Shaun Higgins and Lindsay Gilbee

[Eastdog]

Will these players be better and improve under a new coach or will they stay the same. Good to hear what your thoughts are.

 

[Dazb86]

No idea.

 

[LifelongDog]

Would like to think/hope that no more free passes are given and everyone has to earn there spot and perform to keep it!!!!!

 

[Testekill]

Higgins will have to lift. He's been hyped a lot over his entire career and hasn't quite delivered consistently. At the moment, he's just an overrated top 10 pick that occasionally shows flashes and then gets injured.

Gilbee has reached a crossroads. He seems to have lost a fair amount of pace this year so he can't do the whole blazing across the ground then slotting the goal from 50 thing. He is going to have to work hard over the offseason to find another role that he can take.

 

[VitalDread]

Higgins yes
Gilbee is a maybe, unless we make him a forward

 

[True Dog]

Will these players be better and improve under a new coach or will they stay the same. Good to hear what your thoughts are.

Macca knows Shaun's dad very well and by extension knows Shaun. Lets hope he can get the best out of him because if he does it will be a massive bonus for us... There is no doubting he has all the attributes and the time to deliver is now. Sadly I think Gilbee's days are numbered, he never was one for contested footy or working both ways but hey anything can happen. If he can be rejuvenated he may be able to extend his career beyond playing for Williamstown.....

 

[adam10]

I really like Higgins off half back, gives us a ton of polish and uses the ball very well, not sure as him as a forward but with him in that backline it gives us that touch of class and a good user down there.

Gilbee I see not much coming from him this season bar depth really, I don't mind him off the half forward flank but I don't necessarily want to see him off half back again to be honest.

Big year for Higgins though.

 

[astrawally]

Gilbee I see not much coming from him this season bar depth really, I don't mind him off the half forward flank but I don't necessarily want to see him off half back again to be honest.

i can't recall, how much has gilbee been thrown up forward? i remember the richmond game last year where he kicked a bag (6?).. did he go forward in any other games. feel i may just be remembering the good times.

god id love to see higgins live up to potential but ive stopped expecting it.

 

[SonOfScray]

Higgins has to have a good year with injuries and pay us back for our patience with good form and then some. Personally I do not like the way he plays, but acknowledge he has a skill set that could put him in star territory. He has a crap year, hopefully we see the back of him. He has a great year, I'll suck it up and enjoy the ride.

McCartney's message is something that will make or break him as a player. That ability to generate a real and genuine hunger for a physical contest and be very good at playing your position.

 

[TempleKelvington]

I don't think either player has an attitude problem. The new coach may offer something to these guys that improves them in some way who knows? But Gilbee is older, maybe has lost some edge and I'm not sure the new coach helps that but who knows. I hope he can find a new lease of life. Higgins is a always injured and I think that has really hindered him. I'm not sure how McCartney helps with that.

 

[HK_Bulldog]

I don't think you can or should compare the two. One is a 200 game former all-Australian star in his final year and the other is an overrated pretty boy picked in the first round who always has an injury reason for poor output.

A fairer comparison would be Gilbee with Gia or Cross who are former guns still making a contribution. Higgins should be compared to someone like Ward around similar age and expectation.

 

[VitalDread]

A fairer comparison would be Gilbee with Gia or Cross who are former guns still making a contribution. Higgins should be compared to someone like Ward around similar age and expectation.

For Gib i think its more of a Gia comparison, since they have similar playing styles.

As you said, Higgs should be compared to Ward.

 

[JJHunter]

For Gib i think its more of a Gia comparison, since they have similar playing styles.

As you said, Higgs should be compared to Ward.

I just fell off my chair...

No one should be comparing the game styles of Higgins to Ward ? Age maybe if you want but definitely not game styles ! Its like comparing water and concrete !

Concrete is always hard and tough and uncompromising. While water is soft, better to watch, a play thing that can slip through your fingers.... but is only hard if you jump off a bridge into it !!

