Shaun Higgins says he’s grown as a leader during one of the most challenging periods in AFL history.

With players now away from their clubs for the best part of two months due to the COVID-19 crisis, the North vice-captain has done everything he can to set an example for his teammates.  

“It’s been a great learning and development for myself during this period, through coaching and leadership, and making sure that our younger guys are maintaining the standards and levels that are required,” Higgins told SEN.

“The day-to-day football club contact has not been there; it’s just then had to go around other forms and other ways to provide leadership.

“In times like these, younger guys haven’t been exposed to football long, let alone an environment where they’re trying to keep up standards and training and protocols, while they’re at home and isolating from the rest of the football players and also the football club.

“(It’s about) touching base with the entire playing group and staff at the football club, from a wellbeing point-of-view, to ensure their frame-of-mind and (that) they are personally in a good space with their families.

“There’s been great learnings out of the last couple of months, that I’m sure all of us can take into our lives.”

Clubs were on Monday given government permission to return to training, but will await an official announcement from the AFL.

While the news has come perhaps a little earlier than initially expected, Higgins said the North list had trained to be ready.

It now looks likely players will heads back to their clubs next week.

“We’ve been in a position, our football club, that we’ll be prepared to go as quickly as need be. That would be a great result for us (a return next week),” Higgins said.

“We’re sort of just sitting back to see the information that comes across tomorrow (Wednesday).

“We are all optimistic and hopeful that it is sooner rather than later. If that’s the case, we’re pumped with that result.

“It feels like we’ve been building for this for a long time, and maybe the last couple of weeks we’ve moved a bit quicker than we would have previously thought, which I think is a great thing for all the footy lovers.

“I’m really excited to get out there, and hopefully that is next week.”