The Chief

[matt decat]

Before i start, this is not a delist wiggins thread, however i wish to know your opinions on wiggins and how his AFL playing career will end. The way that i see it, atm he will be one of the few players playing for their career this season, purely because he is a fringe player who doesnt have the skills to keep him in the team regularly or age on his side, however the hardness that he brings into the contest, and his ability to give every thing he does 200% is good enough to warrant a weekly selection. he is a well respected figure, and i dont think there has been a bigger celebration for a 100th game milestone than wiggins'. he might not be a legend of the game, or the club for that matter but nobody can see that he doesn't bleed blue!

my question to you all is how will his career end, will he get the chance to retire like many legends of the game do, or will the club delist him. i personally hope that he does enough to warrant more time at the club beyond this year, and that he is one off the 22 players who can proudly say that they were part of the 17th premiership which broke the drought for the worlds greatest sporting club. after which, i think he will then retire. however, if he spends more time down at preston than in the big league, then unfortunately, we may not see the chief again.

 

[AlecDuncan]

The Chief has only made one position for himself - the hard-working, lead-up half-forward. He was great early this season (esp. against the Bulldogs), but the hamstring wasn't up to it for long. His stint in defence late this year made it obvious he will never be a defender.

Then there's his kicking. It's not the worst on the list, but it's borderline unacceptable for someone who regularly gets shots on goal.

So, he's got two things to work on if he wants to be an AFL footballer: Durability and kicking. If he gets the chance, he has to stay fit and productive. Otherwise he's going to be squeezed out by the likes of Yarran, Henderson and O'hailpin.

Will he retire next year or be delisted? He's way too young to retire, and his body doesn't have any crippling long-term issues like Big Red did. So that leaves only one choice.

 

[NAUGHT5]

The Chief is playing for his career every year.

He has done just enough every year not to fall into the bottom few players who end up getting delisted. But he's never been in the best 20 or so at the club. If our latest era hadn't been so dark then maybe he wouldn't have survived. But he has and he has got absolutely every last ounce out of his career and he's still going.

 

[Blue since 72]

Hard to say, Ratts loves him as a great clubman, heart and soul and all that but I'm thinking at some point with the quality of the list improving rapidly he will be squeezed out and just won't get a game in the seniors. Ratts would probably love to keep him around the club, maybe in some sought of development/coaching role but in terms of playing I don't think Wiggo would want to play Bullants all the time.

I think AD said he's effectively a one posi player, which is ok if you're good enough to make the position yours but Wiggo's kicking is his big let down. Its glaring below good enough for whats expected at senior level nowadays, expecially when going for goal.

I'll hedge my bets, if he's contracted he'll obviously stay and be used as required, but spend more time in the 2's than the seniors. If not he maybe delisted or put on a one year contract, once again primarily for emergencies.

 

[Blues_Man]

The Chief is playing for his career every year.

He has done just enough every year not to fall into the bottom few players who end up getting delisted. But he's never been in the best 20 or so at the club. If our latest era hadn't been so dark then maybe he wouldn't have survived. But he has and he has got absolutely every last ounce out of his career and he's still going.

^ this ...the bloke gives his all every game, and despite screams of "delist him" from the peanut gallery he always manages to be better than a few others around the place ..he will never be a star and will more than likely be delisted at some stage ..but you know what you are getting with Wiggo every time he runs out onto the ground, a bloke who will throw his body into any contest regardless of the outcome, to help out his team mates and club .
His kicking is at times ordinary ..but his pack marking is as good as anyones at the club.

 

[Weiterbot23]

I love wiggins!

Need someone to get excited about now Fev as gone.


Nothing better than a big mark from the WIGGLER!!!

 

[Bluebear]

AFAIK he is out of contract this year.

Whether he gets another contract will depend on whether we want to take pick 59, whether Stevens retires, and how many rookies we upgrade.

Also if Bradshaw comes out and says he wants to go to Sydney then we may not take a PSD pick and again, Wiggler may get another year.

The club would already know the answers to these questions and may well be waiting for players to return from holidays, or even until after the ND to see whether Wiggo survives.

I'd love to see him play permanent forward next year and give it a crack but my gut says he is going to make way for another player.

 

[roly]

The Chief has only made one position for himself - the hard-working, lead-up half-forward. He was great early this season (esp. against the Bulldogs), but the hamstring wasn't up to it for long. His stint in defence late this year made it obvious he will never be a defender.

Then there's his kicking. It's not the worst on the list, but it's borderline unacceptable for someone who regularly gets shots on goal.

So, he's got two things to work on if he wants to be an AFL footballer: Durability and kicking. If he gets the chance, he has to stay fit and productive. Otherwise he's going to be squeezed out by the likes of Yarran, Henderson and O'hailpin.

