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WESTERN Bulldogs forward Shaun Higgins has inked a two-year contract extension with the club that will take him through to the end of the 2014 season.
Higgins says a mid-season meeting with coach Brendan McCartney has helped to change his focus.
The 24-year-old and McCartney spoke about concentrating on contributing to the team and the club rather than focusing on kicking goals.
"Mid-year, I had a pretty good chat with Brendan moving forward and where my place in the team was and what I stood for and what he wanted from me," Higgins told The Age.
"It's been fantastic from the way nothing has been based for myself around possessions and goals or anything like that.
"It's about my role, being a good teammate and helping out the club and helping out the young kids, helping to teach them, and also playing the right way.
"That has been the biggest thing. It has also taken a bit of pressure off myself in terms of kicking those goals and possessions.
"I have been able to readjust to what was needed. Hopefully I am still building that."
Higgins has had a consistent season after returning to a role as a small forward. Under coach Rodney Eade last season, he played in the midfield and across half-back.
He played the opening 16 games this season before going down with a hamstring injury, and hopes to return against the Sydney Swans at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
In recent years he's battled knee, ankle, groin and elbow injuries.
"Obviously the last couple of years have been interrupted a bit. I am still getting full fitness back into me," Higgins said.
"With another pre-season, it will be a full pre-season this year, which I haven't had a for a while. I am really excited about that."
Higgins left the leadership group before this season to concentrate on getting his body right.
He hopes to return to the leadership group, which at this stage features players aged 29 and older: skipper Matthew Boyd, Daniel Giansiracusa, Dale Morris, Robert Murphy and Daniel Cross.
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