Higgins as FF ??

[Dry Rot]

Higgins is too tall. Harbrow for FF!

 

[jeemak]

I just can't see how having Higgins at FF over a Welsh or Johnson who kicked 43 and 50 goals respectively in 2008 is going to benefit the team. If you are going to go in with a small forward line then you need to have your classiest ball users in the middle, which I believe Higgins will show he is over the next couple of years.

Pinch hitting up forward and being a part of the midfield rotation will be his go next year and beyond.

Truth is, the improvement up forward is going to come from Minson and maybe Skipper until younger talls are given the opportunity to show what they can do ( like Grant and Bouman, which I hope is sooner rather than later). It will take a while though. Maybe Everitt or Tiller could be given a shot up there in 2009 as well.

Lake on the other hand is far too valuable as a backman and while at 195cm and 104kg he is potentially a forward option but IMO presents a much better prospect as a proven full back.

 

[Butane]

IMO the OP isn't completely off the mark. I think using the words full-forward was a mistake because people think of Dunstall, Lockett, Lloyd ect... Higgins would be more of a Brad Johnson FF.

In saying that, Higgins should be a midfielder and will one day soon be a midfielder. I expect Higgins to have the sort of season Porplyzia had this year and really step it up rotating through centre.

 

[jeemak]

IMO the OP isn't completely off the mark. I think using the words full-forward was a mistake because people think of Dunstall, Lockett, Lloyd ect... Higgins would be more of a Brad Johnson FF.

In saying that, Higgins should be a midfielder and will one day soon be a midfielder. I expect Higgins to have the sort of season Porplyzia had this year and really step it up rotating through centre.

Used in this capacity Higgins definitely has the potential to be a Porplyzia type (I always thought that he was a bit light on but footywire have him 6kg heavier than Porplyzia, and 7cm taller). IMO he has better overhead marking capabilities than most his size and with another year or two under his belt may get a harder edge to his game.

Along with Griffen he is the smoothest player on our list and the sooner we can get some solid midfield miles into him the better our club will be for it. I'd definitely like to see him spend more time as a mid than a fwd next year.

 

[The Original Swooper]

I'm not sure that the FF would suit him but he is a decent mark and a nice kick so on occasions that might work. I doubt he would be the answer for more than a few games unless we found a way to open up the forward line and hope that he could play a role similar to the way Mark Williams did for the Hawks a few seasons back.

That was the type of thinking I was talking about. Perhaps the term FF was inappropriate, as traditionally, that position has usually been a "power" forward.

 

[The Original Swooper]

this has to be the best i have herd all day!

Your cows talk to you hillybilly?

 

[The Original Swooper]

IMO the OP isn't completely off the mark. I think using the words full-forward was a mistake because people think of Dunstall, Lockett, Lloyd ect... Higgins would be more of a Brad Johnson FF.

In saying that, Higgins should be a midfielder and will one day soon be a midfielder. I expect Higgins to have the sort of season Porplyzia had this year and really step it up rotating through centre.

Thanks Borgs... you summed it up. If we could get him to do Mark Williams of 2006 (pre Roughead and Franklin dominance) or a Porp (Crows had NO recognised KPF"s), we'd have a starting point.

 

[Pigdog]

Thanks Borgs... you summed it up. If we could get him to do Mark Williams of 2006 (pre Roughead and Franklin dominance) or a Porp (Crows had NO recognised KPF"s), we'd have a starting point.

Hasn't Brad Johnson been doing this role for the best part of 7 or 8 years, only better??

 

[Mofra]

Used in this capacity Higgins definitely has the potential to be a Porplyzia type (I always thought that he was a bit light on but footywire have him 6kg heavier than Porplyzia, and 7cm taller). IMO he has better overhead marking capabilities than most his size and with another year or two under his belt may get a harder edge to his game.

Higgo is a monster for his height, very solid boy. He was our most effective forward for most of the game against Geelong, despite being short on match fitness.

I'd guess Skipper might be our makeshift FF next year, if not we'll persist with Minson & Welsh with Higgins rotating out to the HF line as his fitness base increases.

 

[Pigdog]

Higgo is a monster for his height, very solid boy. He was our most effective forward for most of the game against Geelong, despite being short on match fitness.

I'd guess Skipper might be our makeshift FF next year, if not we'll persist with Minson & Welsh with Higgins rotating out to the HF line as his fitness base increases.

There seemed to be an emphasis to try and play through Milburn's opponent whoever that might have been, early in the game it was it Higgins. I think the main reason this was the case was because Milburn was zoning off him as he did to his opponents in the game earlier in the season when he picked up a bucketload of possessions.

 

[Mrs Showtimes]

A common theme through many threads is the need for change in structure. It seems a few schools of thought exist. Harris to a key forward post is countered by the risk of upsetting a pretty good back 6. The young lads in Grant or Boumann we all concede will need HUGE physical development to have any consistent impact in the short term. Trade week supplied no new options. Everitt is a question mark as to his ability/strength to hold down a KPF spot. So, in similar line to Dare to be Different, what about Shaun Higgins as a FF ? He is only a 6'1 player, about 92 kg's now (?) but great overhead, excellent disposal, and a good set shot.

HF Murphy Everitt Johnston
F Welsh/Grant Higgins Akermanis

Big Will could be thrown down there whilst Huddo rucks (ala 2008) to upset oppo's back 6 balance, but I really don't see too many other options, lest the annual "smokey" that emerges in 2009 is a KPF.

are u joking mate

 

[Sween54]

Missy as FF Rubbish, Rubbish, Rubbish HFF/Midfielder stop this nosense now, before I soil myself, in sheer helplessness

 

[SPower]

Missy as FF Rubbish, Rubbish, Rubbish HFF/Midfielder stop this nosense now, before I soil myself, in sheer helplessness

Totally agree.
Pls end and can this thread to the scrap heap.
This guy will be a gun mid forward with the occaissional burst in the middle.

 

[OldSchool]

[/b]

That was the type of thinking I was talking about. Perhaps the term FF was inappropriate, as traditionally, that position has usually been a "power" forward.

I see where you are coming from. Is Higgins as athletic as Williams though? I remember Williams thrashing Harris/Lake a few season back with his marking and his leap but whilst Higgins is a strong mark, I'm sure he isn't a big mark.

 

[The Original Swooper]

I see where you are coming from. Is Higgins as athletic as Williams though? I remember Williams thrashing Harris/Lake a few season back with his marking and his leap but whilst Higgins is a strong mark, I'm sure he isn't a big mark.

This is true. In similar fashion to any "Lake to KPF" discussion, seems as many folks have Williams as an immovable object at CHB also (despite having played only 20 odd games). 2009 WILL bring on structural changes. In my "best" 22 , I too have these 2 as KPD's. I lean to another year of experimenting, (at least we may be less predictable), and am sure Grant, Skipper, Big Will and Everitt will all spend periods as the designated KPF. Ryan Hargrave could even be in the mix...who knows. I think many of our fans want to keep their cake and eat it too. We are all screaming for a KPF, yet, dearth depth suggests unless we trial young 'uns, or switch a known backmen, the midgert forward line will surface again.