Discussion Hickey and Longer

[plugger66]

With Longer showing plenty of ability in the ruck on Monday but only taking one mark and Hickey previously doing a good job as a ruckman I was wondering peoples thought on how they both work in the same side.

I have seen nothing of either to suggest one could go forward for extended periods and a ruckman now just cant rest on the bench so how can we use both. My opinion is we cant which would be disappointing. Its working at the moment because of the injury to hicky but you cant have one in the seconds just waiting for an injury. Well not in the long term anyway. Lets face it, it would be doubtful Longer would have played so far if it wasnt for the Hickey injury. Thoughts?

 

[stkildathunda]

One of them replaces Stanley IMO. Hickey has shown & looked more dangerous up forward then Stanley this year. I reckon if we are going play Stanley as Forward/Ruck then may aswell play Longer/Hickey instead. Can't have all 3 in the side, so Stanley be one that misses out.

 

[plugger66]

One of them replaces Stanley IMO. Hickey has shown & looked more dangerous up forward then Stanley this year. I reckon if we are going play Stanley as Forward/Ruck then may aswell play Longer/Hickey instead. Can't have all 3 in the side, so Stanley be one that misses out.

Maybe but i think both are also to slow to play up forward. Stanley doesnt tackle much but at least due to his pace he at least puts perceived pressure on the opposition. Not sure to many players would be worried with either Longer or Hickey chasing them. I actually think once Hickey is back they need to take the punt on one playing as a permanent forward at sandy and see if they can do the role there. if they cant there they are no hope at AFL level.

 

[dewah07]

Hickey is the closer to been capable at being a foward with his hands and vertical leap.

But I think the real question should be, how does hickey,longer and Holmes play in one team.

 

[sverik25]

Hickey is the closer to been capable at being a foward with his hands and vertical leap.

But I think the real question should be, how does hickey,longer and Holmes play in one team.

They're never going to, maybe at a stretch Hickey and Longer could play in the same team, but I think for Holmes, unless he has a remarkable improvement to pass one or both of those two (unlikely), he will probably rely on injuries.

 

[The Punter]

The ruckman playing forward must be deep forward, so he wouldn't encroach on Stanley's role. The ideal time to try all three out in the team, with Stanley as a specialist hit up forward, Longer as the primary ruck and Hickey as the forward/ruck would be whenever Riewoldt isn't in the side.

 

[joop]

I think in a couple of years when our younger players have improved and the delivery into the 50 is actually decent that both of then could be very handy resting up forward.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

I think it'll work it will just take a couple of years before it starts working.

 

[kernelT]

Odds are that one will nearly always be injured… that's why Geelong have Simpson, McIntosh, Vardy & Blicavs who can all do the #1 role.

 

[bird_man]

Honestly, I don't see them playing a lot of games together. In the last few years most coaches have gone away from 2 genuine ruckman unless one can play forward (Cox/NicNat). We are more likely to play Stanley and pinch hit him in the ruck. I think they'll both be really good ruckmen but both seem fairly old school.

 

[saint sational]

people are writing off stanley a little too quick here. i don't think he will ever be our no. forward, but i definitely think he can play that lead up role over the long term.

assuming longer continues to develop, we will then be left with two quality AFL standard ruck man. Couldn't see this working regularly... unless one develops into a different role. From what i have seen i reckon longer could be developed into a key back / part time ruckman. i have doubts he will build a frame big enough to take on other ruckman e.g. minson, mumford. his best attributes seem to be his leap and attack on the footy, both of which would suit a key back. this would also suit the trend for key forwards to be 195cm +.

i dont mind the idea of having:
delaney FB, Longer CHB, Bruce 3rd tall defender.

i reckon bruce will also be better suited to playing 3rd tall, he seems to play a little smaller and more mobile.

 

[sverik25]

people are writing off stanley a little too quick here. i don't think he will ever be our no. forward, but i definitely think he can play that lead up role over the long term.

assuming longer continues to develop, we will then be left with two quality AFL standard ruck man. Couldn't see this working regularly... unless one develops into a different role. From what i have seen i reckon longer could be developed into a key back / part time ruckman. i have doubts he will build a frame big enough to take on other ruckman e.g. minson, mumford. his best attributes seem to be his leap and attack on the footy, both of which would suit a key back. this would also suit the trend for key forwards to be 195cm +.

i dont mind the idea of having:
delaney FB, Longer CHB, Bruce 3rd tall defender.

i reckon bruce will also be better suited to playing 3rd tall, he seems to play a little smaller and more mobile.

Longer's frame isn't his issue at the moment, he is 202 cm tall and 101 kg. That's similar to most ruckmen, he just needs to work on his strength at times and he will be a fine number one ruckman IMO.

 

[The Punter]

Longer looked like a potential clearance beast on Monday night. He had 4 clearances in that game.

 

[TheLastEmperor]

Longer the more talented and natural footballer of the two. His development is a little behind Hickey however the experience Longer gains while Hickey is injured will see him the #1 ruck by end of season IMO.

 

[TheLastEmperor]

Longer looked like a potential clearance beast on Monday night. He had 4 clearances in that game.

It's easy to see where the Mumford comparisons come from. Longer is an animal when the balls in dispute. He will be an absolute beast when he hits his prime.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

It's easy to see where the Mumford comparisons come from. Longer is an animal when the balls in dispute. He will be an absolute beast when he hits his prime.

I agree with this, Mummy isn't a high possession getter and currently neither is Longer both just are good in the tap department and tackling etc. I do hope Billy can get a few touches a game though.

 

[AngryRanga]

I'm happy with Longer over Hickey, but both are fine. Stanley is going to be pushed out eventually I think.

 

[CALL ME SNAKE]

Was pleased to see Longer bend down and pick the ball off the ground and fire off a few quick handballs & kicks at a few throw ins that went to ground.
Doesn't sound all that exciting a player "picking the ball off the ground" but a lot of ruckmen look like a Giraffe bending over to get a drink of water once the ball is below their knees.
He was a lot more mobile than I thought. Both Hickey & Longer look like they will both be pretty handy indeed

 

[Mowman]

Thought he was fantastic when you take into account this was only his 13th game of AFL football, think we have done super well.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Thought he was fantastic when you take into account this was only his 13th game of AFL football, think we have done super well.

12th.

 

[VDS66]

One of them will make excellent trade fodder in about 3 years from now.

 

[Mowman]

12th.

Even better

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

One of them will make excellent trade fodder in about 3 years from now.

Be interesting to see if we end up in another McEvoy situation.

A good problem to have though. We spent high picks on both of these lads, I imagine we'll try and get them to work together.

 

[Manimal_Dunstan]

Be interesting to see if we end up in another McEvoy situation.

A good problem to have though. We spent high picks on both of these lads, I imagine we'll try and get them to work together.

Lewie Pierce seems a little forgotten after that back injury but going by VFL watchers he was very impressive last year, give him another few years and we could have three very good young ruckman on our list. Not something many teams have, i'd assume if they all come along one might want a trade.

 

[VDS66]

Be interesting to see if we end up in another McEvoy situation.

A good problem to have though. We spent high picks on both of these lads, I imagine we'll try and get them to work together.

You'd like to think that Stanley will eventually become a kpf and then we'd have both as rucks.