[9] His average of 145 Champion Data ranking points per game also placed him fourth in the league, behind top-age players and that year's eventual top three AFL draft picks in Andrew McGrath, Tim Taranto and Hugh McCluggage.

[13] In the months leading into the 2017 junior season Higgins participated in the AFL's Academy program and traveled with the group on its high performance training camp trip to the United States of America.

[9] He was noted then as a potential number one overall draft pick and drew comparisons to Greater Western Sydney forward and AFL All-Australian Toby Greene.

[9] Higgins returned to TAC Cup football with the Oakleigh Chargers that year and held averages of 24 disposals, six marks and five tackles per game to go along with 27 goals in 13 matches.

[16] At the national championships he again represented the Vic Metro region, playing four matches and averaging 27.3 disposals, six tackles and six marks along with a tally of six goals in the title-winning side.

[27][28] He demonstrated impressive running ability while training as a midfielder in his first AFL pre-season, before playing his first football in Richmond colours at the AFLX exhibition tournament in Sydney in February 2018.

[35] Higgins flew as a travelling emergency with the club's senior side to Adelaide the following week before playing another VFL practice match the next day, this time racking up 22 disposals, six marks, five tackles and a goal.

[38][39][40][41][42] Despite this strong performance, Higgins was omitted from the round 4 side chosen to face the Brisbane Lions the following week, owing to the injury return of premiership players Dion Prestia and Josh Caddy.

[48] Higgins spent just one week on the sidelines before returning in round 10, this time becoming the subject of major news story when he was disallowed a goal on a score-review that the AFL later admitted was incorrect.

[49][50][51][52] Head coach Damien Hardwick flagged an intent to give Higgins more midfield time after his round 15 performance in which he gathered 20 disposals in his side's victory over Sydney.

[67] Higgins finished 2018 having played 20 matches and ranked first for contested possessions, goal assists and score involvements per game across Rising Star eligible players that year.

[68][69] He began the year by being drafted to and playing for the Nat Fyfe captained Flyers team in the 2019 AFLX exhibition tournament in late February.

[74] After kicking a total of three goals across his next two matches, Higgins was moved to a midfield role in round 4 following the loss of Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin to injury and suspension respectively.

[75] Higgins continued to play a hybrid forward-midfield role through the club's round 14 bye, but going goalless and failing to make a significant impact with an average of 13 disposals per game over the last three matches of that period.

[75] After the bye, and after 28 consecutive matches for Richmond at AFL level, Higgins was dropped from the club's round 14 side and forced to play reserves grade football in the VFL.

[81][82][83] He would fail to play again at any level that season however, when a series of severe headaches in mid July led to Higgins being admitted to hospital with a brain bleed.

[84] The condition was identified as a previously undiagnosed blood vessel weakness that would require surgery to repair but that could be corrected permanently and that place Higgins under no serious continuing health risk.

[115][116] He held his spot over the next month, and was among Richmond's best in a round 4 loss to St Kilda after a performance that included 17 disposals, a goal and an equal game-high seven score involvements.

[119] Injuries to Dion Prestia and Trent Cotchin during the prior match and the personal-leave absence of Shane Edwards, afforded Higgins an opportunity to play in the midfield over coming weeks, including when he was named among Richmond's best by AFL Media in a round 7 win over North Melbourne.

[124] A one-week injury to half-forward Kane Lambert saw Higgins return for a single AFL match in round 15, before being dropped again to reserves level the following week.

[127][128] Higgins remained injured through the course of the finals series, unable to fight for selection as his teammates earned the club a successive AFL premiership.

[131][132] Citing disappointment with missing out on AFL selection in the back half of the regular season, Higgins informed Richmond of his intention to explore contract offers with other clubs in late October according to multiple media reports.

In Round 12 against Sydney at the SCG, Higgins had a near best-on-ground performance with 23 disposals and 12 marks, but kicked a wayward 1.6, including missing two set shots at goal in the final quarter which would have likely seen the Saints secure victory had he converted.