JACK Higgins' remarkable mid-air major from last week's win over Collingwood might be the new favourite for Goal of the Year, but teammate Daniel Rioli has jokingly suggested his 2017 winner required more effort.
Higgins was nominated for this year's prize for the incredible feat he pulled off against the Pies where he essentially ran around the goalpost at full pace, juggled the ball while he did it and then kicked it over his head between the big sticks.
Rioli's 2017 Coates Hire Goal of the Year beat majors from Adelaide small forward Eddie Betts and Sydney sharpshooter Lance Franklin.
It saw him gather the ball after it came off his hands in a marking contest, dish off a handball to Dion Prestia from hard up against the boundary line, get the ball back straight away and kick a silky goal on the run.
In a light-hearted chat, Rioli said Higgins – who is renowned for his love of a goal – had been keen to chat about his heroics this week.
"He did ask me what I got for it, I didn't give him much," Rioli told AFL.com.au this week.
"He loves it, he's been watching highlights of it and showing me and the boys, and we're just like, leave it alone.
"He's that sort of guy, he just loves his footy and he can do stuff that others can't do and that's exciting for our footy club.
"We love him and he's a funny character around the club and you never know what he can produce on the footy field, so we look forward to every moment when he comes out and plays."
The humble Rioli, who this week will run out for his 50th AFL game, said the players were thrilled for Higgins and hoped his potential Goal of the Year triumph would be a good omen for back-to-back premierships.
However, he did agree his own winning "snag" from last season was harder to achieve than Higgins', which was from point-blank range.
"For sure, [mine involved more work], it was a great goal," he laughed.
"His was right in the goalsquare and mine was in the pocket.
"But mine was better last year, and this year, his is better than mine because I haven't really kicked any good goals this year so his is pretty good.
"He probably knows he's got it under his belt.
"Who knows, I won it last year and then we made the Grand Final and he's a chance to win it this year, and hopefully we do it again."
Higgins' handling of the ball before he got his foot to it sparked debate about whether it was a legal kick or if he should have been penalised for a throw.
But Rioli said it was simple.
"I believe it was a goal," he said.
"If someone tackles you and you throw the ball but get a foot to it, it's not a throw – it's basically the same thing.
"He just put the ball in front of the goalpost and ended up kicking it so I believe it was a goal."
