A SCINTILLATING four-goal performance against Collingwood on Sunday has won Bulldogs' midfielder Shaun Higgins the round eight nomination for the NAB AFL Rising Star award.

 

The 19-year-old was taken aback when informed of his accolade, but conceded his game against the Magpies was his best so far for the club.

 

"I was a little surprised, just because you're never too sure. I've played a couple of games and people have said I was a chance, and I didn't get it," he told afl.com.au.

 

"I wasn't really banking on it this week. I think my second half on Sunday was good, just to get a few goals, but overall it was just a good team performance and that's all I was really worried about after the game.

 

"I didn't think too much about it on a personal note, but it was probably one of the better games I've played because I finished with a couple of goals.

 

Higgins, like last week's nominee Jess Smith, endured a delayed start to his senior career after missing a large portion of last season owing to injury.

 

The young Bulldog said being recognised for his performance on the weekend means plenty to him, considering how the fractured elbow he sustained in round 13 last year put a serious dampener on his first season at the club.

 

"I think it's good just to get back into the side and into the seniors and now playing some good footy," he said.

 

"To be recognised is probably a positive, because last year I wasn't sure if I'd get back in the senior team this year.

 

"In past years, and also this year, there's been a lot of good players that have been nominated, and there's been a few at our club with ‘Griff’ and ‘Coons’.

 

"It was good to get one for myself as well."

 

Across his eight senior appearances this year, Higgins has averaged over 10 disposals and nearly two goals a game, with his most recent return of 15 touches, three marks and four goals winning him the nomination.

 

Higgins said the most valuable lesson he has learned so far has come in the form of how to cope best with the psychological elements involved with playing football at the highest level.

 

"I'm only 12 or 13 games into it personally, but after every game, you learn so much and you can take a lot out of each week," he said.

 

"As I get more games under my belt, I get more experienced, and I learn a lot more.

 

"I've learned the most about getting up each week mentally rather than physically, and continually being able to withstand the mental pressure of playing seniors.

 

"To be consistent throughout the game on the one week is hard enough, let alone 22 games for the year. That's the biggest thing I've learned.

 

"You've got to learn how to cope with the downs as well. Some weeks the team might not play so well, and you might have not played well, and it's about being able to stay positive and know what you and the team can do."

 

Higgins joins Paddy Ryder (Essendon), Cameron Wood (Brisbane Lions), Tom Hawkins (Geelong), Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood), Joel Selwood (Geelong), Ricky Petterd (Melbourne) and Jess Smith (Kangaroos) as players to be nominated for the award so far this season.