Six-time All-Australian and former Western Bulldogs’ captain Brad Johnson believes North midfielder Shaun Higgins is a “lock” for this year’s All-Australian team.

Having spent five seasons as a teammate of Higgins, Johnson has seen the 30-year-old’s talent first-hand and expects him to be awarded his first spot in the league's’ best 22.

“I’m a little bit biased, but All-Australian has to be a lock and he’ll be right up there in the Brownlow Medal,” Johnson told North Media ahead of Higgins’ 200^th game.

“I think there’ll be some good individual awards coming Higgo’s way, but in saying that, Higgo understands, and he always has, these are the bonuses of being in a good side.

“He’s always spoken about how the teammates around you impact your ability to play at a certain level.

“He’s always considered these as bonuses, but they’re good bonuses to be handed your way.”

North coach Brad Scott echoed Johnson’s sentiment.

“His on-field footy speaks for itself,” Scott said.

“I’m not an All-Australian selector, and nor should I be because I’m a bit biased, but I think anyone who doesn’t have any bias would think Shaun Higgins has had an All-Australian year.”

Averaging a career-high 27.8 disposals in 2018, Higgins is now considered one of the most damaging midfielders in the competition and has attracted his fair share of attention from opponents this season.

At 30-years-old, he continues to wind back the clock and defy the critics by proving that age is just a number.

Johnson, who retired at 34, believes the perception of players beyond 30 years old needs to change.

“I think clubs are now starting to see the impact players in their 30’s can have,” he said.

“We’re starting to see more players stay in the competition until they’re 34, 35, 36 years of age, which I think is great.

“(The conversations around those players) are turning a little bit too, because I think the guys that get to those sort of levels are starting to be celebrated for what they have achieved in the game and how they have been able to maintain a high level of performance for between 15 and 18 years of AFL footy which is just a huge effort.

“I think it’s great, and I think Higgo’s got that ability now because he has missed a bit of footy when he was younger, maybe he gets to make that up now in the tail-end of his career.”