A lot has changed throughout Shaun Higgins’ career; his hair, his jumper number, his club ... but there’s one element of the 199-gamer that hasn’t wavered, his drive and determination.

Drafted by the Western Bulldogs with pick 11 in the 2005 National Draft, the former Geelong Falcon was widely considered to be taken a lot higher, but ultimately landed at the Whitten Oval.

All-Australian captain and Bulldogs' legend Brad Johnson was one of the most high-profiled players in the game at the time, and remembers the first time he met a young Higgins.

“I went and sat down to meet him in his house prior to the draft,” Johnson told North Media.

“What you see now is exactly what he was like back then.

“He’s obviously grown up a little bit now, but he was really respectful and that was the one thing that really stood out with Shaun.

“When he walked in (the club) he was respectful to all his new teammates and all the staff which is something that’s been a really strong trait of his right throughout his career.”

A member of the 2005 TAC Cup Team of the Year, Higgins was a highly touted junior, so Johnson was over the moon to learn he would soon be playing alongside one of the country’s best young talents.

“I was obviously rapt when he walked through the doors of the Bulldogs, because we knew the talent that he had and the class he showed from an early age,” Johnson said.

“Because I had already met him, once he walked in I was able to help him settle in quite quickly.”

So great was his impact on the club, Higgins was made a member of the leadership group.

“He was a very respected player and was one of those emerging leaders, and you see it now first-hand at North,” Johnson said.

From the moment he arrived, Higgins' 'raw talent' was obvious. 

“You could see that talent from a young age, but he also had the drive and workrate to match it,” Johnson said.

“It wasn’t just going to be talent alone that got Higgo across the line, he had the other traits that really make the best players in the competition stand out.”

Despite his hard work and dedication, Higgins’ career was significantly hampered by a series of “bizarre” injuries that saw him play just seven games in 2008 and three in 2013.

Even through some serious adversity, he didn't rest on his laurels.

“He always had big summers. If he had gotten injured during the year and it ended his season, he’d be there for the first day of pre-season,” Johnson explained. 

“He was fit and always ready to try and jump up as high as he could in the rankings throughout the club with the weights, running and those sort of things.

“He always had that drive, so it was a bit of a shame that he had those injuries.

“Early on in your career that can happen and you can get back, but when it happens over and over and over again, that starts to dig in at the resolve of a young player.

“I’m sure at times he would have questioned whether he was ever going to get a red-hot crack at it, but that good run at it is what we’re seeing now.

“He’s always had that resolve to push through whatever he was confronted with.”

At the end of 2014, Higgins made the decision to engage in free agency, and sign with North Melbourne.

Spending time in defence and the VFL towards the end of his time at the Western Bulldogs, there were some inside the four walls at Arden Street, such as then Director of Coaching Darren Crocker, that were somewhat sceptical of the recruitment. 

“It’s interesting and I’ve been quite open with him about this, when he first crossed from the Bulldogs I had no idea of the professional footballer that he was,” Crocker told North Media.

“Having had a few injuries, and coming from the Bulldogs, I had the perception that he was highly talented but potentially didn’t put the time and work in.

“That perception couldn’t have been further from the truth.

“From the day he arrived at Arden Street, he became one of our most professional if not the most professional player here, and a great example for others.

“My perception compared to what the reality is, is quite different.

“Boomer (Brent Harvey) was a real pro with the way he went about things, Drew Petrie as well, and I’d certainly put Higgo right up there with those guys in terms of his professionalism and how he goes about things.”

Since arriving at North, Higgins has had a relatively positive run with injuries, playing 24 and 21 games in 2015 and 2017 respectively, and has missed just the one this season.

In addition to his clean bill of health, he's cemented his spot in the side’s midfield.

“He hadn’t played a lot of midfield until the last couple of years, so his growth as a player to be able to go from a forward to then play a little bit down back in his last year at the Bulldogs, come across to here and be able to adapt his game to now become a really influential player through the midfield has been a real big bonus for both us and him,” Crocker said.

“Being dynamic around the contest, being able to break away from the contest and then use the ball well and set us up is a real feature of his game.”

Form like this was destined to come, according to Johnson.

“I’m just rapt that he’s been able to play consistent football and everyone’s now seeing the class that he has now that he’s fully fit and North are benefiting from that,” he said.

Off the field, the 30-year-old’s impact on the club has been immeasurable.

“He’s in our leadership group, so he’s terrific with all members of our squad,” Crocker said.

“Whether it’s working with midfielders about how they can improve their game, or working with forwards, he’s just about us getting better as a group, improving as a group, getting to where we want to get to as a group and as a leader, he takes on that responsibility.

“You’d like to think that the young guys organically jump in his back pocket to see how he goes about things, but there’s times when it’s not as clear to them and you have to give them a hint and suggest them to look at someone like 'Higgo' and look at how he goes about things because it’s held him in good stead for a long time.”

Aside from hard work and dedication to his craft, Crocker believes Higgins’ balanced lifestyle goes a long way towards making him the player that he is today.

“He’s a very well balanced individual, and I put him alongside Andrew Swallow in that respect,” Crocker said.

“He’s got a family, he is looking at different parts of his career after football and realises that footy won’t last forever.

“He’s an absolute professional while he’s here, but then he can actually go outside and have other interests.

“He loves his golf so he’s got a hobby that he enjoys, he’s establishing a career away from the club and he’s building a home.

“He’s got his ducks in a row in terms of having a really well balanced life which really helps his footy.”

Higgins will play his 200th game against West Coast this Sunday.