A mere 4,334.1 km.
That’s the driving distance between St Albans Reserve and Tom Higgins’ Field of Dreams, Wickham Town Oval.
It’s the distance between the comforts of home and mum’s ‘spag bog’.
However, the Supersaints recruit is getting comfortable with being uncomfortable after making the trek across the Nullarbor from Western Australia’s Pilbara region following a suggestion from good mate, emerging Geelong defender Lawson Humphries.
“He asked me… in about February last year if I wanted to make the move, and I was a bit sheepish and I was like, ‘Nah, probably not’,” Higgins told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“And then I was playing Round 2 at Wickham Wolves in the Pilbara and unfortunately injured my knee for the second time in about 12 months.
“And then I just got out of surgery, and I messaged him and I said, ‘Stuff it, let’s get the ball rolling and we’ll see what happens,’ and sent my resume through.”
Higgins’ football resume ended up in the hands of Cats’ player welfare manager Mark Worthington, with St Albans one of the clubs to be handed his details.
“(Supersaints football boss) Sam Wolfenden called me about seven days later and said, ‘Are you keen?’.
“I was sitting back in the Pilbara (after returning) from Perth, and I was like, ‘Oh no, I don’t know, I’m a bit sheepish.’
I said, ‘I’ll get back to you.’ And about a month and a half later, I said, ‘Yeah, I’m keen.'”
After registering just the two wins in 2024, St Albans has already reached that mark three rounds into the new season.
However, the Supersaints face a St Joseph’s lineup that has won its opening four matches by an average of 43 points.
Northern Bullants-listed Sam Donegan will make his return from a hamstring injury via St Albans, replacing Tyson Roberts.
Joeys will make at least one change, with Joey Chaplin to return to Geelong’s VFL lineup.
Newtown & Chilwell has lost Liam Nash to suspension but welcomes back Ned Harris and Werribee VFL-listed Noah Tullio among two changes for its meeting with Leopold at Elderslie Reserve.
Felix Katsaros has been omitted.
The Lions have named second-gamer Anthony Tanner as the replacement for Will Howard.
St Mary’s will unveil another debutant, with Oliver Flynn named for his first game against Grovedale at Anthony Costa Oval.
The Saints have also included premiership duo Jesse Travaglini and Trent McMullan for the Daniel Fletcher Cup clash.
However, Keidan Rayner is among the outs.
The Tigers will be without Tom Moloney and Tommy Stephen, with Sam Adams recalled and potential debutant Ned Mahoney named on an extended bench.
South Barwon will make at least four changes for its meeting with North Shore at Windsor Park.
Ben Kellett, Joel Hogan and Rowan Gough are managing soreness, while Ethan Borys has earned a Geelong VFL call-up.
Debutant Connor Weidemann, brother of current Swan Lachie, is among the inclusions.
The Seagulls will be boosted by Connor Walmsley’s return.
The inclusion of former Collingwood and GWS Giants star Heath Shaw for the suspended Lachie Taylor is the only change Geelong West has made for its meeting with Lara at West Oval.
The Cats welcomed Sam Hoffman back, recalled Majak Daw, and promoted Cooper Judd and Lachie Scerri.
They replace Ethan Mohr, Samuel Erwin, Jackson Francese-Fulton, and Tom Parker.
Part of a double-header day with Geelong West’s GDFNL section, the GFNL senior match bounces at 3:20pm.
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