Future picks could unlock Higgins tradeBy Jake Niall and Daniel Cherny
The Age
November 10, 2020Future picks are likely to come into play in a potential trade for Jack Higgins after he requested a move from Richmond to St Kilda.
Higgins' agent Paul Connors confirmed on Monday that the goalsneak had sought a move to Moorabbin, informing Tigers coach Damien Hardwick and list manager Blair Hartley over the weekend.
Higgins, a first-round draft pick only three years ago, was a regular during his first season at Richmond but has been in and out of the team over the past two seasons, having overcome a brain bleed which ended his 2019 campaign.
He played 10 senior matches this year but missed selection during the Tigers' run to the grand final which culminated in a second straight premiership.
Higgins has a year to run on his contract with the Tigers and would get a new, longer-term deal with the Saints.
He would become St Kilda's third post-season recruit in 2020, after Brad Crouch joined from Adelaide as a free agent and delisted free agent Shaun McKernan.
Richmond have publicly indicated a desire to retain Higgins.
The Tigers would be keen for a first-round pick in any deal with the Saints for Higgins but St Kilda made it clear in the lead-up to Crouch's move that they were unwilling to part with their first-round selection this year (currently pick No. 17).
Whether the Saints would give up a future first-round pick in a deal for Higgins remains unclear.
St Kilda don't currently have a second-round selection in this year's draft.
Connors said his player "just wants to play footy".
Despite the fact that Higgins has a year to run on his contract with Richmond, Connors said he was confident a deal could be done.
Stressing that it was important to stay respectful to all parties, especially given Higgins is contracted, Connors told Trade Radio he thought the Saints were "a really good fit".
"He just wants to play footy and he'd love an opportunity at the Saints," Connors said.
"When you're contracted it's really important that you're respectful to all parties.
"But I think Jack is such a passionate young man and I think it's in everyone's best interests that he moves."
Connors hinted that future picks could be key to getting the deal across the line.
Hartley told ABC Radio last week that Higgins remained in the club's plans for 2021.
"At the moment Jack's contracted and he's really important to us going forward, so we'll just consider that as it is right now," Hartley said.
The Saints have fast become the AFL prime destination club, having landed Bradley Hill, Dougal Howard, Paddy Ryder, Zak Jones and Higgins' former teammate Dan Butler via trades last year.
Four of their 2019 trade quintet finished in the top 10 of the club's best and fairest this year, with the exception being Hill.
Higgins was a St Kilda supporter as a child and featured on screen in shots of the crowd during the Saints' thrilling 2009 preliminary final win over the Western Bulldogs.
https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/future-picks-could-unlock-higgins-trade-20201109-p56cyi.html
