or 3rd goal but Gia came in hard and knock the port guy off balance to force the ball free to higgins, ending with Aker's goal.

That was Gia's goal more than anything.

It was Aker's second goal when that happened. Gia is definitely getting himself into everything these last few weeks.

[bradism]

Cant remember if it was Aker's 2nd or 3rd goal but Gia came in hard and knock the port guy off balance to force the ball free to higgins, ending with Aker's goal.

That was Gia's goal more than anything.

Definitely agree, was cheering for Danny as aker kicked it

[gilbeegurl]

I wholeheartedly agree with this topic. I, too, was fortunate enough to be home to watch it and couldn't believe how many standout players we had on the ground, that to me, honestly looked pretty average while i was at the footy on saturday.
My opinion of Higgo and Cooney's game was greatly increased by watching the replay and Aker's overall smarts around the footy all day- not just in the two goals towards the end. Good stuff :thumbsu: (although not happy with fox's scheduling of cutting out parts of the play so that you miss some behinds and general play)

[lifelike_]

Cant remember if it was Aker's 2nd or 3rd goal but Gia came in hard and knock the port guy off balance to force the ball free to higgins, ending with Aker's goal.

That was Gia's goal more than anything.

Completely agree. He also got the hard ball and helped set up the one straight after too.

[the dog catcher]

It was Aker's second goal when that happened. Gia is definitely getting himself into everything these last few weeks.

Yeah I wonder I Eade has been using the Bigfooty Bulldog board at training??;)

[Griffo66]

Higgins is going to be a great player for the Bulldogs for hopefulyl many ears to come, certainly is the blackhorse to win the NAB Rising Star this year.

[always right]

Higgins is going to be a great player for the Bulldogs for hopefulyl many ears to come, certainly is the blackhorse to win the NAB Rising Star this year.

Errr....try "dark horse'

[Cyberdoggie]

he's a winner!


he's got that ability to be calm under pressure and lift when the team needs him.

This is something we haven't had a lot of, but with higgo and aker we are a different looking side.

[dogupya]

I also mentione dthis in the Gia thred, I believe that Higgo had no choice but go and get his own ball and be aggressive at the contest. There was nobody left to dish it out to him, so as with Gia, he was left with no choice but to go and get it.

The question is, why doesh half our side need to go down before players do what is expected of them and not leave to a few??

In Higgo's defence, he is only a second year player and its good that his lesson is coming so early on, hope that he learns from it and continues his hardness at the contest.

As for Gia, he should already know better than to wait until we are injury ravaged to go and get his own ball....

Don't get me wrong, Im wrapt they are doing it, but it comes down to our mentality to leaving it to only a few players to do the dirty work. I seroiusly hope this is the wake up call our club needs to actually share the load and play like a team that is hungry and desperate!!!

[Fitz roos]

His a star! I think that him and Aker are very similar players, they way that they run and kick the ball and are both very good around goals. Also, Higgins has a great left foot, it looks very natural and its hard to tell that he is a natural right footer.

[murphy's twin]

So really these injuries which we are having is a blessing in disguise. Our team is a lot more hard at the ball then at the start of the season with Cooney, Gia , Boyd and Higgens getting extra responsibility in the middle. Once we get Cross and West back to full fitness we will have enough players capable of doing the hard things to become a successful team in the finals.

[dogupya]

So really these injuries which we are having is a blessing in disguise. Our team is a lot more hard at the ball then at the start of the season with Cooney, Gia , Boyd and Higgens getting extra responsibility in the middle. Once we get Cross and West back to full fitness we will have enough players capable of doing the hard things to become a successful team in the finals.

Well, thats what we are hoping for!! Whether or not it happens, is something the bulldogs have made an artform.

[Dogs_R_Us]

I think it's taken a while for Aker and the other players to get used to each other, and learn to anticipate and trust each other's moves. It seems to me that Aker, Higgins, Gia and Robbins are developing a very good understanding between them.