'I would have been an AFL umpire': Richmond's Jack Higgins' fall-back plan

Mick Stirling

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'I would have been an AFL umpire': Richmond's Jack Higgins' fall-back plan image

It may not be possible to be a genuine ‘cult hero’ at a club with 100,000 members, but Jack Higgins has taken the AFL by storm more for his personality than his unquestionable football ability.

The young Richmond player is the round 19 Rising Star nominee and as such has been put in front of microphones across the country, something he seems both comfortable and at-odds with, all at the same time.

Higgins famously quit school early to devote himself to a footballing future and so far the choice looks good, but what would he have done if he hadn’t been selected to play at the highest level?

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 “I probably would have been an AFL umpire if I didn’t get drafted because I love the game that much,” Higgins told 3AW’s Sportsday program this week.

“Definitely people were saying that to me (to stay at school in case football didn’t work out), but at the end of the day, even if I wasn’t that good a footballer, I probably would have dropped out anyway and done a trade.”

It’s unlikely Higgins will need to be digging ditches in the near future as his form at the reigning premiers lifts by the week.

After debuting in round three, being dropped again the next week then returning for another four games before being rested in round nine, Higgins has now solidified his spot in the Tigers’ best 22.


He kicked eight goals in his first four games playing as a small forward, but has only slotted one major since as he spends more time in the midfield.

However, it’s Higgins’ character that has seen him catch the footy public’s imagination, from his exuberant celebrations after his first-ever AFL ‘snag’ through to the now famous half-time rev up he gave teammates as they headed into the third quarter against Sydney.


And there’s no indication the club wants him to change.

“(Richmond) sort of just let me be how I am on a regular basis. They just let me say whatever I want. I’m grateful for that,” Higgins says.

And on being an instant star?

“It’s a bit weird, sometimes you’re just walking down the street with a few mates and then someone will be eyeing you off or will come up to you, so it’s a bit weird but I like it.

“I love it, ‘coz when you’re a kid you dream about that stuff.“

Jack Higgins – living the dream.

Mick Stirling