The return of livewire forward Jack Higgins in a Richmond jumper for the first time after brain surgery last season in the pre-season match against Collingwood in Wangaratta on Sunday will be a special occasion, according to his captain Trent Cotchin.
Higgins has not played since round 13 last season when doctors discovered bleeding on his brain and recommended he have a delicate operation to fix the problem.
Jack Higgins will play in a pre-season game on Sunday after a long absence due to a brain bleed.Credit:Joe Armao
"It is special. For him to go through what he went through last year and for there to be times where there were serious doubts about whether he pull on the boots again, it's going to be pretty special and probably pretty emotional for the man," Cotchin said.
"It will be good to get up there and watch him pull on the boots and the Tigers jumper."
Cotchin said the club had really wrapped their arms around him with the club's player welfare manager Nadine Haider and former ruckman Ivan Maric leading the way as he worked his way back.
However he said the real credit needed to go to Higgins and his family and friends who have been with him "through thick and thin".
Higgins will slot into a forward line that included Shai Bolton, Jason Castagna and Daniel Rioli in last year's grand final as the Tigers look to start their season off on the right foot against the Magpies.
Richmond have named 14 premiership players in the squad of 26 with six of their stars, Cotchin, Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch, Shane Edwards, Jack Riewoldt and Bachar Houli having played in the Bushfire Relief match on Friday night.
They have included first round draft pick Tom Dow for the match.
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