Tom Hickey - 10 Votes

[SydneySainter]

Against a quality foe also.

Good on him! Glad to see him realising the potential.

[The_Dud]

If only he’d been given a proper crack at the Saints!

Anyone know how Longer went on the weekend?

[B.M]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

He did however play some handy football at times, as he and Longer alternated years as the #1 ruckman over a four year period!

Think Longer did 14 & 16 whilst Longer did 15 & 17

Neither were that great (definitely not in the Ryder/Marshall class!)

[skeptic]

I was a big Hickey fan especially into/after 2016 but after that year... it’s not like he was starved of opportunity, he had plenty of chances and really failed to grasp them.

Was inexplicably very passive at the contest... a trait he took to WCE too.

Don’t know what happens to him but nobody on this forum was particularly sad to see him go at the time because he had been mediocre for a while.

My take home lesson here who is on earth is the Sydney ruck coach..? let’s get him... or the guy that works on the players self belief. He too is very good.

[mr six o'clock]

I was a big Hickey fan especially into/after 2016 but after that year... it’s not like he was starved of opportunity, he had plenty of chances and really failed to grasp them.

Was inexplicably very passive at the contest... a trait he took to WCE too.

Don’t know what happens to him but nobody on this forum was particularly sad to see him go at the time because he had been mediocre for a while.

My take home lesson here who is on earth is the Sydney ruck coach..? let’s get him... or the guy that works on the players self belief. He too is very good.

The swine have dean cox and don pyke as two of their assistants
I'd love them at the saints.
As hickey is at his fourth club maybe he's realized that his career may soon be over if he doesn't make the most of it.

[Scollop]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

What is appalling is a club that has a habit of blaming losses on individuals.

Tom was not in the best players and we lost against Essendon.....Hmmm....

It's a team game and if we have that attitude, then no wonder we have a poor history of success and only one flag

If you have the right leaders including the captain, the coach, the footy boss and the CEO you won't lose good players. I considered Tom a good player

Sydney have excellent leaders who support all their players and an excellent development coach in Jared Crouch

[cwrcyn]

Richardson had a mindset against Hickey. He always gave us much more than Longer did, linking up through the midfield, taking marks, kicking goals here and there, and he was very good below his knees. Longer was the least skilful player I have ever seen pull on a Saints guernsey, getting his three handballs per game and zero marks, yet Richardson loved him. What a brainiac. Really happy for Tom Hickey now. Tom's confidence would have been at an all-time low under Richardson. How Richardson could favour a complete spud over a guy with actual ability is one of the great mysteries of recent times. That in itself indicated to me that Richardson had absolutely no clue about football.

[perfectionist]

The Saints have the most potent ruck combo in the AFL which raises our midfield to one of the best four.

[SydneySainter]

I was a big Hickey fan especially into/after 2016 but after that year... it’s not like he was starved of opportunity, he had plenty of chances and really failed to grasp them.

Was inexplicably very passive at the contest... a trait he took to WCE too.

Don’t know what happens to him but nobody on this forum was particularly sad to see him go at the time because he had been mediocre for a while.

My take home lesson here who is on earth is the Sydney ruck coach..? let’s get him... or the guy that works on the players self belief. He too is very good.

I believe most supporters acknowledge that Hickey was unable to recreate his 2016 form (just as Longer couldn’t recreate his 2017 form), despite being given various chances.

However, I don’t agree that most on this forum where content with him going. While Hickey’s form wasn’t progressing, he was still showing attributes that proved he was a good footballer and many, like myself, felt it was premature to let him go, especially for the underwhelming compensation from West Coast and Longer struggling.

[skeptic]

I was a big Hickey fan especially into/after 2016 but after that year... it’s not like he was starved of opportunity, he had plenty of chances and really failed to grasp them.

Was inexplicably very passive at the contest... a trait he took to WCE too.

Don’t know what happens to him but nobody on this forum was particularly sad to see him go at the time because he had been mediocre for a while.

My take home lesson here who is on earth is the Sydney ruck coach..? let’s get him... or the guy that works on the players self belief. He too is very good.

I believe most supporters acknowledge that Hickey was unable to recreate his 2016 form (just as Longer couldn’t recreate his 2017 form), despite being given various chances.

However, I don’t agree that most on this forum where content with him going. While Hickey’s form wasn’t progressing, he was still showing attributes that proved he was a good footballer and many, like myself, felt it was premature to let him go, especially for the underwhelming compensation from West Coast and Longer struggling.

Fair call.

At that point I was ready to sink the effort/development into someone else

That’s my recollection but mileage may vary

[CURLY]

Never seen it happen before to be honest. A bloke given a chance at another club having a run of good games.

[IluvHarvey]

I always thought Hickey was a good player and much better than Longer...... many here disagreed.
However, don't underestimate how much better he became once he moved to WCE as Nic Nat's understudy.
He would have learnt so much more working with Nic Nat than he ever would have at St Kilda.
The Hickey you see now would not be the same as if he stayed at the Saints

[SAINT-LEE]

I agree that both Longer & Hickey had a few good games for us and both had a bunch of terrible games.
Sad that Longers career was cut short at 25 but awesome Hickey is rising...

Wonder if being at Eagles with Nic and clearly a great ruck coach helped?

[sunsaint]

I have a slightly different take on the Hickey story
To write him off as a journey man sells him very short
Saints poached him from the suns as a rising prospect
His time at the saints was cruelled by a coach that had little respect for him
His contract to the Weagles was always as a fill-in for injured NicNat and once he was back had little game time
He is simply carrying on at the Swans as he always has

He was never the monster aggressive ruck - that hasnt changed

He IS very much in same vein as McEvoy (the other ruck we pissed off) versatile and skilled

[kosifantutti]

Against a quality foe also.