Will he retire next year or be delisted? He's way too young to retire, and his body doesn't have any crippling long-term issues like Big Red did. So that leaves only one choice.

if hes not the worst kick we have who is in your opinion
i think he is the worst field kick and second worst for goal after fisher

 

[AlecDuncan]

if hes not the worst kick we have who is in your opinion
i think he is the worst field kick and second worst for goal after fisher

Armfield. Army even struggles to hit teammates with hand-passes (which is unforgivable at AFL level). Anderson isn't much better. Joseph needs to lift too.

As ordinary kicks as they are, guys like Fisher and Carrazzo are better than The Chief. Carrots has obviously worked on his game knowing his weakness, and his record in front of goal has improved out of sight. Even Fish bags the odd goal 45 out on the boundary, but the clangers are every bit as bad as Wiggler's.

Army, Ando and Joey are all young and have time to improve though. I have to admit even Army was showing significant improvement by year's end, and Ando was competent at VFL level.

 

[Bluebear]

Armfield. Army even struggles to hit teammates with hand-passes (which is unforgivable at AFL level).

Geez......pretty harsh AD. I thought Armfields disposal improved quite a lot this year and had at worst become reliable.

 

[Blue and Silver]

You have to love the dedication of the Chief to every game, every moment. He works incredibly hard and is a true team player but he isn't in the best 22 or close for that matter. If he could possibly kick another 4 goal haul like his 100th on the odd fortnight and contribute regularly i would have him in the side ahead of Fisher etc but that is probably not going to be a reality and thus Wiggins will fall out of our side.

 

[blue gunslinger]

love his guts and determination and hate his kicking and decision making. Looked lost in the backline except when the ball was coming in high
May find a role in the fwd line but I feel others have gone past him on what they can offer
Time is ticking but like Fish hope they can prove me wrong

 

[Amers]

He's sitting on 98 games isn't he?

I think the club will let get his 100 early in the season and then I doubt he will play too many more after that, injuries depending of course.

Delisted/retired at the end of 2010.

Opps, just checked, he's already played his 100, still think he will probably go @ the end of 2010.

 

[HeziBarecket]

Wiggo is the talisman for our own personal mediocrities.

He proves without doubt that you can be mediocre and still have a lucrative career!

He is the ultimate 'middle manager' of footy!!

If only he could kick!!

 

[DamoESP]

He's sitting on 98 games isn't he?

I think the club will let get his 100 early in the season and then I doubt he will play too many more after that, injuries depending of course.

Delisted/retired at the end of 2010.

Opps, just checked, he's already played his 100, still think he will probably go @ the end of 2010.

Yeha, he played his 100th against the Bulldogs, and kicked a bag of 4 that day as well, he was on fire. Pitty those kinda days for him are few and far between

 

[The Blueseum]

Yeha, he played his 100th against the Bulldogs, and kicked a bag of 4 that day as well, he was on fire. Pitty those kinda days for him are few and far between

Amers, the 98 gamer is Brad Fisher.

As DamoESP explains, Wiggo's 100th in 2008 was a big game for the Chief. It was indeed the day he earned his only ever, to this day, Brownlow Votes, when he kicked 4 and polled 2 votes.

From the Blueseum

 

[acambo]

Wiggins, has no future at CFC, he would not get a game at any other AFL Club?

 

[NAUGHT5]

Wiggins, has no future at CFC, he would not get a game at any other AFL Club?

Wouldn't be in any clubs top 30.

But then again he wouldnt be in ours either.

 

[Shambolic]

Wiggins, has no future at CFC, he would not get a game at any other AFL Club?

I think the comment in this thread about him permanently fighting for his spot on the list is right - he's just a hard worker with a great work ethic who happens to have good hands and shocking feet.

But he would clearly get games at Melbourne and Richmond. This argument about getting games at any other club is just about wanky for mine, getting games depends on the state of the list. Carlton is well known for having very few forward options up until 2009, and even then it was still FEv and Betts. Wiggins got games because Fisher, Edwards and hartlett couldn't.

 

[HBF]

May struggle to find a regular spot in the 22 next year. Given that we are going to have to shuffle the deck chairs around on our forward line since Fevola has left, I just can't squeeze him into my best 6 forwards. Still, we know he will work his backside off over the Summer to get into the best 22 come round one next year.

Does need to improve his kicking for goal, and if this part of his game was more reliable, he'd be one of the first picked each week.

 

[Jezza U Beauty]

Wiggins is our barometer - if he's in the side, we're struggling.

Seriously, he is the current-day Simon Beaumont. Every now and then he plays out of his skin and produces AFL-standard football. Not too long after he reverts to being well below useful. Screamer one minute, out on the full the next.

The sooner we're good enough for there to be no room for him whatsoever, the better.