Jack Higgins (Australian footballer)

Jack Higgins
Higgins with Richmond in May 2018
Personal information
Nickname(s) Higgo, Turbo,[1] Snags[2]
Date of birth (1999-03-19) 19 March 1999
Original team(s) Oakleigh Chargers (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 17, 2017 AFL national draft
Debut Round 3, 2018, Richmond
vs. Hawthorn, at MCG
Height 177 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 76 kg (168 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder / forward
Club information
Current club Richmond
Number 28
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2018– Richmond 20 (15)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2018.
Career highlights

AFL

Junior

  • Morrish Medal: 2017
  • Under 18 national championships premiership player: 2017
  • Under 18 All-Australian: 2017
  • Vic Metro best and fairest: 2017
  • Under 16 national championships best & fairest: 2015
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Jack Higgins (born 19 March 1999) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the Richmond Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). As a junior he was named All Australian at the 2017 AFL Under 18 Championships and won the Morrish Medal as the best player in the Victorian junior state league, the TAC Cup. He was drafted by Richmond with the last pick of the first round in the 2017 AFL national draft and made his debut for the club in round 3 of the 2018 season.

Early life and junior football

Higgins spent his formative years in Caulfield, a suburb 12 kilometres south-east of Melbourne.[3][4]

He first played competitive football with Ormond Football Club in the South Metro Junior Football League before later moving to play for East Malvern Junior Football Club in the same league.[5][4] Higgins was an impressive junior player and leader, captaining his side to a Division 1 premiership at under-13 level in 2012. He was named best on ground in that grand final and kicked a sealing goal deep into the fourth quarter of the match to win his side the final.[6] His dedication to the sport was already on full display, having already learnt to kick proficiently on his left leg at age ten in order to win a bet with his dad.[4] Such was his dedication that when he missed out on the 50-player Victorian state squad at under-12 level he immediately went to the park to run 200 metre sprints in an effort to improve his attributes.[3] In fact he even worked with a specialist running coach as early as age 13.[7]

His first representative football experience came when he joined the Oakleigh Chargers under-16s program.[4] Soon after he was named the best player at the under-16 national championships while representing the Victorian Metropolitan region in 2015.[4][8] That year he played his first matches for Oakleigh's TAC Cup side. He did so on 10 occasions and kicked a total of 19 goals across the season and finals.[8][9] Despite being a year below draft eligibility, Higgins led the competition for average score involvements (8.9 per game) and averaged a stunning 26.7 disposals per game.[10] His average of 145 Champion Data ranking points per game also placed him fourth in the league, behind top-age players and that year's eventual top three AFL draft picks in Andrew McGrath, Tim Taranto and Hugh McCluggage.[10] He finished that break-out year by playing in an under-17s All-Star match as a curtain raiser to that year's AFL grand final.[11]

He had to this point attended school at Caufield Grammar School but left at the end of year 11 in 2016.[4] Instead he focused on his football, committing to a rigorous weights program and extensive external sprints, skills and kicking coaching.[4] In addition to boosting his fitness, the program also improved his kicking efficiency in his TAC Cup season from 72 per cent the previous year to 78 per cent in 2017.[12] He also spent part of his draft year studying umpiring with AFL umpires development manager Adam Davis and worked part time at a local gym.[13]

In the months leading into the 2017 junior season Higgins participated in the AFL's Academy program and traveled with the group on it high performance training camp trip to the United States of America. There he placed first in the camp's time-trial race.[14] He also participated in the program's showcase game in April, in rainy conditions at the MCG. He starred in that match, kicking two goals, laying six tackles and recording 19 disposals (14 contested).[10] He was noted then as a potential number one overall draft pick and drew comparisons to Greater Western Sydney forward and AFL All-Australian Toby Greene.[10]

Higgins returned to TAC Cup football with the Oakleigh Chargers in 2017 and held averages of 24 disposals, six marks and five tackles per game to go along with 27 goals in 13 matches. His goal-kicking tally was seventh best in the competition.[3] Perhaps his standout game came in round 17 of the competition, when he kicked seven goals in his side's 88-point victory over the Bendigo Pioneers.[3] He continued to earn significant praise from AFL draft experts, with ESPN's Christopher Doerre labeling him a likely top-10 pick[15] Higgins ultimately won the Morrish Medal as the TAC Cup's best and fairest player on the back of his spectacular 2017 season.[3] He polled 22 votes total including in nine of his 13 games and in doing so became the first player in Oakleigh history to win the award.[3] Despite taking out the league award he placed only second in the Oakleigh best and fairest, placing behind forward Toby Wooler.[16]

