Shaun Higgins Biography

Shaun Higgins announces his retirement following a 260-game career with the Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and Geelong.

"I feel privileged to have been able to play at this level for 17 seasons at three great clubs. I feel enormously lucky to have lived out a childhood dream of playing footy and I'm thankful for all the friendships, memories and support through the years," Higgins said.

Geelong recruit Shaun Higgins says he was a rabid Cats fan growing up.

"I was a crazy footy nut when I was a kid coming here every home game for as long as I can remember," he told Cats Media about GMHBA Stadium.

Higgins has a strong family connection to the club too. His sister, Danielle is one of the stars of the club's AFLW team.

"I am excited about seeing her down here as well and sharing the experience at the same time," he said.

North Melbourne trades Shaun Higgins to Geelong in exchange for pick No.30 which the Cats had secured from a trade to Carlton involving Lachie Fogarty.

"We have always liked Shaun as a player and we are happy that we could work with Shaun, his management and North Melbourne to get this trade completed," Geelong recruiting and list manager Stephen Wells said.

"Shaun is a very talented and accomplished player and he can fill a number of roles. We are looking forward to seeing him in Geelong colours."

Jack Ziebell will lead North Melbourne as captain again in 2020, with a leadership group that has doubled in size.

Ben Cunnington, Trent Dumont, Jasper Pittard and youngster Jy Simpkin have been promoted to the eight-man contingent ahead of Rhyce Shaw's first full season in charge.

Jamie Macmillan has retained his place, while Shaun Higgins has been elevated to vice-captain alongside 2019 deputy Robbie Tarrant.

"I reckon it's a really really good group in terms of its diversity," Roos coach Rhyce Shaw said.

"We've got guys that have been there for a period of time and a great crop of first-timers in Trent, Jy, Ben and Jasper who have all put in some real work to better themselves as players, teammates and people."

Shaun Higgins, already contracted to North Melbourne for 2020, signs a one-year contract extension that will keep him at the club until the end of 2021.

"I just feel like I'm invested here and I don’t think people understand the amount of work that goes in to play, particularly senior players at a football club both on and off the ground," Higgins said.

"The club’s been great to me, a really core group of guys here at the football club that I’ve loved playing with over the five years that I’ve been here and I wanted that to continue but I also wanted to do what was right for the footy club."

Shaun Higgins fronts the media as speculation continues about his playing future, including being linked with a move to Geelong.

Asked if he wanted to stay at Arden St, the 31-year-old told reporters: "I'm contracted for next year, if people have forgotten that."

"The reports that came out last night, in terms of me rejecting (an extra one) year offer (and instead wanting two more seasons), are factually incorrect," Higgins said.

"I actually haven't received anything from the football club. A little bit baffling where that came from last night, but I guess that's part and parcel of the media."

Shaun Higgins will miss as many as six weeks after being booked for surgery for the AC joint injury he sustained in the Roos' win over Gold Coast.

The 31-year-old's right shoulder crashed hard into the Metricon Stadium surface as Sun Touk Miller caught him in a tackle in the opening minutes of the match and he left the field cradling his injured shoulder, unable to return.

"The way he fell was unfortunate, because he landed on the arm of his opponent, which exacerbated the injury somewhat," North football boss Cameron Joyce said.

"He'll have surgery this afternoon and will be targeting a Round 17 or 18 comeback at this stage."

Shaun Higgins claims his second Syd Barker Medal as North Melbourne's best and fairest for 2018.

Higgins polled 240 votes to edge Ben Cunnington by three votes, while Robbie Tarrant finished third on 218.

A severe bump by Hawk Ryan Burton led to Shaun Higgins spending two nights in hospital with concussion, while also requiring plastic surgery for a cut on his lip.

However, Higgins has no issue with Burton, who texted him following the incident.

"He was great, he was obviously a little bit distressed as well," Higgins said of Burton.

"I don't think in the incident itself there was any intention to cause the injury or the impact that it did.

"He was in a tough position, that's just what he chose to do."

Shaun Higgins is involved in a sickening head clash with Ryan Burton in the third-quarter of the Bulldogs' clash with Hawthorn at the MCG.

Higgins, whose wife gave birth to their first child only hours earlier, remained motionless for some time before eventually being taken to Epworth hospital.

Shaun Higgins says he will miss this week's game against Hawthorn if his wife, Heidi, goes into labour with their first child.

"It's an easy decision to be honest. It's one game out of an entire career for something that's once in a lifetime," Higgins said.

"It's so much about supporting Heidi around that time too. The support I need and want to give her far outweighs playing a game."

Shaun Higgins signs a contract extension with North Melbourne to remain at the club until the end of 2020.

