Footyinfo

Kevin Higgins

Geelong and Fitzroy

AFL career

153 games35 goals

Debut
R1 1970 v HAW4 Apr 1970
Most recent
R2 1980 v MEL7 Apr 1980

Stats

1980
FIT
1
11.0
5.0
16.0
3.0
2.0
1.0
0.0
0.0
1979
FIT
24
14.3
5.0
19.3
2.8
2.2
1.6
0.0
0.0
1978
GEE
17
13.9
3.6
17.5
3.5
2.1
2.1
0.2
0.2
1977
GEE
17
12.2
3.2
15.4
3.8
2.1
2.2
0.6
0.3
1976
GEE
24
11.1
1.9
13.0
3.0
2.1
1.9
0.3
0.1
1975
GEE
13
12.6
2.5
15.2
3.4
1.5
1.6
0.4
0.2
1974
GEE
22
15.0
1.7
16.7
3.9
1.9
2.4
0.0
0.3
1973
GEE
22
14.5
1.7
16.2
2.7
2.2
2.8
0.2
0.1
1972
GEE
10
13.8
0.7
14.5
3.6
2.7
2.3
0.0
0.1
1970
GEE
3
7.0
1.0
8.0
3.0
1.3
2.0
1.0
1.0
League
Season
MEL
WP
R2
11
5
16
3
2
1
0
0.0

Profile

Full name
Kevin M. Higgins
Born
20 Feb 1951
Died
05 July 2019 (aged 68y 135d)
Birthplace
Sandhurst
Deathplace
Geelong, VIC
Height
185 cm
Weight
87 kg

Teams

  • 3 games, 3 goals
    1970
  • 125 games, 32 goals
    1972–1978
  • 25 games, 0 goals
    1979–1980

Recruited from Bendigo Football League club Sandhurst, Kevin Higgins arrived at Kardinia Park as a forward but ultimately carved out a respectable VFL career as a reliable defender. A natural left-footer, he debuted for Geelong in the opening round of the 1970 season but did not fully cement his place in the senior side until 1973. Once established, Higgins became a defensive mainstay for the Cats, known for his consistency and ability to read the play across the backline. His standing at the club was such that in his final season with Geelong in 1978, he was the team's highest vote-getter at the Brownlow Medal count, polling 12 votes during a strong individual campaign.

Despite his excellent form, Higgins transferred to Fitzroy for the 1979 season, where he made an immediate impact. He played every game in his first year with the Lions, including the club's qualifying and semi-finals—Fitzroy's first finals appearances since 1960. He remained a key contributor throughout that historic campaign, polling another eight Brownlow votes, but his VFL career came to an abrupt halt the following year. After making a solitary appearance in Round 2, 1980, Higgins played his final game at the top level just weeks before his 30th birthday, later returning to the Geelong region to become a premiership-winning coach in the local leagues.