Jodie Hicks: A mother’s tick of approval
By Bronte Kerr and Isabelle O’Brien
Jodie Hicks is no stranger to sporting success, boasting impressive accolades spanning from cricket, netball, to AFL.
At the tender age of 18, Hicks has been drafted as an emergency for the Melbourne Demons, who will take on the Western Bulldogs this Sunday 24th May.
From a young age, Hicks has made her mark on the sporting world from her hometown of Hay, in rural NSW.
A two-time Youth Girls All Australian and elite cricket player for the ACT Meteors, Hicks’ resume is impressive considering her young age.
Speaking to AFL NSW/ACT, Hicks admits she’s feeling the nerves ahead of Sunday’s game.
“To manage my nerves i guess i don’t think about the game too much until I’m in the change rooms” Hicks said.
Hicks lives life by the motto “go hard, or go home”- no one knows this to be truer than her number one fan – mum Liz.
We sat down to chat with Liz to understand a little more about her daughter.
Liz describes how Jodie first got into AFL by joining in with her brothers’ Auskick at the age of four.
“We always went to the footy and her brother played, so she naturally got interested in that and wanted to get involved,” Liz said.
Liz sees living remotely as being both an advantage and a disadvantage for Jodie and her sporting pursuits.
“Because there was not a girls side, Jodie grew up playing and training with the boys up until the age of 14,”
It’s easy to see where Jodie gets her sense of determination and attack on the footy, given she grew up roughing it up with the boys.
“She hasn’t actually been able to play in competition since she was 14 though since there’s no women’s or youth girl’s league around locally so I guess that’s been a disadvantage for her.” Liz told us.
The whole community of Hay was elated at Jodie’s drafting, most of all her parents and family who have followed her all the way to the MCG on Sunday.
Locally, the whole community has been supportive of Jodie, especially the local footy team who adjusted their training sessions to accommodate the young star.
“They’re very supportive, looking out for her and including her in the training sessions,” Liz said.
Despite her sporting prowess, Jodie’s mum jokes that she’s just as at home on the couch as she is on the footy field.
“She’s a bit of a couch potato,” Liz laughs.
Female Program Manager for AFL NSW/ACT, Libby Sadler was full of praise for Hicks following her drafting.
“The selection of Jodie highlights the young talent that we have coming through the NSW/ACT pathway,” Sadler said.
“Jodie is a former NSW/ACT Captain and a Youth Girls Representative. Both on and off the field she stands out as a young leader and is a great advocate for the game.”
“We were all very excited to hear Jodie’s name called during the draft, understanding that this is a dream come true for her.”
Sadler firmly believes that the exhibition game between Melbourne Demons and the Western Bulldogs is a sign of great things to come for female footy.
“The exhibition game has become the pinnacle of female football and a key part of the AFL’s intention to have a National Women’s League.”
May has been a jam- packed month for female footy, with the youth girls putting on an impressive display of football for the youth girls championships in WA.
“The emerging talent pool of NSW/ACT is very exciting. These young players are hot on the heels of and buoyed by the senior talent of NSW/ACT leagues, striving to be the best footballers that they can.”
Ahead of this weekend’s game, