Pre-draft articles on Higgins:
jack-higgins-a-genuine-footy-nut-that-smashed-records-in-stunning-draft-yearNovember 3, 2017
Riley Beveridge
FOX SPORTSYOU will struggle to find anyone more passionate about their football than Jack Higgins.
The diminutive Oakleigh Chargers youngster simply loves it.
He breathes footy. He sleeps footy. He lives footy.
Playing the game at the highest level has been a dream of Higgins’ for as long as he can remember. Ever since he started having a kick with his dad in the park, even before his Auskick days, he knew what he wanted to do.
Now, he’s on the cusp of what is, quite literally, a lifelong ambition.
“I really enjoy my football,” Higgins tells foxfooty.com.au.
“It makes my week, playing a game of footy. Even going to training, I love it. Every part of football — meetings, ice baths, games — I love it.”
He pauses, momentarily.
“Maybe I don’t love ice baths,” he laughs. “But I’ll get in one, I won’t complain.”
Higgins has taken his analysis of the game to the next level over the last 12 months.
Growing up idolising Sam Mitchell, he simply couldn’t miss the opportunity of a ‘Mitch Masterclass’ ahead of the Hawthorn champion’s 300th game midway through last year.
Higgins went to the Round 18 fixture, found himself a spot behind the goals, and analysed Mitchell’s running patterns to a tee. Only 178cm himself, he observed every movement.
Jack Higgins of the Oakleigh Chargers won the 2017 Morrish medal.Source: SuppliedBut it wasn’t the only time Higgins has gone to AFL games with the specific intention to watch individual players. It’s something he does often. And it reflects his desire to improve.
“He just loves his footy,” Oakleigh talent manager Craig Notman tells foxfooty.com.au.
“He’s a fierce competitor. With everything he does in a footy capacity, it’s to make sure he improves and gets the best out of himself in that footy context.
“He’s a kid that’s genuinely in love with the game. He’s got a real willingness to succeed and that shows through.”
From an individual perspective, Higgins couldn’t have done much more across his draft year.
Having played predominantly forward in the TAC Cup with the Chargers, he moved into the midfield in order to spearhead Vic Metro’s successful National Championships campaign.
Higgins, 178cm, ended the carnival averaging 27 disposals, 13 contested possessions, six tackles and five clearances. That added to the work he did forward of centre, where he still managed to kick six goals and provide a further seven goal assists from just four games.
Jack Higgins' TAC Cup stats for 2017.Source: SuppliedSuch form carried through to the second half of the TAC Cup season, where Higgins was influential in helping Oakleigh finish the campaign as minor premiers.
Multiple 30-disposal games in the midfield were followed with huge hauls up forward, including an incredible seven-goal match against the Pioneers in August.
It saw Higgins end the TAC Cup season averaging 23 disposals and 2.3 goals per match.
The end product? In the 33 games Champion Data has covered Higgins throughout his junior career, he has averaged 145 ranking points — the best average figure ever recorded by the AFL’s official number crunchers, beating Tom Rockliff’s record of 144.
“I think it’s been pretty consistent,” Higgins says of his season.
“I’ve worked really hard to get to this point in time and I think it’s all coming together in place. I just can’t wait to get stuck into it.”
Higgins and his father have a saying: “Hard work beats talent.”
Jack Higgins impressed at the AFL Draft Combine at Etihad Stadium in October.Source: SuppliedIt’s a quote Higgins admits he stole from Golden State superstar Kevin Durant. And it’s apt in the young draft hopeful’s case, given hardly anyone has worked harder than him this year.
But while he also admires Durant, his AFL influences are a little less high profile.
There’s Mitchell. Then there’s Michael Barlow.
“I love players who have done it the hard way,” Higgins says.
“Michael Barlow, Sam Mitchell — those types who have come through the VFL. I really admire those players and the journey they’ve taken.”
It’s unlikely Higgins himself will have to take a similar journey.
Described by one recruiting expert as the best player in this year’s draft crop, he appears a certain first-round selection. On talent alone, he should be in the Pick 1 debate.
However, such has been his dedication to footy this year — which has seen Higgins appoint a series of specialist coaches to develop his game — other recruiters are questioning the scope of improvement still left to come once the youngster does eventually enter an AFL system.
Higgins hardly listens to such criticisms.
“The pressure sits with me fine,” he says.
Jack Higgins starred for Vic Metro.Source: Supplied“It’s all outside noise, I don’t really listen to it. I just want to play my footy and see what comes at the end of the year.”
If he does slip, it will give plenty of clubs the opportunity to secure a player that could prove to be the steal of this year’s draft.
After all, it’s not often a Morrish Medal winner, a Vic Metro MVP and the best statistical junior Champion Data has ever covered falls into the latter stages of the first round.
“If he’s not the most determined player I’ve seen coming through the system, he’d be very close to the top,” Notman says of Higgins.
“He’s certainly got an end goal in mind and he’ll do everything in his power to get there.”
JACK HIGGINS
Clubs: Oakleigh/Vic Metro
Position: Midfield/Forward
Size: 178cm, 76kg
Draft Range: 8-20
https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/afl-draft-2017-jack-higgins-a-genuine-footy-nut-that-smashed-records-in-stunning-draft-year/news-story/9e9fbfa2ee6fe21c445a0ce3ba69fc55
