By Jennifer Witham
11:03 AM Thu 27 November, 2008

Western Bulldogs champion Scott West has passed his No. 7 guernsey on to Shaun Higgins



RETIRED Western Bulldogs champion Scott West has chosen emerging forward Shaun Higgins as the player who will wear his famous No. 7 guernsey next season.

West, who called an end to his decorated career in September after 324 games, mentored Higgins in his early days at Whitten Oval.

"He's helped Higgo along for the last couple of years and Higgo's a good young kid who's hard at it," assistant coach Leon Cameron said on Thursday.

"He's got a lot of natural ability and he's starting to realise he's got to work pretty hard like a Scott West to get to where he's got to get to.

"I think Westy sees that in him, so that's a good choice."

Higgins has played 32 games since his 2006 debut, but added just seven this year after breaking his ankle in round two.

He has worn guernsey No. 19 for the last three years.
West will be a part-time assistant coach at Melbourne in 2009 after accepting a position late last week.