"WE'RE going to have to get something out of your brain."

Those 11 words brought Richmond cult hero Jack Higgins to tears when the prospect of being paralysed and the risk of death became real.

In an instant, the hilarious post-game interviews, bubbly personality and outrageous goals the 20-year-old forward was renowned for had been replaced with a sense his football career was over.

Higgins was told he had a brain bleed after having blurry vision and headaches during a VFL match against Werribee in July.

"I cried a bit when I heard the news," Higgins told Richmond's website this week from the club's pre-season camp on the Gold Coast.

"It was really scary when the neurosurgeon told me there's a lot of risks in the surgery.

"If he touches the wrong thing, I could be paralysed, never play footy again or even worse, die."

Higgins had experienced headaches during matches earlier in the season, but they weren't related to head knocks or concussion, so he didn't think much of it.

"Then, one time after a match, I felt really bad, couldn't drive home at night and felt absolutely terrible," he said.

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"The next day, I felt decent enough and the next day after that, got scans, hadn't slept in about 48 hours and was in an MRI machine.

"I got rushed to some hospital, I can't remember (which one), it's a bit of a blur."

Higgins spent two weeks in hospital recovering from the surgery.

It was hard for him to stay positive with the worst-case scenarios running on a constant loop in his mind.

Walking was a struggle and simple tasks like opening and closing his mouth were painful.

That's when he became resigned to the fact he wouldn't add to his 33 AFL games with his life going in a completely opposite direction.

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"At the time, there were some pretty bad things going through my head," he said.

"I thought I'd probably never play footy again, probably never walk again, have to have a carer for the rest of my life.

"So, to be out there training, after I had the surgery three months ago when I hardly could walk, hardly eat, hurt when I open and close my mouth, yeah, it's pretty crazy.

"I'm just happy to be here training and hopefully should be right."

Higgins is on the road to recovery.

He returned to training in late November and is now back into contact work, with the aid of headgear.

There is no timeframe on his return to playing with the club and medical staff understandably taking a cautious approach to his rehabilitation.

"I think I'm doing alright training, just slowly building back up, wearing a helmet," he said.

"It's a bit weird, gets a bit hot in there.

"I don't know if I will wear it in matches, but the doctor wants me to, so I probably will if he says, but if he says no, it will be the first thing that comes off."

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Higgins said the support of his loved ones and Tigers supporters was vital in his recovery when he was in hospital.

"I couldn't really read, couldn't see the TV. My vision is still a bit blurry now, but all the people were telling me, even the nurses, 'we can't believe all the support that has come for you'," he said.

"All the fans were writing really nice messages.

"I had my girlfriend there, my parents, they couldn't believe it.

"That's what got me through that time, a very tough time in my life, but that sort of got me through it."