Good on him! Glad to see him realising the potential.

Not the first time he's done it.

He got 10 votes playing against Gawn in this game.

https://afltables.com/afl/stats/games/2 ... 60717.html

He also got votes in the other game against Melbourne that year.

It's worth noting that Hayden McLean got a vote for Sydney on the weekend as well. Did Hickey and McLean ever play together at Sandy?

[suss]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

What is appalling is a club that has a habit of blaming losses on individuals.

Tom was not in the best players and we lost against Essendon.....Hmmm....

It's a team game and if we have that attitude, then no wonder we have a poor history of success and only one flag

If you have the right leaders including the captain, the coach, the footy boss and the CEO you won't lose good players. I considered Tom a good player

Sydney have excellent leaders who support all their players and an excellent development coach in Jared Crouch

BM is right. It was the worst game I’ve seen a saint play ever. Tom Bellchambers ragged dolled him for 100 minutes of football. It was shockingly bad and I reckon his papers were stamped that night. I’m utterly bewildered that he’s the same player running around for Sydney.

[samuraisaint]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

What is appalling is a club that has a habit of blaming losses on individuals.

Tom was not in the best players and we lost against Essendon.....Hmmm....

It's a team game and if we have that attitude, then no wonder we have a poor history of success and only one flag

If you have the right leaders including the captain, the coach, the footy boss and the CEO you won't lose good players. I considered Tom a good player

Sydney have excellent leaders who support all their players and an excellent development coach in Jared Crouch

Absolutely spot on. Scapegoating players is completely ridiculous.

[samuraisaint]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

What is appalling is a club that has a habit of blaming losses on individuals.

Tom was not in the best players and we lost against Essendon.....Hmmm....

It's a team game and if we have that attitude, then no wonder we have a poor history of success and only one flag

If you have the right leaders including the captain, the coach, the footy boss and the CEO you won't lose good players. I considered Tom a good player

Sydney have excellent leaders who support all their players and an excellent development coach in Jared Crouch

BM is right. It was the worst game I’ve seen a saint play ever. Tom Bellchambers ragged dolled him for 100 minutes of football. It was shockingly bad and I reckon his papers were stamped that night. I’m utterly bewildered that he’s the same player running around for Sydney.

Makes you wonder how many other players were poorly developed under the previous regime doesn't it?

[carn_sainter]

Hickey was always good.

Kind of ruckman GT would have liked and is a poor man's Marshall or Grundy - a good, mobile, fairly skilled big who can run and is excellent below his knees and a great tackler too.

Glad to see him playing well

[B.M]

Maybe the following were developed poorly

Jack Steven?
Seb Ross?
Josh Bruce?
Tim Membrey?
Jade Gresham?
Rowan Marshall?
Dylan Roberton?
Jarryn Geary?
David Armitage?
Sean Dempster?

We carry on like no one got a kick?!

We won 23 out of 44 games in 2016/17 and were just out of the finals

Someone must’ve played ok?!

[IluvHarvey]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

He did however play some handy football at times, as he and Longer alternated years as the #1 ruckman over a four year period!

Think Longer did 14 & 16 whilst Longer did 15 & 17

Neither were that great (definitely not in the Ryder/Marshall class!)

Matthew Capuano probably earns this title. He was so bad in his last game we played Matt Maguire in the ruck. And then got the golden handshake afterwards.

[saynta]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

He did however play some handy football at times, as he and Longer alternated years as the #1 ruckman over a four year period!

Think Longer did 14 & 16 whilst Longer did 15 & 17

Neither were that great (definitely not in the Ryder/Marshall class!)

Matthew Capuano probably earns this title. He was so bad in his last game we played Matt Maguire in the ruck. And then got the golden handshake afterwards.

The game I christened him Crapuano. A gutless performance. On the way put of the ground I saw Barry Lawrence putting s*** on the coach in a loud voice to anyone who would listen.Really worked up over his son's treatment he was.

[saintsRrising]

I reckon Tom Hickey played the worst game I’ve ever seen anyone play in a Saints jumper (vs ESS from memory?)

Could’ve been injured? Form?? Confidence?? Not sure...

But it was appalling!!!

He did however play some handy football at times, as he and Longer alternated years as the #1 ruckman over a four year period!

Think Longer did 14 & 16 whilst Longer did 15 & 17

Neither were that great (definitely not in the Ryder/Marshall class!)

Matthew Capuano probably earns this title. He was so bad in his last game we played Matt Maguire in the ruck. And then got the golden handshake afterwards.

David Windbanks the winner easily.

[Scollop]

Maybe the following were developed poorly

Jack Steven?
Seb Ross?
Josh Bruce?
Tim Membrey?
Jade Gresham?
Rowan Marshall?
Dylan Roberton?
Jarryn Geary?
David Armitage?
Sean Dempster?

We carry on like no one got a kick?!

We won 23 out of 44 games in 2016/17 and were just out of the finals

Someone must’ve played ok?!

You...and others... are claiming we developed our own...Funny

In your list there are 4 players who came from other clubs...and you can add our current co captain in Jack Steele who also started his professional AFL career at GWS

Cho's predecessors had more to do with us getting close in 16/17 than Cho. The youth that started under Lyon and Watters were ready to play good footy in '16/'17.

Cho was in charge for 5 and half years

If Cho had done such a terrific job at developing players we wouldn't have needed to turn over half a starting 22 and bring in 10 mature players

This thread (about Tom) is actually symbolic. Tom had a brilliant year in 2016 at St Kilda.
In 2017 I witnessed the worse treatment of a player by a senior coach and I reckon indicative of a bloke who failed in the gig.

[B.M]

All of those players went to another level whilst playing under Richardson.

Hickey was woeful in 2017 (even in the VFL) may have been injured?