Richmond pocket rocket Jack Higgins has become the first Tigers player in 20 years to kick multiple goals in his first two games of league football.
Higgins booted two goals in his Round 3 AFL debut against Hawthorn, was unlucky to be dropped the following week, and then produced a lively three-goal performance when he returned to the Tigers’ senior line-up for last night’s blockbuster Anzac Eve clash with Melbourne.
The last Richmond player to achieve this feat before Higgins was Tiger cult figure Justin Plapp back in 1998.
Plapp scored three goals in his senior debut against Fremantle at the MCG in Round 14 of the ’98 season and then five goals v Carlton in Round 15 at the MCG.
Round 5: Higgins bags three snags
There have been only a few Richmond players that have managed multiple goals in their opening two games of AFL/VFL football throughout my time of intense Yellow and Black barracking, which extends back to 1965.
The full list of these players, in chronological order, is:
Rex Hunt – two goals v South Melbourne, Round 5, 1968, Lake Oval and five goals v North Melbourne, Round 6, 1968, MCG.
Neil Balme – four goals v North Melbourne, Round 20, 1970, Arden Street and three goals v Essendon, Round 21, 1970, MCG.
Graham Teasdale – six goals v South Melbourne, Round 10, 1973, Lake Oval and five goals v Footscray, Round 11, 1973, Western Oval.
Neville Roberts – two goals v Fitzroy, Round 1, 1975, Junction Oval and two goals v Geelong, Round 2, 1975, MCG.
Geoff McMillan – two goals v North Melbourne, Round 13, 1978, MCG and two goals v Geelong, Round 14, 1978, MCG.
Michael Mitchell – three goals v West Coast, Round 1, 1987, Subiaco and three goals v Hawthorn, Round 2, 1987, MCG.
Tim Powell – four goals v Hawthorn, Round 2, 1988, Waverley Park and two goals v Collingwood, Round 3, 1988, Waverley Park.
Justin Plapp – three goals v Fremantle, Round 14, 1998, MCG and five goals v Carlton, Round 15, 1998, MCG.
Jack Higgins – two goals v Hawthorn, Round 3, 2018, MCG and three goals v Melbourne, Round 5, 2018, MCG.
