Oakleigh Chargers star Jack Higgins awarded Morrish Medal as TAC Cup’s best-and-fairest player
TOP AFL draft prospect Jack Higgins became the first Oakleigh Chargers player to take home the Morrish Medal as the TAC Cup’s best-and-fairest player.
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THE pain of missing out on an under-12s state squad berth could be the driving force behind Oakleigh Chargers young gun Jack Higgins reaching the AFL.
Higgins, a likely top pick in November’s draft, capped off his stellar TAC Cup season on Sunday night by taking out the Morrish Medal as the competition’s best-and-fairest player.
Higgins, 18, has built a reputation as a dedicated young footballer committed to reaching his potential.
RELATED: Jack Higgins shines for Vic Metro at AFL Under-18 National Championships
When the East Malvern product didn’t see his name included in the squad of 50 for an under-12s state squad, he went straight to a nearby park and started running 200m sprints.
“I was really annoyed at the time, I thought my AFL career was over ... as you do when your 12 years old,” Higgins said.
“As soon as I came home, I went straight to the park, did some 200s, got out the front with Dad to do some footy skills.
“Ever since I got cut, I wanted to make AFL even more.”
The omission forced Higgins, who likens his game to Greater Western Sydney forward Toby Greene, to work on his deficiencies.
“My weaknesses were about my pace. I wasn’t that fast, my skills weren’t that good so I just worked extra hard on the park with Dad and all my mentors,” he said.
Higgins polled 22 votes from his 13 games to become Oakleigh’s first Morrish Medal winner.
An AFL club is going to get a serious player in @OakleighCharger Jack Higgins. Vic Metro MVP & now #morrishmedal winner.
— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) September 3, 2017
The forward/midfielder finished two votes clear of Calder Cannons captain Brad Bernacki, with Geelong Falcons goalkicker Gryan Miers (15), Sandringham Dragons 19-year-old Hamish Brayshaw (15) and Eastern Ranges big man Sam Hayes (14) rounding out the top five on the leaderboard.
Higgins, listed as 179cm and 76kg, polled votes in nine of his games and averaged 24 disposals, five marks and six tackles per game this season, while also kicking 27 goals to finish seventh on the TAC Cup goalkicking table.
He said his best performance for the year came in round 17 against Bendigo Pioneers when he booted seven goals and had 13 disposals in Oakleigh’s 88-point win.
@OakleighChargers' star Jack Higgins celebrates his @TACCup Morrish Medal win. pic.twitter.com/uCNkpbkmnH
— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) September 3, 2017
Higgins’ Morrish success adds to a decorated season in which he won Vic Metro’s MVP and best-and-fairest awards as well as All Australian selection following his performances in Vic Metro’s title win.
He listed his marking, goal sense and dedication as his main strengths.
“That is one of my strengths, how much I want to make the AFL and play in it and be not just a good player but a really good player,” he said. “I’ll just keep working hard until I make that step up.”
Oakleigh will play Northern Knights in the first week of TAC Cup finals on Saturday at Victoria Park.
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