The short answer to the title is: everywhere.
At 26-years-old, Shaun Higgins is in his prime as a footballer and is likely to prove extremely valuable to North Melbourne.
In his 129 games at the Western Bulldogs, the classy utility spent time across half-back, half-forward, on the wing and in the midfield – all positions fans can expect to see him in play in the royal blue and white.
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When Higgins plays in attack, he would likely have a similar role to a teammate such as Leigh Adams - working up the ground, providing another number around the stoppages, before using his excellent skills to deliver the ball inside 50.
Perhaps his best season was in 2009 playing the half-forward role. Higgins kicked 32 goals, averaged more than 20 disposals a game and earned 11 Brownlow Medal votes.
At various times during 2014, North struggled to provide a genuine threat at ground level in the forward-line. While the introduction of Kayne Turner and Robbie Nahas rectified it to some degree, Higgins’ presence would bring an added dimension in front of goal, while also providing some flexibility.
Higgins could also play as a running defender off the half-back flank. It was where he spent most of his 2014 for the Bulldogs, notching career highs in rebound 50’s and handballs, looking to initiate quick ball movement.
Again the word flexibility comes into the equation when pondering the possibility of Higgins playing in the defensive half. With players like Shaun Atley, Luke McDonald and Aaron Mullett, North has a range of options currently in the half-back position.
However each of Atley, McDonald and Mullett could potentially ‘graduate’ further up the field onto a wing. It would then give North some added outside run around the stoppages, a crucial area of the Kangaroos’ game.
The former Bulldog also brings some valuable finals experience to a side looking for a sustained run of success in September. Higgins has played seven finals and was a valuable contributor in all of them, finding ways to contribute on the scoreboard even when he didn’t collect a high amount of possessions.
Throughout his nine-year career, Higgins has been unable to shake the injury prone tag. While he’s played 129 games, he’s had three seasons (2006, 2008, 2013) where he has played no more than seven games.
Despite that, Higgins has been able to get on the park relatively consistently in recent memory. Excluding 2013, the utility has played at least 17 games in each season since 2009 – hardly the record of a player who is unreliable.
Earlier this week, Higgins’ manager Bruce Kaider appeared on Trade Radio and stated that his client will be ready for Day 1 of pre-season.