He joins fellow club leader Robbie Tarrant who also signed a contract extension to remain until the end of 2021.

"We wouldn't have signed on or committed long-term if we didn't see the hope and know that the guys we've got at the moment are the foundation for a very successful side," Higgins said.

Like Higgins, Tarrant believes this stability at the top of the club will be a considerable asset as the club continues its list makeover.

"We've got great confidence in our list, and it's good to know we'll get the opportunity to continue teaching the younger boys the ropes over the next few years and hopefully follow through with some success," Tarrant said.

Shaun Higgins receives the call up to join the Australian squad for the second IRS Test against Ireland in Perth.

"Shaun has earned his position in the team after being a 2017 Virgin Australia All Australian squad member and winning North Melbourne’s Best and Fairest," Australia coach Chris Scott he said.

"We know he will be well suited to the game and I look forward to seeing him play in the Australian guernsey."

Shaun Higgins wins North Melbourne's best and fairest award for 2017.

Higgins finished with 217 votes, ahead of Ben Cunnington (211) and Ben Brown (209).

Higgins credited coach Brad Scott for his evolution into a midfielder after having spent most of his career in attack.

"It was something that we probably flagged a couple of years ago and unfortunately last year, I had a knee operation that didn't allow me to play through the midfield," Higgins said.

"Then we spent a lot of time over the pre-season learning that role and I spent countless hours annoying the assistant coaches to make sure that I could be equipped to play through the midfield, doing a lot of video work. The coaches were great in allowing me to play to my strengths, so that was through the whole pre-season.

"Throughout the year, it's just been learning week-to-week how to go about it and I've played for 12 years - I felt like I was kicking off a new career playing in the midfield."

Shaun Higgins is confident he can take his football to greater heights after re-signing with North Melbourne until the end of 2019.

"As long as the club felt I could be a benefit to the team, I had no hesitation in signing an extension, knowing that I still have my best footy ahead of me," Higgins said.

"I've loved my time at Arden St and while this year has been somewhat disappointing I'm really excited by what the future holds and strongly believe we are on the right path."

Shaun Higgins he was envious of his former side, the Bulldogs, winning the flag in 2016, but says the decision to move to North Melbourne was the right one.

"I needed a fresh opportunity and a fresh start and so far, so good," Higgins said.

"I've loved my time here and footy's going well at the moment.

"The gut feel is you know it's time to move on … I never came here with too many high expectations about what I wanted to achieve – I just knew the time was right to move."

Steve Johnson suffers concussion in the opening quarter of the Giants' clash against North Melbourne.

Johnson collided heavily with Kangaroos midfielder Shaun Higgins at a stoppage and immediately dropped to the turf; with replays appearing to show the pair clashed heads.

The 33-year-old spent a minute or so on the deck before jogging groggily to the interchange, and didn't reappear in the first half.

Shaun Higgins and Luke McDonald come to blows in heated Kangaroos pre-season training session.

"He was trying to link up (play) and run forward and I blocked him," McDonald said.

"He didn’t see it coming and didn’t like it."

Higgins thought McDonald's bump was payback for kicking two goals on the defender.

"He tried to line me up and take me out," he said.

"Right at the last minute, I saw it coming and I took him down."

While the Roos were at pains to point out McDonald and Higgins are tight friends and had their tongues in cheek speaking after the altercation, there was clearly some feeling on the track at Arden Street.

"We’re very good mates but there’s always a bit of added spice out there when the games begin," McDonald said.

"Higgo and I in particular, always seems to get tangled up but we both enjoy it."

Shaun Higgins is set to miss up to 12 weeks due to a meniscus tear in his knee that will require surgery.

"Our focus is to ensure Shaun will have a thorough rehabilitation, which will allow him to return to the side late in the season," North football director Geoff Walsh said.

"He's a tremendous character and an utter professional, so we know he will bounce back strongly from this setback."

Shaun Higgins says the AFL's illicit drugs policy may need to be tweaked.

Changes were made to the illicit drugs policy at the end of last year. Players will now be named, fined and suspended for four matches if they record a second strike.

Under the previous policy, players were not publicly named until they accrued a third strike.

"I think we're definitely on the right path. We've made some significant gains in the last couple of years," Higgins said.

"We put ourselves open to this testing. We do it for the right reasons, and that is to make sure all players are looked after, and if there's issues, that they're addressed.

"If that means the policy needs tweaking a little bit, then I'm sure we'll look into that."

North Melbourne is confident Shaun Higgins will be fit for the start of the season despite requiring minor surgery on his knee.

Higgins, 27, hurt his left knee late in the Kangaroos' NAB Challenge win over St Kilda in Wangaratta.

