Jack Higgins like a ‘new draftee’ after being traded from Richmond to St Kilda
Before Richmond export Jack Higgins requested a trade to St Kilda, he called Damien Hardwick to let him know of his decision. This was his coach’s reply.
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St Kilda recruit Jack Higgins says he was doing “fist pumps” after learning of his trade from Richmond and is determined to help the club he supported as a child snare its second premiership.
Higgins had a contract with the Tigers for 2021 but admitted he had struggled in the Queensland hub this year as he managed just 10 AFL games, including only one match after Round 10.
“Hub life I probably didn’t enjoy as much as a lot of other blokes did,” Higgins said.
“I know a lot of blokes struggled up there. I just found it really hard living with blokes next to you all the time. I’m a homebody.
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“It was a really hard decision for me to leave Richmond.
“They’re such a great club and have got such good players and blokes there and coaches.
“So it was a really hard decision but at the end of the day I thought St Kilda would be the best for my future and I can also see how much the club’s going to go in an upwards spiral.”
Higgins phoned Richmond coach Damien Hardwick at the start of the trade period to request the move after hearing from his manager Paul Connors that the Saints were interested and could provide greater opportunity.
“He (Hardwick) was driving his car so it was really hard to hear him but I just said, ‘I really want to explore a trade, don’t take any offence, you’re a ripper bloke and ripper coach but I just want to explore my options’,” Higgins said.
“He didn’t try to talk me out of it.
“He said, ‘Whatever’s best for you’. He was pretty understanding.”
Higgins completed work experience with St Kilda in Year 10 and idolised Nick Riewoldt and Nick Dal Santo as a youngster.
He was caught by broadcast cameras celebrating a Riewoldt goal in the front row of the crowd at the Saints’ 2009 preliminary final win over the Western Bulldogs.
“I remember at the time … me and dad watched it about 12 times, that vision,” Higgins said.
“But I went to a lot of Saints games when I was younger and always, not thought I’d play for St Kilda, but always dreamt of me playing for St Kilda.
“To be here now, I’m over the moon.”
Higgins said he was confident his health issues were now behind him after two rounds of brain surgery over the past 18 months.
“I feel like I’m just a new draftee at the moment,” he said.
“I’ve watched two (Richmond) Grand Finals, last year for a reason and this year I didn’t get picked.
“But I just really want to play in a Grand Final and get some consistent games and hopefully be in St Kilda’s second premiership team.”
SAINTS SEE HIGGINS AS A MIDFIELDER
– Nick Smart and Chris Cavanagh
St Kilda has flagged more midfield time for new signing Jack Higgins after enticing the Richmond livewire to Moorabbin.
The Saints were one of the big winners out of the AFL trade and free agency period, bringing in Adelaide’s Brad Crouch, Bomber Shaun McKernan and Higgins without losing much in the other direction.
“We’re really happy, we think we’ve brought in a couple of guys who will certainly go straight into our best 22,” Saints list boss James Gallagher said on Friday.
“We’ve retained all the guys from this year in our best 22, so we think we’re a stronger side going into next year plus the development of our younger guys.
“And with Shaun McKernan coming in as well, he’s a good AFL player and he’s exactly what we need to complement our group.
“Overall, we’re really happy and we’ve retained a first-round pick for this year and next year, so they were real priorities for us.”
Higgins played predominantly as a forward in his 43 games at Punt Rd, but Gallagher said the Saints saw the 21-year-old as being able to move into the engine room.
“He’s a talented footballer, Jack, and clearly he’s played his best footy at AFL level as a forward,” he said.
“We really want to promote guys who can play and in a number of different positions.
“He’s got the ability to play close to goal, he’s got a big engine so he can play up the ground as well and win plenty of ball.
“And we certainly believe over the coming years he’ll spend plenty of time in the midfield as well to complement our guys that can play through the midfield in a variety of positions too.”
Richmond agreed to trade the contracted forward to the Saints along with pick 21 and a future fourth-round selection, in exchange for St Kilda’s pick 17 and a future second-round selection.
Originally selected by the Tigers at pick 17 in the 2017 national draft, Higgins managed only 10 AFL games this year but had missed only four games during a sizzling debut season in 2018.
Higgins will join former Richmond teammate Dan Butler in the Saints’ forward line but also holds hopes of earning more midfield time at his new club.
“It’s amazing to join the Saints next year and I really can’t wait to get started,” Higgins said.
“I grew up barracking for the Saints, so it really is a dream come true to represent the club.
“I’m really keen to meet my new teammates and be part of the Saints moving forward, because they’re definitely heading somewhere pretty special.”
Higgins had two rounds of surgery on a brain bleed condition last year which threatened his career, but was cleared to return to the football field for the Tigers this season.
Richmond had high hopes Higgins could return to his best and play a key role for the reigning premiers in 2021, but the 21-year-old informed coach Damien Hardwick of his wish for a fresh start last weekend.
St Kilda list manager James Gallagher said the club was thrilled to have secured Higgins.
“It’s terrific for us to acquire Jack’s services and add another dynamic mid/forward to our list,” Gallagher said.
“Jack has overcome significant challenges at such a young age and it’s a testament to his character for coming out the other side with that same passion.”
Higgins joined former Adelaide midfielder Brad Crouch and Essendon forward Shaun McKernan as St Kilda’s recruits during the trade and free agency period.
Speedster Nick Hind was traded to Essendon in a late deal along with pick 77, with the Saints receiving picks 67 and 74 in return.
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