Richmond’s first pick in the 2017 AFL national draft, Jack Higgins, caught up with AFL.com.au reporter Nat Edwards to discuss his draft-night delight at becoming a Tiger.

What was the emotion in your head when your name was called out?

“I was ecstatic. Richmond . . . oh, unreal. Couldn’t have had it any other way.”

Did you exceed your own expectations this year?

“A bit. I just go into each game to try and play well . . . I got a few rewards this year . . . I just try and win for the team, but they came along. I thought I had a pretty consistent season . . . It was good to win that (the Morrish Medal).”

Richmond’s list has a lot of small forwards. Do you think you’re going to be able to muscle your way into that line-up?

“Hopefully, but we better see when I get there. I can’t really say now . . . Hopefully when I get there I can learn off them. 

Do you think you’re ready to play senior footy right now?

“Well, hopefully. I haven’t really played senior footy before, so hopefully I’m ready to go, but we’ve got to see what the coach says, and how my teammates play with me . . .

For Tiger fans, who don’t know you and haven’t seen you play, what are your attributes?

“I think I’ve got pretty good footy IQ. Sort of play a bit like a Toby Greene. Can take a pretty good mark for a small forward and got good footy IQ, so know where to get to the right spots, time my leads and stuff like that.

Would you like to eventually push into the midfield, or are you happy playing up forward?

“Wherever the coach wants me, but, yeah, I’d like to play in the midfield, when I get a bit older or a bit more developed.”