"There were a couple of old bone fragments, which had been there for a number of years, that suddenly caused him some discomfort in the second half," Roos football chief Geoff Walsh said.

"This will ensure he doesn't have any further issues with those fragments."

Andrew Swallow will continue as North Melbourne captain in 2016.

Jack Ziebell will become the club's sole vice-captain after sharing the role with veteran spearhead Drew Petrie for the past four seasons.

Shaun Higgins will also come into the Roos' leadership group in 2016, joining existing members Swallow, Ziebell, Jamie Macmillan and Scott Thompson.

Petrie and fellow veteran Nick Dal Santo exit the club's official leadership team but will have mentoring roles this year.

"The players have probably been the loudest voice in this and in the end it was fairly clear, but that doesn't mean it was easy," North Melbourne coach Brad Scott said.

"While we know Jack has got terrific leadership qualities, this process meant that Andrew was a fairly clear standout for us."

Todd Goldstein has capped a career-best 2015 season by winning his first North Melbourne best and fairest award.

Goldstein won the Syd Barker Medal comfortably from last year's winner Ben Cunnington with former Bulldog Shaun Higgins in third.

Shaun Higgins concedes it will be "a little bit weird" running out to face his former club the Western Bulldogs for the first time in his 150th game this week.

"(There will be) a little bit (of emotion), but I think it makes it easier that we're 22 weeks in," Higgins said.

"If it was early in the year it might be a slightly different story, but I've settled in now.

"It might be a little bit weird early on … (but) it will be good, I'm looking forward to it."

Kangaroos coach Brad Scott has high hopes for new recruit Shaun Higgins.

"We are not bringing him in to do anything special in terms of winning games off his own boot, but we really feel he'll add much-needed class to our squad," Scott said about Higgins.

"We think we can get him in really good physical shape and his best footy is in front of him too."

After leaving the Bulldogs to join the Kangaroos, Shaun Higgins says he left the club on "good terms" and that his relationship with coach Brendan McCartney remains intact.

"I leave with no bad blood and great memories and friendships, which I know will last beyond this," Higgins said.

"It was just a personal decision … and it sits really comfortably with me.

"I was confident I did everything I could while I was there (at the Bulldogs); whether that be right or wrong, I'll move on now and be excited for the next few years."

Shaun Higgins is set for a fresh start in 2015 having told the Western Bulldogs he intends to leave the club as a free agent.

"Shaun has informed the Bulldogs that he wishes to exercise his rights as a free agent and, more than that, would like to continue his career at another club," Higgins' manager, Bruce Kaider of One Management Group, said.

"Shaun believes that it's in his best interests – on and off the field – to have a fresh start.

Western Bulldogs CEO Simon Garlick optimistic restricted free agent Shaun Higgins will remain at the club.

"Shaun has been a really good Bulldogs person, a fantastic person, fantastic family, been cruelled by injury," CEO Simon Garlick told SEN radio.

"He's really one of those players who the minute they get the footy, you think, 'Gee, they can play', but he just hasn't had a good run at it.

"Ironically this year, body-wise, it's probably been the best year he's had.

"I'm not going to go into detail but we continue having discussions with Shaun and I'm certainly hopeful that we can figure something out."

Shaun Higgins' manager, Bruce Kaider of One Management Group, says his client has still not decided on his future beyond 2014.

"There's obviously a negotiation (with the Bulldogs) to be had and depending on how that goes we may well go out to the market place," Kaider said.

"We're not due to catch up with the Bulldogs, I think, until the end of next week, so once we have that conversation then we'll get a better idea of where things are at and what we're doing."

Daniel Wells accepted a one-match suspension by the Match Review Panel.

Wells was charged with two offences, both involving Western Bulldogs midfielder Shaun Higgins.

He was first cited for striking Higgins during the third quarter of Sunday's game at Etihad Stadium.

Thanks to Wells' good record, he could have escaped with a reprimand and 70 carryover points for that offence.

But he was also cited for a rough conduct offence against Higgins, which occurred in the final quarter.

Shaun Higgins has become one of the most sought-after players in 2014's dwindling free agency pool, with at least four clubs circling the classy Western Bulldog.

North Melbourne, Carlton, Richmond and Greater Western Sydney are reported to have expressed their interest in Higgins, who has put off contract talks with the Western Bulldogs until the end of this season.

Shaun Higgins expects to spend more time in the Bulldogs' backlines in 2014.

"It was flagged midway through last year," Higgins said.

"I did a bit of work watching games and footage of the way we wanted to play and I think it's a good link for me and a good link for the team as well.

"It was something Macca thought about. I did pre-season with the backs and have been in that group."

