Life is “pretty normal” for Jack Higgins ahead of his 150th game.
But it’s not lost on the St Kilda forward just how different it all could have been after his serious diagnosis back in 2019.
Higgins felt concussion symptoms after a match for his former club Richmond but he was later rushed into surgery following a confirmed brain bleed.
The bleed required surgery and it was so delicate Higgins risked death or paralysis.
“I didn’t think I’d play another game, didn’t think I’d live a normal life after that,” Higgins said.
“To play one AFL game and live normally after that, I am happy and proud of myself for it.
“Heaps (of adjustments) at the start but not so much now, because I’ve been dealing with great medicos and all that sort of stuff.
“My life is pretty normal now but at the start, being able to read and write — I didn’t write that well at the start — but reading and writing, getting used to everything and not having headaches.”
Higgins moved from Punt Rd to Moorabbin at the end of 2020 and has become the leading goal kicker at the club he grew up supporting.
“It’s a really great achievement, I am really happy I’m playing 150,” he said.
“To do it at the club I barrack for was pretty special, I can’t wait to play 150 and hopefully a few more after that.
“When I was a young kid, I probably always thought I’d play 400 games, nah, just keep going. Hopefully (I can) play another 150 or another 100 I would be happy.
“150 is a great achievement, so I’ll take it day by day.”
Higgins fired through a career-best 46 goals last season from an impressive 63 scoring shots.
Despite that strong season, Higgins will keep pushing his case for more time up the ground.
“I can always play better but I could be playing worse, I think it’s all right, I’ve got a bit more to give but just got to trust the process,” he said.
“Probably getting up the ground a bit more, I’ve been staying deep for the last few years (but) hopefully get my hands on more of the footy and kick the ball around a bit more.
“I would love to play midfield, I have been asking Ross (Lyon) and all my other coaches for the last nine years and they never play me there.
“I played a bit in my first year at Richmond and that was good fun, I did all right there, hopefully they can look at AFL tables from 2018.”
Higgins is playing his milestone game in the city he once joked he didn’t want to explore – Adelaide.
The energetic goal kicker says he sees the funny side of reaching his milestone there but would also play “Martians on the moon”.
As for what would be an ideal milestone game? A big bag of goals in a win, of course.
“I don’t know, that’s a great question, probably when you are a kid you dream of kicking 15 or something like that,” Higgins said.
“Hopefully I play well, the team plays well and we can celebrate in Adelaide on Sunday.”
Originally published as AFL 2026: St Kilda livewire Jack Higgins on his road to 150 senior games