Shaun Higgins says the shot clock should be returned to stadium big screens for all shots on goal, including those in the dying stages of each quarter.

Higgins was called to play on as he took a shot on goal in the third quarter of Saturday’s loss to the Western Bulldogs, and said he did not hear the call from the umpire 40m away. Bulldog Jake Stringer saw the umpire wave play on and pounced on an unassuming Higgins.

“I didn’t hear a lot, which was the issue,” Higgins said on Channel 7’s AFL Game Day.

“I think most players now are programmed to look up and check the shot clock. There was no shot clock there for me to look at given it was inside two minutes.

“Given the 40 metre distance, I think Jake Stringer probably was the only one that could see the umpire call play on and unfortunately for me, he mowed me down.”

The shot clock does not appear on stadium big screens in the final two minutes of each quarter.

Higgins admitted he had taken too long with his attempt on goal, but said the return of the shot clock would also have a benefit as it would actually speed up players who delayed their set shot routine.

“(It) probably goes more to the point of why not just have the shot clock the whole time?” the 29-year-old said.

“I took eight seconds longer than I should have, which could cost a team a game as well.”

AFL great Leigh Matthews said the Higgins incident was not a good look.

“This is deplorable,” Matthews said on Channel 7.

“What happened with Charlie Dixon and Shaun, it should only happen if they are total numbskulls, because what happens is you have got an umpire 40m away who is controlling the play counting down the clock and you’ve got an umpire 5m away saying nothing.

“You’ve got make sure the guy with the ball knows (how much time is left).”