{"id":366198,"date":"2025-12-23T07:25:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-23T07:25:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/366198\/"},"modified":"2025-12-23T07:25:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-23T07:25:11","slug":"footy-star-backtracks-after-making-headlines-by-slagging-off-boring-aussie-city-the-whole-town-abused-me","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/366198\/","title":{"rendered":"Footy star backtracks after making headlines by slagging off ‘boring’ Aussie city: ‘The whole town abused me’"},"content":{"rendered":"

St Kilda star has backtracked after blasting state capital\u00a0<\/p>\n

By MICHAEL PONTICELLO <\/p>\n

Published: 23:39 EST, 22 December 2025 | Updated: 23:39 EST, 22 December 2025 <\/p>\n

Footy star Jack Higgins has backtracked on his cheeky swipe at Adelaide during this year’s AFL<\/a>\u00a0Gather Round, when he said the city was so boring he’d rather stay in his hotel room.<\/p>\n

After his St Kilda side defeated Port Adelaide by 17 points at Adelaide Oval, he hammered the City of Churches <\/a>with a statement that made headlines.<\/p>\n

Higgins was asked whether he’d be going out to experience the South Australian capital after his match, and his answer offended Croweaters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘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<\/a>‘s Erin Phillips, referring to the popular video game.<\/p>\n

He was slammed by AFL fans and commentators, and South Australian Premier\u00a0Peter Malinauskas<\/a> even leapt to the city’s defence.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\"AFL <\/p>\n

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<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Higgins <\/p>\n

Higgins and his partner Tenisha (both pictured) have since sampled some of the biggest attractions in South Australia<\/p>\n

‘It’s lovely. I was completely wrong. (After my comment), the whole of Adelaide was messaging me and abusing me,’ he told Channel Seven.<\/p>\n

The St Kilda player gladly accepted an invitation to see the best attractions South Australia has to offer.<\/p>\n

He and Cook experienced the Adelaide Oval roof climb, giving Higgins a perspective of the famous ground he’d never had before.<\/p>\n

They also enjoyed the farming culture in the town of Penola, which sits in the Coonawarra wine region and is full of heritage sites.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Fans have since reacted to the shock backtrack from Higgins.<\/p>\n

‘Higgo finally waking up and realising it’s (Adelaide) 10x better than Melbourne,’ one Instagram user wrote.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"The <\/p>\n

The 26-year-old (pictured) made a move from Richmond to St Kilda in 2021<\/p>\n

\"Higgins <\/p>\n

Higgins and Cook also went snorkelling in a geological marvel on a sheep farm while they were in South Australia\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Higgins <\/p>\n

Higgins (pictured) has played 145 AFL games<\/p>\n

‘Hahaah. Spot on the money higgo,’ another wrote.<\/p>\n

‘Stop abusing my favourite player good stuff jack,’ another added.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The St Kilda star has also won fans over by revealing he takes inspiration from Aussie cricketer Steve Smith.<\/p>\n

‘Steve Smith is the last bloke in the nets, he just picks up bats at night, trying to get right,’\u00a0he told\u00a0AFL.com.au<\/a> in August.<\/p>\n

‘I have really looked up to him across my footy career… how much extra preparation he puts in.’<\/p>\n

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