At the national championships he again represented the Vic Metro region. He played in four matches, averaged 27.3 disposals, six tackles and six marks and kicked six goals total in the title winning side.[17][18] He was named the team's best and fairest player in addition to winning a premiership medal and All-Australian selection at the tournament.[3][19][17]

By the time he had finished his junior career Higgins held the all-time record for average Champion Data ranking points per game (145 across 33 games in two years), beating Tom Rockliff's record set nine years earlier.[20][21]

AFL recruitment

Higgins was invited to attend the national draft combine in Melbourne in October 2017.[22] He placed second in the class for the kicking test, missing just one of an available 30 points.[23][24]

Prior to draft Higgins was lauded for his football IQ, goal sense, his ability to win the ball in the forward half and his scoring ability, both as a midfielder and a forward.[25][18] His short distance speed was an area of concern though, with Higgins recording a 20-metre sprint speed of 3.10 seconds at the draft combine, placing only in the average band of players.[18] AFL Draft Central projected Higgins to be taken with a late first round pick, while AFL Media's Callum Twomey projected Higgins to be taken with the 11th overall pick in his draft day phantom draft.[18][26]

Junior statistics

Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles

TAC Cup

Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2016 Oakleigh Chargers 35714—836915235212.0—11.99.921.75.03.0
2017 Oakleigh Chargers 351431—19912332275712.2—14.28.823.05.45.1
Career 21 45 — 282 192 474 110 92 2.1 — 13.4 9.1 22.6 5.2 4.4

Under 18 National Championships

Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2016 Vic Metro 221—251641810.5—12.58.020.54.00.5
2017 Vic Metro 246—535610924251.5—13.314.027.36.06.3
Career 6 7 — 78 72 150 32 26 1.2 — 13.0 12.0 25.0 5.3 4.3

AFL career

Higgins was drafted by Richmond with the club's first pick and the 17th selection overall, the last pick of the 1st round in the 2017 AFL national draft.[27][28]

The club had Higgins training with the midfield group over summer, hoping he could play a similar role to premiership winning hybrid midfielder/forward Kane Lambert.[29] He impressed the coaching staff with his elite running ability in his pre-season, completing the three kilometre time-trial in 10 minutes and 10 seconds to place third among all players at the club.[30][31] Higgins played his first football in Richmond colours when he represented the club in a series of AFLX exhibition matches in Sydney in February 2018.[32] He also played limited minutes in the club's first official pre-season match, recording five disposals against Essendon in Wangaratta.[33] He didn't do enough to earn a recall in the final match of that series however, instead playing a practice match with the club's reserves side in the VFL.[34] There he stayed through the first week of the AFL season, kicking two goals in a VFL practice match win over the Northern Blues.[35] Higgins flew as a travelling emergency with the club's senior side to Adelaide the following week before playing another VFL practice match the next day, this time racking up 22 disposals, six marks, five tackles and a goal.[36] His form was noted by the club's AFL match committee and he was selected to make his AFL debut against Hawthorn at the MCG the following week.[30][37] Higgins had a quiet start to the match, failing to win a possession the match's first quarter.[38] In the second term he made his impact, winning a mark deep inside Richmond's forward line before playing on, spinning round his body and snapping through a goal with his first kick in league football.[39] He added another later in the match, soccering the ball in mid-air to help his team to a 13 point victory.[40][41] He finished the game with 12 disposals and two goals, the latter of which earned him a nomination for Goal of the Week.[42] Despite this strong performance, Higgins was omitted from the round 4 side chosen to face the Brisbane Lions due to the return of premiership players Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy.[43] He sat out just one match, returning to AFL football with a team-high three goals in round 5's ANZAC Day eve match against Melbourne.[44][45] He thus became the first Richmond player to kick multiple goals in the first two matches of their career since Justin Plapp did so in 1998.[46] Higgins added another two goals in round 6, the second coming right after the first when he was awarded a free kick in the goal-square after being knocked down by Collingwood's Lynden Dunn while celebrating the first.[47] He played senior matches in each of the next two weeks before being a late withdrawal from the selected side in round 9, replaced by premiership midfielder Shaun Grigg despite Higgins being in full-health.[48] Higgins spent just one week on the sidelines before returning in round 10, this time becoming the subject of major news story when he was disallowed a goal on a score-review that the AFL later admitted was incorrect.[49][50] Five weeks later he attracted yet more media attention when Seven Network cameras caught Higgins delivering a comical speech to his huddled teammates during a match's half-time break.[51][52] Head coach Damien Hardwick flagged an intent to give Higgins more midfield time after that match in which he gathered 20 disposals in his side's victory over Sydney.[53] He also earned praise from Richmond vice-captain Jack Riewoldt who said Higgins had been "really, really good for (Richmond) this year" as well as praising Higgins' work off-ball, an area he said was often a weakness in first-year players.[54] To that point he ranked second for total goal assists, third for score involvements per game, fourth for contested possessions per game and fifth for total tackles inside 50 among all Rising Star eligible players in the league that season.[55] The following week he recorded a season-best 25 disposals in his side's victory over Adelaide.[56] He was awarded the round 18 nomination for the 2018 AFL Rising Star award.[57] At season's end he was nominated for the AFL Players Association's Best First-Year Player award.[58]

