St Kilda star has backtracked after blasting state capital
Footy star Jack Higgins has backtracked on his cheeky swipe at Adelaide during this year’s AFL Gather Round, when he said the city was so boring he’d rather stay in his hotel room.
After his St Kilda side defeated Port Adelaide by 17 points at Adelaide Oval, he hammered the City of Churches with a statement that made headlines.
Higgins was asked whether he’d be going out to experience the South Australian capital after his match, and his answer offended Croweaters.
‘No, I don’t like Adelaide, so I’ll probably be in my room playing Call of Duty with the boys,’ he told Channel Seven‘s Erin Phillips, referring to the popular video game.
He was slammed by AFL fans and commentators, and South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas even leapt to the city’s defence.
Higgins has since admitted he was wrong after spending a week away with his partner Tenisha Crook as they enjoyed the state’s biggest attractions.
AFL star Jack Higgins (pictured at Adelaide Oval) has done a full 180-degree about-face when it comes to his views on the City of Churches
The St Kilda star (pictured) has backed down after saying he disliked Adelaide so much he refused to leave his hotel room when he was in town for a match
Higgins and his partner Tenisha (both pictured) have since sampled some of the biggest attractions in South Australia
‘It’s lovely. I was completely wrong. (After my comment), the whole of Adelaide was messaging me and abusing me,’ he told Channel Seven.
The St Kilda player gladly accepted an invitation to see the best attractions South Australia has to offer.
He and Cook experienced the Adelaide Oval roof climb, giving Higgins a perspective of the famous ground he’d never had before.
They also enjoyed the farming culture in the town of Penola, which sits in the Coonawarra wine region and is full of heritage sites.
The couple also went snorkelling at the popular Klisby sinkhole, a 27-metre-deep geological oddity filled with crystal-clear water and located on a sheep farm.
Fans have since reacted to the shock backtrack from Higgins.
‘Higgo finally waking up and realising it’s (Adelaide) 10x better than Melbourne,’ one Instagram user wrote.
The 26-year-old (pictured) made a move from Richmond to St Kilda in 2021
Higgins and Cook also went snorkelling in a geological marvel on a sheep farm while they were in South Australia
Higgins (pictured) has played 145 AFL games
‘Hahaah. Spot on the money higgo,’ another wrote.
‘Stop abusing my favourite player good stuff jack,’ another added.
The St Kilda star has also won fans over by revealing he takes inspiration from Aussie cricketer Steve Smith.
‘Steve Smith is the last bloke in the nets, he just picks up bats at night, trying to get right,’ he told AFL.com.au in August.
‘I have really looked up to him across my footy career… how much extra preparation he puts in.’
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Footy star backtracks after making headlines by slagging off ‘boring’ Aussie city: ‘The whole town abused me’