JACK Higgins' ascent to being a likely early pick at this year's NAB AFL Draft continued when he won the Morrish Medal as the TAC Cup's best player this season.
The Oakleigh Chargers product polled 22 votes after a consistent season in the midfield and close to goal at under-18 level, finishing four votes clear of Calder Cannons' Brad Bernacki at Sunday night's count.
It continues an excellent season for Higgins, who starred for Vic Metro at the NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, where he was named an All Australian and his side's most valuable player.
He shapes as a possible top-10 pick at November's national draft after excelling over several seasons in the talent pathway, dating back to being judged the best player in the under-16 carnival two years ago.
He kicked 29 goals in 13 games for the Chargers this season, including a recent seven-goal haul in their win over the Bendigo Pioneers. He is the first Charger to win the Morrish Medal, and follows last year's top-three pick Hugh McCluggage in taking home the honour.
The 178cm prospect also averaged 24 disposals and six tackles a game.
He will feature in the Chargers' TAC Cup finals series, which starts next weekend and has been reshaped this season to run over three weeks with four elimination finals, then two preliminary finals before the premiership decider at Etihad Stadium later this month.
2017 MORRISH MEDAL | ||
PLAYER | CLUB | VOTES |
Jack Higgins | Oakleigh Chargers | 22 |
Brad Bernacki | Calder Cannons | 20 |
Gryan Miers | Geelong Falcons | 15 |
Hamish Brayshaw | Sandringham Dragons | 15 |
Sam Hayes | Eastern Ranges | 14 |
James Worpel | Geelong Falcons | 13 |
Callum Porter | Gippsland Power | 12 |
Jaidyn Stephenson | Eastern Ranges | 12 |
Daniel Johnston | Murray Bushrangers | 11 |
Cassidy Parish | Geelong Falcons | 11 |