ATTACKER MOVES UP FIELD TOGO FORWARD
STKILDAhasf lagged more midfield time for new signing Jack Higgins after enticing the Richmond live wire to Mo or ab bin.
The Saints were big winners out of the trade and free agency period, bringing in Adelaide’ s Brad Crouch, Bomber Shaun McKernan and Higgins without losing much in the other direction.
“We’re really happy, we think we’ve brought in a couple of guys who will certainly go straight into our best 22,” Saints list boss James Gallagher said on Friday.
“We’ve retained all the guys from this year in our best 22, so we think we’re a stronger side going into next year plus the development of our younger guys.
“And with Shaun McKernan coming in as well, he’ s a good AFL player and he’s exactly what we need to complement our group.
“Overall we’ re really happy and we’ve retained a first-round pick for this year and next year, so they were real priorities for us .”
Higgins played predominantly as a forward in his 43 games at Punt Road, but Gallagher said the Saintssawthe21-year-oldasbeing able to move into the engine room.
“He’s a talented footballer,
Jack, and clearly he’s played his best footy at AFL level as a forward,”hesaid.
“He’s got the ability to play close to goal, he’s got a big engine, so he can play up the ground as well and win plenty of ball.
“And we certainly believe he’ll spend plenty of time in the midfield as well to complement our guys who can play through the mid field in a variety of positions .”