North Melbourne veteran Shaun Higgins is recovering well in hospital after he was heavily concussed in the Roos’ upset AFL win over Hawthorn.

The 30-year-old was knocked out cold in a sickening collision with Ryan Burton at Etihad Stadium, just hours after his wife gave birth to their first child on Sunday.

A motionless Higgins was taken from the field on a motorised stretcher after a nasty head clash during the third quarter of the 28-point win.

But he was coherent and in good spirits after the incident and was transported to Epworth Hospital.

“He’s going really well … he’s been cleared of any neck damage,” Roos skipper Jack Ziebell told reporters on Monday morning.

“There’s no fractures or anything, but I think he needs to get a little bit of plastic surgery on his lip where his teeth went through.

“There’s been a fair bit of contact (from the boys) but he was laying low and resting up.

“He’ll get a few visitors today just to make sure that he’s going ok.”

His release from hospital is dependant on the timing of his surgery and recovery.

He will go into the club’s concussion protocol and hasn’t been ruled out of Saturday’s clash against Port Adelaide.

The incident will be assessed by AFL match review officer Michael Christian, but Ziebell harbours no ill will toward Burton.

“It’s a tough one … I’ve been in that situation before where you have to choose to bump or tackle,” he said.

“It’s a split-second decision and it’s a really tough one to make.

“I’m not going to sit here and judge anyone on that one act.”