Shaun Higgins believes he is over his foot injury as he prepares to play his first game since round three last year in the NAB Challenge.

"I had a really good surgeon look after it," Higgins said about his injury.

"We got onto it straight away and put a great program in place.

"We took our time and made sure it healed correctly … I've had a really good build up.

"I didn't have a hiccup, so it was great."

Shaun Higgins is expected to return to full training in late January, with the club hopeful he will be available for senior selection early next season.

"All being well, he'll be out on the training track late January," Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney said.

"I think I said in this room after he did it that it was a significant injury, and an injury that you've got to manage really well in the return to play, so there will be a no risk policy with him.

"We know the talent Shaun's got, and we want to give him a really good chance at having a great season for us."

Shaun Higgins says he hopes to be out of his moonboot within the next fortnight as he continues his recovery from a fractured navicular bone.

"It's coming up to ten weeks now, post-surgery," Higgins said.

"I'm still in a moonboot. I'll be getting a scan in the next week or two, and that will see where I'm at, and all thing's going well I'll get out of the boot at about the twelve-week mark.

"Everything's gone to plan and it's feeling really good. It's just a slow process and you've got to give it the time."

Rodney Eade says having a fit Shaun Higgins and Callan Ward is like having two new recruits for 2011.

"We didn't get a whole lot out of them last year. Cal obviously played well in the finals, but having those two quality players back is like having new players around," Eade said.

"Shaun's pre-season has been fantastic. He hasn't missed a beat, he's really strong and is running exceptionally well."

Western Bulldogs forward Shaun Higgins has put up his hand for the club captaincy.

"Whether it's today or in a couple of years, it would be nice," Higgins said.

"I like that sort of role. Anyone in the leadership group would aspire towards being a captain at some stage. We've got plenty of guys in the same boat and whoever takes it over could do a great job and have the support of the rest of the group."

Western Bulldog Shaun Higgins will not play again in 2010 after succumbing to the effects of thyroiditis.

"All his indications with the testing we had and then his form at Williamstown we thought he'd get through ok, but there's still some residual effect," coach Rodney Eade said.

"You could see by the way he ran on the weekend. He just didn't have the speed or the energy. They've done another test on him and [his levels] have gone up a bit, so it's best to shelve him."

Western Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade says Shaun Higgins may not play another game this year as he continues to struggle with a thyroid gland problem.

"Seeing as it's so close to finals football, it's going to be on a knife's edge whether he's going to be able to get enough fitness for finals football," Eade said.

"Only time will tell. It's going to be limited with what we can do over the next week or so to keep some fitness levels up."

Despite a breakout 2009 Shaun Higgins says he is not feeling any extra pressure to perform next season.

"Last pre-season was the first time that I've had a full pre-season, and I pretty much got through the year injury-free as opposed to the last couple of years," he said.

"If you can stay on the park and have a good pre-season, then everything is in good stead to have a consistent year."

Exciting young midfielder-forward Shaun Higgins defies Gold Coast interest to re-sign with Western Bulldogs.

'I've had a really bad run with injuries,'' Higgins said.

''Obviously when you first get drafted and you come in, all you want to do as a young guy is play games and to prove yourself at the top level rather than talk about expectations and what you could become while you're constantly battling injuries."

''But I think it actually makes you a better player and a better person and you go about your footy a little bit differently. When you get back, you make the most of the opportunities and probably don't dwell on little bits of bad form or other little injuries you get along the way.''

Shaun Higgins injures his hamstring during the Bulldogs' clash with St Kilda.

The Western Bulldogs may rest Shaun Higgins from their trip to Canberra, but say he is not suffering from osteitis pubis.

"Our doctors and medical services guys who work with him, and Shaun himself, feel it's coming along exactly the way we want it to come along," Bulldogs football operations manager James Fantasia said.

"There was none of these 'complications' or osteitis pubis. The truth is, because he's had this soreness, it's not just going to go away in five minutes.

"It can be manageable and that's where we're at with him at the moment."

Geelong star Jimmy Bartel will be forced to play the rest of the season with virtually a one-match ban hanging over his head after being found guilty of a tripping charge against Shaun Higgins at the AFL tribunal on Tuesday night after an appeal against the charge was unsuccessful.

In-form Bulldog Shaun Higgins is unlikely to play against Melbourne on Saturday due to groin soreness.

"He's a good chance to be right to play, but we're not going to take any risks with him," Bulldogs coach Rodney Eade said.

"It's a groin and we don't want those to linger on. He'll train later in the week, he trained yesterday and he's pulled up OK, but if he's 95 per cent, we won't play him."

Shaun Higgins shone in his first outing in the number 7 guernsey made famous by Scott West and Doug Hawkins.