Contested ball is where Saturday night’s clash against Gold Coast Suns will be won or lost according to forward Shaun Higgins.
Despite the Sun’s winless start to 2012, Higgins says the Bulldogs won’t take their youthful opponents lightly, indicating there will be no holds barred in pursuit of the four points.
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“We have had a couple of wins now so we are looking forward to carrying that on - we know that it will be a tough game there,” Higgins said.
“They obviously haven’t won yet - any team you come up against like that you have to be wary, so we want to put in a really good performance.
“I think the game will be won or lost in the contested footy which has been the main message all year.
“Then hopefully we can use the footy pretty well and hit the scoreboard on the back of winning some good ball.”
The Bulldogs are hoping to secure their fifth consecutive win at TIO Stadium and have worked hard preparing for the unique, humid conditions.
“We have had some good games up in Darwin in the past, we have played up there five or six times in my time now so hopefully the boys can adapt to the conditions and carry on the contested footy and hopefully the win takes care of itself,” he said.
“We have been doing a lot of preparation in the heat chamber and that sort of thing. We have done everything we could and now it is just about getting up there and playing well.”
Despite just the 94 senior games to his credit, Higgins has found himself a senior figure amongst the young Bulldogs forward set-up this season - a role he is adjusting to.
“In the last few weeks my role has changed a little bit and I have been playing as more of a permanent forward which is good - wherever the team needs me I am happy to play,” Higgins said.
“I think we all shoulder a fair bit of responsibility - it is a reasonably young group there, I think I am the second eldest in that group and [Daniel] Giansiracusa is obviously the oldest.
“We have some young guys and we have full faith in what they are doing and they are still learning the craft.
“It is just about helping the guys setup and making them feel comfortable - that is our role game day and then to chip in with a few goals as well is a bit of a bonus.”
While the Bulldogs forward line has been scrutinized Higgins believes they have a good mix of talent who are starting to gel together and produce results.
The Dogs kicked 15 goals against North Melbourne with Higgins adding two to the scoreboard himself - a feat he has managed for three consecutive weeks.
“As long as we keep all playing our role which we did on the weekend then sometimes you kick four like Tory [Dickson] did and it is just good to contribute with a few goals.” he said.
“We are starting to get a good mix [in the forward line] with Giansiracusa, myself and Dickson came in - Nathan Djerrkura has also played a similar role and Justin Sherman is also floating through there.”
