New Richmond recruit Jack Higgins says competition for positions in the senior side has helped drive the intensity on the training track this pre-season.

Higgins was drafted to Richmond with the Club’s first pick, No. 17, overall, at the 2017 AFL National Draft.

The 18-year-old, who won the TAC Cup's Morrish Medal last year, said he was instantly impressed by the players’ training standards.

“It’s incredible the step up in AFL, everyone’s going for their spot,” Higgins said.

“It feels like a game out there, everyone goes hard at the footy, it’s so competitive out there. If you take your mind off the footy for one-second you’re going to get crunched.”

Speaking at the Tigers’ pre-season training camp on the Sunshine Coast, the former Oakleigh small forward/midfielder said it has been a demanding, yet rewarding week.

“I’ve really enjoyed it so far,” Higgins said.

“It’s really good because I’m always learning the drills and getting used to the heat up here. It’s been awesome because you don’t really get the heat and humidity as you do up here, so just learning off the coaches and being around the boys 24/7 is pretty good.”

“I’ve learnt the game plan, structure, just tidying up my skills a bit more under the AFL pressure. The thing I’ve taken away from the camp is just being around the boys even more…”