Peter Higgins

Peter Higgins was a towering ruckman whose path to the top flight began with a four-year apprenticeship at Carlton, where he toiled in the under-19s and reserves without breaking into the senior lineup. In search of regular senior football, he crossed the Nullarbor to join Claremont in the WAFL, a move that revitalised his prospects and saw him play a crucial role in the Tigers' 1987 premiership. This form prompted the West Coast Eagles to recruit him with pick 10 in the 1988 National Draft, viewing him as a readymade solution for their ruck stocks. Although he showed promise with 28 hit-outs on debut against Collingwood, Higgins found it difficult to secure a regular spot ahead of established teammates Laurie Keene and Phil Scott. He played just four games for the club in 1989 before being delisted, eventually returning to the WAFL where he enjoyed a sustained career as a reliable state-league big man.