Tweet
by: Mark Stevens
From: Herald Sun
February 10, 2012 12:00AM
EXCLUSIVE: SHAUN Higgins is not shying away from a simple pledge: It is time to deliver.
After seasons of hearing himself dubbed the "next big thing" then being hobbled by injury, the Western Bulldog knows there are no more excuses.
"You get a few injuries, which is out of your control, but there comes a time when you need to deliver and I feel like I'm at that stage now," Higgins said yesterday. "That's why I've done so much work to get my body right - I won't be able to use that as an excuse any more.
"That so-called potential in the future can become reality now, hopefully."
Higgins made his debut in 2006 and has played 87 games, but has never had a clear run at having a breakout year.
The cursed luck started with a dislocated elbow in his first year, followed by a smashed ankle, groin soreness, the illness thyroiditis and then a nagging knee injury last year.
Unsigned beyond this season, Higgins, 23, feels ready to repay the faith. Before Christmas he had surgery to realign his knee cap and trim cartilage.
"We've been saying for a few years that it's part and parcel of football, but it does get frustrating at times when you can't get your body 100 per cent or where you need it to be to play - and that was the case last year," Higgins said.
"But I've done a lot of work ouside the club to get everything right and I'm confident I can have a good year. I couldn't have done any more, so whatever happens from here, happens."
As Higgins struggled with a knee injury last year and the team started to splutter mid-season, former coach Rodney Eade threw him into defence.
It helped the leaky Dogs' defence and allowed Higgins to grow in confidence, but it seems unlikely it will happen again in a hurry.
Under new coach Brendan McCartney, Higgins has been training to play a forward/midfield role.
"It was temporary last year and what the side and myself needed at the time," Higgins said. "I've been spending a lot of time up forward and through the midfield again, which I've loved."
In a perfect world, Higgins would like a 60/40 forward/midfield mix. He will start pushing his case in an intraclub match tomorrow and is on track for Round 1 of the NAB Cup.
Higgins has worked closely with assistants Steven King and Shannon Grant and been part of a new focus on leg strength.
"We've done a lot more leg weights across the whole list," he said.
From: Herald Sun
February 10, 2012 12:00AM
EXCLUSIVE: SHAUN Higgins is not shying away from a simple pledge: It is time to deliver.
After seasons of hearing himself dubbed the "next big thing" then being hobbled by injury, the Western Bulldog knows there are no more excuses.
"You get a few injuries, which is out of your control, but there comes a time when you need to deliver and I feel like I'm at that stage now," Higgins said yesterday. "That's why I've done so much work to get my body right - I won't be able to use that as an excuse any more.
"That so-called potential in the future can become reality now, hopefully."
Higgins made his debut in 2006 and has played 87 games, but has never had a clear run at having a breakout year.
The cursed luck started with a dislocated elbow in his first year, followed by a smashed ankle, groin soreness, the illness thyroiditis and then a nagging knee injury last year.
Unsigned beyond this season, Higgins, 23, feels ready to repay the faith. Before Christmas he had surgery to realign his knee cap and trim cartilage.
"We've been saying for a few years that it's part and parcel of football, but it does get frustrating at times when you can't get your body 100 per cent or where you need it to be to play - and that was the case last year," Higgins said.
"But I've done a lot of work ouside the club to get everything right and I'm confident I can have a good year. I couldn't have done any more, so whatever happens from here, happens."
As Higgins struggled with a knee injury last year and the team started to splutter mid-season, former coach Rodney Eade threw him into defence.
It helped the leaky Dogs' defence and allowed Higgins to grow in confidence, but it seems unlikely it will happen again in a hurry.
Under new coach Brendan McCartney, Higgins has been training to play a forward/midfield role.
"It was temporary last year and what the side and myself needed at the time," Higgins said. "I've been spending a lot of time up forward and through the midfield again, which I've loved."
In a perfect world, Higgins would like a 60/40 forward/midfield mix. He will start pushing his case in an intraclub match tomorrow and is on track for Round 1 of the NAB Cup.
Higgins has worked closely with assistants Steven King and Shannon Grant and been part of a new focus on leg strength.
"We've done a lot more leg weights across the whole list," he said.
Comment