Shaun Higgins will not place any unnecessary pressure on himself to perform in 2015, instead he’ll be focusing on enjoying football at his new club, North Melbourne.
Speaking on SEN’s Morning Glory program, the former Bulldog said he is ‘really enjoying’ his time at Arden Street and can’t wait to line up in the royal blue and white.
“I don’t want to put any expectation on myself to go there and do anything. It’s to go there and get back and really enjoy my footy again, which I am,” Higgins said.
“I’m loving training and everything that offers and just can’t wait to slot into that side.”
PRESS PLAY above to listen to the Higgins interview
Higgins admitted it took some time getting used to a change of scenery after almost a decade at Whitten Oval.
“Nine years at one place and then to go elsewhere, it is a little bit strange. You’re walking into their environment I guess,” he said.
“From a training point of view it was fine, but I guess being around the footy club and sitting in the locker room you take for granted a little bit after being at one place for nine years.
“Having said that, I’ve loved it. It’s a challenge and a new experience obviously, but after two or three weeks it felt like I’d been there (at North) for a long time.”
Injuries have restricted Higgins to 129 games in his nine seasons at AFL level, but the 26-year-old has been in fine form on the training track.
“This time of year everyone’s going well, but I think I’ve put myself in a position to take that next step going forward in the second half of my career,” he added.
“Injuries in the past have held me back and unfortunately I haven’t had a run at it the way I would have liked, but having said that, at the moment I’m feeling really good.
“I’ve been able to have a good pre-season. They’ve (the Kangaroos) looked after me really well in terms of where I need to be and we’ll go from there.”