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FWC: NED v JPN from 7am, SN Extra“Never spoken about this”: Higgins reflects on big free agency move
SEN • June 14th, 2026 7:46 pm
All-Australian midfielder Shaun Higgins was a real star at two of the three AFL clubs he played for.
Across his journey for the Bulldogs, Kangaroos and Cats, Higgins was a classy user who could find teammates with ease and collect his own footy.
After 129 games and 128 goals for the Bulldogs from 2006 to 2014, Higgins opted to join North Melbourne via free agency.
With the Dogs enduring a tumultuous 2014 campaign, Higgins felt like he had to leave Whitten Oval as the club shed all of himself, Ryan Griffen - who was captain, Adam Cooney and Liam Jones, as well as coach Brendan McCartney.
Higgins reflected on that move on This is Your Journey – thanks to Tobin Brothers.
“I felt like I was put into a position that I almost had to move,” Higgins said.
“North Melbourne were unbelievably supportive during that period of time, led by Scotty (Brad Scott).
“It was difficult for Griff (Ryan Griffen) in that moment, and it was for me. Selfishly, it formed what was going to be a really key decision, and a decision that allowed me to get that love of the game back.
“I've never spoken about this, but during the 2013 season, when I had missed 12 months of football with my navicular injury, free agency had just kicked off.
“North Melbourne were the leaders in that, they took Nick Dal Santo the year prior, and during the 2013 season, I wasn't playing, they reached out to my manager, and I wasn’t entertaining it, I just wanted to get back.
“At the end of the 2013 season, I hadn't played, I sat down with my manager, and it was one of those sliding doors moments of, ‘I understand that you want to stay at the Western Bulldogs, but you don't always get what you need either there. So keep your options open’.
“They had flagged it early, North Melbourne, it was centred around their high-performance manager, who had a lot of experience with naviculars and getting guys back playing.
“Then, during the 2014 season, the seed was planted, and it began to grow legs.
“What turned out to be probably a 1% decision of leaving, eventually grew into, ‘I think that’s exactly what I need’.
“I never entertained any other offer, spoke to another club. The gut feel was North was the right place and right fit for me, and it eventuated that it was.”
Higgins went on to be named an All-Australian, while claiming two best and fairests as a Kangaroo.
He spoke about that moment, watching the Dogs then win the 2016 flag and much more on this week’s episode.
Listen to Higgins' chat with Sam Edmund below.
