Higgins has missed two matches since rolling his ankle in the round 11 clash with Collingwood but coach Rodney Eade says he will be right to come back after the side’s mid-season break.
“Indications are that he will be, yes. He is training today so I’ll get an update this afternoon. They thought initially he’d only miss the one week but we gave him two and now he’s got the bye,” Eade said on Wednesday.
“I would think he’d be right for the Hawthorn game. Callan Ward will come into serious consideration and Tom Williams will be available as well.”
Higgins will be brought straight back into the senior side, but fellow small forward Jason Akermanis will have to work his way back through the VFL.
Akermanis is returning from a hamstring injury and Eade confirmed he would have to come back via Williamstown.
The Seagulls also have a mid-season bye this weekend, so Akermanis will have to wait until the clash with Sandringham on July 4.
“At the moment his indications are he’s working really hard. His fitness base is getting up to where we’d like it. He’ll have a couple of games at Williamstown and if he plays well we’d love him back in the side,” Eade said.
Akermanis had fallen out of favour with the Dogs after his much-publicised comments on gay footballers but Eade said there was still a spot for him as the side looked towards September action.
“At his best footy, he is certainly in our best 22 - there’s no doubt about that. Everyone knows his ability to change games, to kick goals, and goals are priceless, especially in a finals series,” he said.
“He’s certainly attacked training in the right mode. He’s gone 100 per cent and from that angle it’s really pleasing.”