Higgins signed a two-year extension on his draftee contract in July 2018 that sees him contracted to Richmond until at least the end of the 2021 season.[59]

AFL statistics

Statistics are correct to the end of round 20, 2018[60]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
Season Team No. Games G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
Totals Averages (per game)
2018 Richmond 2815121211213024245360.80.87.58.716.13.02.4
Career 15 12 12 112 130 242 45 36 0.8 0.8 7.5 8.7 16.1 3.0 2.4

References

  1. ↑ "Coaches' corner: Higgins". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  2. ↑ "Cotchin analyses the Saints match". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Prime, Toby (4 September 2017). "Oakleigh Chargers star Jack Higgins awarded Morrish Medal as TAC Cup's best-and-fairest player". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Monash Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Twomey, Callum (1 June 2017). "'I'm going to outwork them': Draft hopeful's creed". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  5. ↑ "South Metro Stars shine on AFL Draft night". South Metro Junior Football League. SportsTG. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Pollard, Ben (21 August 2012). "UNDER 13 DIVISION 1 GRAND FINAL REVIEW". South Metro Junior Football League. SportsTG. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  7. ↑ Ryan, Peter (16 February 2018). "Turbo Tiger: Jack Higgins brings the energy". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  8. 1 2 Twomey, Callum (28 November 2016). "The ones to watch in next year's draft". Melbourne FC. Telstra Media. AFL Media. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  9. ↑ Michell, Tim (4 September 2016). "Calder Cannons out of TAC Cup finals after crushing loss to Oakleigh Chargers". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Sunbury Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Riley Beveridge and Ben Waterworth (12 April 2017). "AFL Draft Watch: Early front-runner emerge for No. 1 pick, third Brayshaw brother emerges". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  11. ↑ Whiting, Michael (30 September 2016). "One last chance to impress". Brisbane Lions. Telstra Media. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  12. ↑ Waterworth, Ben (5 April 2017). "AFL Draft Watch: Paddy McCartin's brother impresses early, Jack Higgins' footy dedication". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  13. ↑ Landsberger, Sam (16 November 2017). "Jack Higgins is ready for step up to AFL level after record-breaking junior career". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  14. ↑ Twomey, Callum (5 February 2017). "Academy trip wrap: Breakfast, running and family". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  15. ↑ Doerre, Christopher (30 August 2017). "Knightmare's AFL Draft Wrap: Hodge-like Thompson stars for Oakleigh". ESPN. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  16. ↑ Prime, Toby (2 October 2017). "AFL draft hopeful Toby Wooller claims James Honey Medal as Oakleigh Chargers' best-and-fairest". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Monash Leader. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  17. 1 2 Prime, Toby (23 August 2017). "Jack Higgins named Vic Metro's best and fairest after starring in AFL Under-18 National Championships". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Monash Leader. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  18. 1 2 3 4 "Jack Higgins". AFL Draft Central. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  19. ↑ Twomey, Callum (4 September 2017). "Higgins on the charge to TAC Cup B&F". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  20. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (3 November 2017). "AFL draft 2017: Jack Higgins a genuine footy nut that smashed records in stunning draft year". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  21. ↑ Olle, Sarah (4 September 2017). "Oakleigh Chargers Jack Higgins firms 2017 draft credentials with Morrish Medal". news.com.au. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 6 April 2018.
  22. ↑ Twomey, Callum (26 July 2017). "Pie father-son prospect among Combine invitees". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  23. ↑ Doerre, Christopher (11 October 2017). "Knightmare's Draft Combine Wrap: Bonar's rise continues". ESPN. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  24. ↑ Twomey, Callum (6 October 2017). "Combine wrap: Who boosted their draft stocks?". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  25. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (22 November 2017). "AFL draft 2017: How Richmond's premiership win has put a new breed of player in vogue". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  26. ↑ Twomey, Callum (22 November 2017). "Callum Twomey's 2017 Phantom Draft". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  27. ↑ Schmook, Nathan (27 November 2017). "Tigers return and they're 'hungrier than ever'". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  28. ↑ Clark, Jay (24 November 2017). "Richmond adds to its premiership mosquito fleet with Patrick Naish and Jack Higgins". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  29. ↑ Cavanagh, Chris (26 January 2018). "Richmond draftee Jack Higgins being groomed as a midfielder". Herald Sun. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  30. 1 2 Lerner, Ronny (5 April 2018). "Tigers' top pick Higgins to debut against Hawks". The Age. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  31. ↑ "The AFL's time trial kings". Hawthorn FC. Telstra Media. 18 January 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  32. ↑ Guthrie, Ben (14 February 2018). "AFLX squads: Running machines locked in". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  33. ↑ Cavanagh, Chris (24 February 2018). "Richmond Tigers pick up where they left off in 2017, smashing Essendon to begin the JLT Series". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  34. ↑ "JLT teams, week 3: All the squads for final practice matches before Round 1". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  35. ↑ "State League wrap-up: Round 1". Zero Hanger. 26 March 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  36. ↑ "In the mix: round three". AFL Media. Telstra Media. 3 April 2018. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  37. ↑ Guthrie, Ben (5 April 2018). "Tigers turn to debutant for Hawks clash". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  38. ↑ Harrington, Anna (9 April 2018). "'Biggest strut going down Punt Rd': Richmond's Jack Higgins relishes debut". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  39. ↑ Cleary, Mitch (8 April 2018). "Five Talking Points: Richmond v Hawthorn". afl.com.au. Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  40. ↑ Ralph, Jon (8 April 2018). "Jack Higgins stamps himself as new Richmond cult hero in 13-point win against Hawthorn". Herald Sun. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  41. ↑ Gabelich, Josh (9 April 2018). "'I looked like a bit of a tosser': Tigers debutant Jack Higgins channels Cristiano Ronaldo". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
  42. ↑ Guthrie, Ben (13 April 2018). "Tough call on Higgins' omission". AFL Media. Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 13 April 2018.
  43. ↑ McGowan, Marc (12 April 2018). "TEAMS: Star Giant out, big guns return". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 12 April 2018.
  44. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (23 April 2018). "Broad back to face Melbourne". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  45. ↑ Harrington, Anna (24 April 2018). "Jack Higgins makes most of opportunities in second game for Richmond". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  46. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (25 April 2018). "Higgins joins select 'snags' club". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
  47. ↑ "Two snags for the price of one: Dunn's Higgins horror show". 7Sport. Yahoo!7. 29 April 2018. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
  48. ↑ "Grigg comes in for Eagles clash". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 20 May 2018. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  49. ↑ Morris, Tom (28 May 2018). "AFL concedes that overturning the Jack Higgins score review was the wrong decision". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  50. ↑ Balmer, Matt (26 May 2018). "'It's an embarrassment to our game': Richmond coach Damien Hardwick unleashes on score review system". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  51. ↑ "Richmond's Jack Higgins reveals what had his Tiger teammates in stitches at halftime v Sydney". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  52. ↑ "Jack Higgins' half-time gag gets Richmond teammates laughing". The West Australian. Seven West Media. 29 June 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  53. ↑ Beveridge, Riley (28 June 2018). "Plenty of laughs during Higgins' rev-up". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  54. ↑ Gabelich, Josh (4 July 2018). "Richmond superstar Jack Riewoldt says Jack Higgins rev up is a sign of the times". Fox Sports. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  55. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (4 July 2018). "Jack on Jack". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  56. ↑ Greenberg, Tony (11 July 2018). "Tigers break disposals record". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  57. ↑ McGowan, Marc (23 July 2018). "Why Gaz owes R18 Rising Star a handshake". AFL Media. Telstra Media. Retrieved 23 July 2018.
  58. ↑ "Tiger trio nominated for AFLPA MVP". Richmond FC. Telstra Media. 24 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
  59. ↑ Waterworth, Ben (13 July 2018). "Jack Higgins signs contract extension, secured to Richmond until end of 2021". Fox Sports. News Corp Austalia. Retrieved 16 July 2018.
  60. ↑ "Jack Higgins". AFL Tables. Retrieved 9 April 2018.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.