Star Richmond key forward Jack Riewoldt has provided an interesting insight into teammate Jack Higgins in the wake of the quirky, talented youngster’s humorous on-field huddle rev-up to the Tigers players just before the start of the third quarter in last Thursday night’s clash with Sydney at Etihad Stadium.
“People ask what he’s like. Is he a bit weird? Is he a bit hyper or what not? He’s just a lot of fun. And I’ve taken a real liking to him,” Riewoldt said on Fox Footy’s ‘AFL 360’ program last night.
“There’s a little bit in him that reminds me of myself and I think the culture we have at the football club allows him to thrive and be himself.
“The most important thing, though, is he is a really good player . . . he has been really, really good for us this year.
“He does a lot of things off the ball that sometimes, as first-year players, takes a while to get into their game when they come from TAC Cup level or interstate and he has really picked up and become a good weapon for us . . .
“Young kids come into football clubs and they are new to the environment and they bring a real sense of enthusiasm. He just has it in spades and we all feed off it.”
Higgins, who was Richmond’s first pick (No. 17 overall) in last year’s National Draft, has played 10 senior games so far in his 2018 debut season of AFL football.
The 19-year-old small forward/midfielder is averaging 14.7 disposals per game and is ranked second among AFL rising star contenders for goal assists, third for score involvements per game, fourth for contested possessions per game and fifth for tackles inside 50.