Higgins was rated the best Vic Metro player in his year and was touted as a possible future onballer too. He was the correct pick. Higgins was traded for pick 21, 2021 which I think was Sonsie and a future 4th which I think was Steely Greene.
-
IMPORTANT // Please look after your loved ones, yourself and be kind to others. If you are feeling that the world is too hard to handle there is always help - I implore you not to hesitate in contacting one of these wonderful organisations Lifeline and Beyond Blue ... and I'm sure reaching out to our PRE community we will find a way to help. T.
Matthew Clarke
- Thread starter Harry
- Start date
I think the surprise success of Tylar Young means we have a surplus tall down back, which is Gibcus who can now go forward. Gibcus is streets ahead of JVR in my book. Great drafting of Young by the way out of literally nowhere.
How did you come to that conclusion? I'm assuming you're referring to Gibcus' attributes rather than what he has demonstrated on field as a forward?
The Himmelberg situation is interesting General because he’s not a forward. I believe you’re right in that we were having a dip at him but if we had gotten him would we have played him forward? Or would he have played back and forced Balta forward, a position he isn’t suited to. Either way it’s a compromise of playing a quality defender as a forward based on needing some height and strength forward.
I’ll concede that Gibcus injury has hurt us this season but because of his lack of games the jury is still out on whether he’ll end up forward or back.
Biggy is no chance and Gibcus and Bauer lack the height and bulk of a genuine number one forward. Something we are going to need as Lynch nears the end of his career.
I guess my bloated response was really there to highlight what we perceive as crisis (I'm real concerned at potential lack of a 2nd key forward) the club might have a tactic to address in their list strategy. We simply don't know.
That tactic could fail, but it doesn't mean they don't have one. We need to trust our team a little that there's a plan.
We haven't drafted a key forward inside 35, since McJesus (33) some bloke who ended up on Love Island (26) and a punter for USC (19)
Jack is the last key forward we drafted inside 35 that was a success, maybe Ty Vickery for a fleeting second but he rucked as well.
It's a longstanding failure and we haven't addressed it through the draft. Lynch was the plan and it worked to deliver two more flags. At the same time it's chronic mismanagement to not have anyone in the wings. And the very fact they they are hard to find makes it even more staggering that we haven't tried.
Yes, his demonstrated attributes in is 18 games are way ahead of JVR. Quicker, better mark and kick. In my humble opinion. https://www.footywire.com/afl/footy...2=12&type=A&pid1=6952&pid2=6962&fid1=C&fid2=C
What if our Key is Gibcus though Scoop?
What if our intent is not to recruit them via the draft because the failure rate is so high, and we take the Lynch model (obtain via FA).
I don't disagree we appear to have a problem. What I disagree with is the pages and pages basically saying the same thing over and over jumping to conclusions. We simply don't know what is going on behind the scenes. We don't know the strategy. Just because we don't know or understand it, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
If we get to Feb, and our forwardline consists of Miller, Bauer and Cumberland because Lynch is still injured and Gibcus is our CHB.....I'm likely to ask you where the pitchforks and torches are though.
Maybe that's the plan? Top 3 pick is being conservative IMO, more like top 1.
I'm pretty certain, dead cert in fact, that Blake had just sunk a couple of the break, turned and picked Bolton, before returning to clean up the table
#ball movement
In the last 3 NDs, the Dees have had 7 picks in the top 40. 4 havent played a senior game. 1 has played 2 games. In those 7 picks ,they have drafted 1 KPF and 1 KPD and not one true mid (at least to my understanding.)
Nice cherry picking. One was a pick 38 and one a 39. Games played are not a great indicator either ILHO - Trying to get into one of the most settled and best performing lineups is a lot harder than say a North Melbourne. Still, already getting best 22 players Bowey, McVee and Van Rooyen without a pick before 15 is decent going.
But more importantly, could you go back to the 3 years prior to the above and summise their draft performance?
On the selection of Jack Higgins at 17 in the 2017 ND I think it's clear that it was best available. It's inconceivable that RFC instructed Clarke to select a small full forward with the pick.
There are two schools on the success of the selection-
A/ Higgins is a 13 touch, 1.72 goal a game forward pocket and that makes him a good player.
B/ Higgins is a Cody Weightman (1.82 goal a game) type, not worth two bob.
For the record, I'm not unsympathetic to School B.
What is not subjective is that he is no longer at RFC. School B says that's good.
I count the selection as a total bungle. (I'm ok with bungles - mistakes are overrated.) In what National Draft ever is a marking small forward the best available player? The 2017 ND?
I leave it to you to decide -
There are two schools on the success of the selection-
A/ Higgins is a 13 touch, 1.72 goal a game forward pocket and that makes him a good player.
B/ Higgins is a Cody Weightman (1.82 goal a game) type, not worth two bob.
For the record, I'm not unsympathetic to School B.
What is not subjective is that he is no longer at RFC. School B says that's good.
I count the selection as a total bungle. (I'm ok with bungles - mistakes are overrated.) In what National Draft ever is a marking small forward the best available player? The 2017 ND?
I leave it to you to decide -
1 | 17 | Jack Higgins | Richmond | Oakleigh Chargers |
1 | 18 | Brandon Starcevich | Brisbane Lions | East Perth |
1 | 19 | Wil Powell | Gold Coast | Claremont |
2 | 20 | Callum Coleman-Jones | Richmond | Sturt |
2 | 21 | Oscar Allen | West Coast | West Perth |
2 | 22 | Lachie Fogarty | Geelong | Western Jets |
2 | 23 | Will Walker | North Melbourne | Sandringham Dragons |
2 | 24 | Tim Kelly | Geelong | South Fremantle |
2 | 25 | Noah Balta | Richmond | Calder Cannons |
2 | 26 | Liam Ryan | West Coast | Subiaco |
2 | 27 | Brent Daniels | Greater Western Sydney | Bendigo Pioneers |
2 | 28 | Sam Taylor | Greater Western Sydney | Swan Districts |
2 | 29 | Charlie Spargo | Melbourne | Murray Bushrangers |
2 | 30 | Tom De Koning | Carlton | Dandenong Stingrays |
2 | 31 | Bayley Fritsch | Melbourne | Casey |
2 | 32 | Brayden Ainsworth | West Coast | Subiaco |
2 | 33 | Tom McCartin | Sydney | Geelong Falcons |
2 | 34 | Patrick Naish | Richmond | Northern Knights |
Im not going back any further cos that doesnt suit my argument!
The Dees won the flag a couple of years ago, and are right up there again. Obviously they are doing something right.
But i am not sure the proof is there that they have nailed there picks in the last few drafts.
And the player they picked a few picks before the best young ruck (and best young forward) in the game has been delisted already. Surely you cant forgive such a monumental stuff up?
Reckon we thought he'd be a mid swapping forward Captain. Averaged 27 possessions a match at the Champs in his draft year.
Got voted Vic Metros's best player (won the title that year), All Aus and Morrish Medal.
It didn't work up the ground, but he's still comfortably a first 18 player at AFL level and a tough match-up.
Clarke has made bigger mistakes than drafting Jack Higgins.
Nowhere. Just saying what the forward line could look like next year if he doesn't get back from his foot injury.
