Opinion Hickey & the forward line failure

[Mat Mann]

It's over, finished. Tom's been so poor as a forward, we get more goals out of Shenton.....

I know it's not all his fault, but it is. Zero presence at all

Avg stats this year
---------------------
Kicks 4.5
Handballs 6
Disposals 10.5
Marks 3. Contested 1.3
Hit-outs 5.3
Tackles 2.7
Goals. 0.5. Assists. 0.2

Surely time to play Membrey or (unprefered)McCartin.
Question is, where does this leave Toms place in the side?

 

[TheLonieRanger]

i reckon he would be great if he could hold his marks. He's capable

 

[Hubnester]

Important to our structure as he draws a defender; we've seen several times now the treatment that Bruce gets when there's one less tall target for defenders to worry about.

Hasn't been hugely productive but he is capable. Would we be better off with a Lee or Membrey in his place? Who then chops out in the ruck? I don't think that should be Brucey, he's too important up forward. Do we try him as the number 1 ruck and find a spot for Billy to hold for a while? Let's fast forward to when Paddy's ready to play, what structural changes do we make then?

I think we should spend the rest of the season to really experiment with this.

 

[Nutsngum]

Its a shame were pushing for a flag this year and cant continue to experiment/back in our players at certain positions and the like despite a few games down on form or going against one of the best defensive backlines in the competition.

Its obvious as shit that Hickey is down on confidence in his play. There were two marks in the forward 50 he barely dropped that could have been a very nice 2 goal conversion for him but instead he gets bitched about on the internet.

 

[jonathons11]

Would be interesting to see them swap for a little bit.
Hickey to ruck and Longer into forward. Longer is more mobile anyway.

I would prefer for Membrey to come in for Hickey up forward though. He at least looks more dangerous

 

[BRUUUUCE]

Longer has been disappointing the last few weeks i would send him to vfl and give hickey an extended run in the ruck i rate him higher anyway

 

[Periphery]

Delist every player that isn't getting a brownlow vote every week.

 

[Curious George]

What frustrated me about hickey yesterday was that he did have opportunities to demand the footy.
At times he had mitchell, suckling on him, clearly taller than both, he ran up and down with his hands in front rather than above.
Hickey is a great contested mark but when your a foot taller than the guy your on you should be demanding the ball on top of you head and mark it.

 

[Curious George]

Longer has been disappointing the last few weeks i would send him to vfl and give hickey an extended run in the ruck i rate him higher anyway

I think the total opposite.
His been very good against ruckman a class above him.
This will make him a good ruckman in the future.
I do think hickey is our no.1 Ruckman at his best but he is far off what he is capable of.

 

[mysainters]

It's so completely and entirely unfair.

He has done his best to be a a forward when he's a ruckman. His work rate is up, he tried really hard.

If he isn't injured or disciplined, I just don't get it.

Why not let him have a go?

Just to remind everyone his stats.

These are for Tom and Bill, first is 2014 averages compared to Billy's averages this year, keeping in mind Tom injured himself after Rd 6.

Was looking ok to me.

 

[aussierulesrules]

In Hickey's last 3 games (albeit two of them incomplete, but that's because he was going so poorly in at least one of them) he's averaging less than 6 disposals and two marks per game, hasn't kicked a goal in any of them and is averaging just a tick over 4 hitouts per game. They are terrible numbers and that's for 3 games in a row, so it's not just one bad game.

Longer has been disappointing the last few weeks i would send him to vfl and give hickey an extended run in the ruck i rate him higher anyway

I pretty much agree with this, as I think Longer isn't really doing any better in the ruck (the one area he is really good at) at the moment than I reckon Hickey would, whereas Hickey would give us so much more around the ground it wouldn't be funny, but they won't do it and Hickey will probably go back to the VFL.

 

[Persevering Saint]

Pierce?

 

[SK_MD_#7]

A second ruckman needs to play IMO.

Bruce is becoming very dangerous up forward and that is where he needs to stay. Not heading into the ruck

First three games the combo was working IMO. Last three not so great

 

[t_94]

Hickey was good vs essendon and the Bulldogs, decent vs crows. Has been very poor the last two games and might very well find himself playing at sandy this week. I like what he brings and what he could become. Whether he gets there remains to be seen

 

[gringo2011]

A second ruckman needs to play IMO.

Bruce is becoming very dangerous up forward and that is where he needs to stay. Not heading into the ruck

First three games the combo was working IMO. Last three not so great

Goddard? Lee?

 

[SK_MD_#7]

Goddard? Lee?

I'd rather Schneider back up ruck than either of those two.

 

[saintkildaman]

Goddard couldn't pinch hit in the ruck could he??
Want to see Membery/Bruce/Riewoldt as 3 talls. Don't want Bruce rucking either.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Goddard couldn't pinch hit in the ruck could he??
Want to see Membery/Bruce/Riewoldt as 3 talls. Don't want Bruce rucking either.

long term i think he has to. Longer needs to build up his tank so that he's playing as much as possible though.

 

[gringo2011]

I'd rather Schneider back up ruck than either of those two.

Lee so far hasn't set the world on fire in the ruck but Goddards size would make it possible. It might be like using a Rolls Royce as a paddock bomb though.

 

[hayes]

I wish there was a way we could just be able to play two ruckmen. Would be so much easier to be able to play genuine forwards instead of hoping a ruckmen can kick a goal a game. Sadly I think those days are over though. Not writing Hickey of at all just that forward-ruck position is so hard to fill and it can take years to find out whether you've got one or not.

 

[mysainters]

Josh actually did good in the ruck, stormed out of there twice with a clearance in the last.

 

[saintkildaman]

Josh actually did good in the ruck, stormed out of there twice with a clearance in the last.

Agreed, although I think until McCartin starts playing regular footy we can't afford to have Bruce in the ruck as it ruins our forward structure. Hopefully at one stage this year we see;

F: Bruce, McCartin, Lonie
HF: Sinclair, Riewoldt, Billings

 

[God Save Max King]

Must have a second ruckman in the team and I think it's too early to judge the performance of Hickey as a fwd. He's played some great games as well as some shockers, give him time and let's see what he does then.

 

[sobraz]

Wait, so Hickey is averaging 10 touches, being played out of position forward, and being subbed regularly, while Longer is averaging 8 touches a game, playing full game time on the ball, when his direct opponent is often in the opposition best.

And it's Hickey that's playing poorly?!

Time to send Longer to the 2's and let Hickey run on the ball. Imagine what Longer would average if he played full time forward!? Hickey has been thrown to the wolves while Longer has not rewarded the faith shown in him whatsoever.

 

[mysainters]

Wait, so Hickey is averaging 10 touches, being played out of position forward, and being subbed regularly, while Longer is averaging 8 touches a game, playing full game time on the ball, when his direct opponent is often in the opposition best.

And it's Hickey that's playing poorly?!

Time to send Longer to the 2's and let Hickey run on the ball. Imagine what Longer would average if he played full time forward!? Hickey has been thrown to the wolves while Longer has not rewarded the faith shown in him whatsoever.

Well you put that more simply than I could of...

Well done.