 

[VitalDread]

If you read HK post, i was agreeing with him about the similar age and expectation.

 

[Exactive]

If you read HK post, i was agreeing with him about the similar age and expectation.

I don't think that's much of a comparison either. Higgins has been in the system for longer, has been hyped up for most of his career but has failed to deliver due to injuries so the expectation has been there for a while. Ward on the other hand has had injuries but was continually improving with more games, so he has lived up to expectations (so far). They also face completely different environments now: Higgins has a chance to blossom under a new coach while Ward's just moved to a club whose entire playing list is just kids - tbh I'm not expecting much at all from him next year.

To answer the thread, I'm not really expecting much from Gilbee. If he were to find form, then great, if he continues to show poor form, then it just gives the kids more chances to play. Higgins though I'm hoping will step up next year, this is the best opportunity for him to show what he's worth under a new coach.

 

[WIGNEY]

Gilbee is just about cooked and has been average for 2 years.

The sooner Higgins stops running around like hes a movie star, hardens up and has a decent go then he could be a very good player. Has had many excuses with his body and all but sooner or later needs to deliver, have a feeling we have the right coach to get the best out of him.

 

[Doglandstheplacetobe]

I don't think you can or should compare the two. One is a 200 game former all-Australian star in his final year and the other is an overrated pretty boy picked in the first round who always has an injury reason for poor output.

A fairer comparison would be Gilbee with Gia or Cross who are former guns still making a contribution. Higgins should be compared to someone like Ward around similar age and expectation.

Are you kidding me? He was involved in a collision injury with Q. LYNCH? of WC and the aftermath (dislocated elbow/wrist) was described by a trauma surgeon as the same as a car crash victim.

Some pundits said he would be lucky to play footy again.

Give the kid a break.

 

[HK_Bulldog]

Are you kidding me? He was involved in a collision injury with Q. LYNCH? of WC and the aftermath (dislocated elbow/wrist) was described by a trauma surgeon as the same as a car crash victim.

Some pundits said he would be lucky to play footy again.

Give the kid a break.

I called Higgins "an overrated pretty boy picked in the first round who always has an injury reason for poor output".

Overrated? - Mike Sheahan had him 30 something in his top 50 last year. tick
Pretty Boy? - A bit subjective and probably a bit gay bit most women find him attractive??
Picked in First Round? - Pick 11 2005. tick
Always has an injury reason? - The amount of posts on Bigfooty that ask "Does Higgins have an injury" is only rivalled by the amount of posts that ask whether Ward is going. If you don't like Bigfooty as a measure, look up any news article on Higgins and you will not see one without the word injury in it. tick
Poor Output? - Has been on the list since 2006 so has 6 full seasons. His top 10 B&F finishes are 8th in 2009 and 10th in 2011. His output is 'solid' based on normal standards but 'poor' when you factor in his draft position, leadership position and salary. tick

At the end of the day, Higgins is a Bulldogs playing and like every one of them, I hope like buggery that they become good to great players. Higgins is still young and improving but on current trajectory, doesn't look like being much better than a 5th midfielder in a decent team. A far cry from the promising gun of 2006, 2007. My fear is that in another year or two, he'll be 25 with no more improvement and just a fringe player with no trade value.

 

[DexterTan]

I called Higgins "an overrated pretty boy picked in the first round who always has an injury reason for poor output".

Overrated? - Mike Sheahan had him 30 something in his top 50 last year. tick
Pretty Boy? - A bit subjective and probably a bit gay bit most women find him attractive??

I call it name calling and has nothing to do with his ability as a footballer.

 

[HK_Bulldog]

I call it name calling and has nothing to do with his ability as a footballer.

You're right. It was uncalled for. Sorry Shaun if you're reading this.

 

[Mutt]

You're right. It was uncalled for. Sorry Shaun if you're reading this.

Don't get on this site if you've been on the piss I'd suggest.

 

[SonOfScray]

I call it name calling and has nothing to do with his limited ability as a footballer.

Agree with this post. The worst 'best' footballer in memory.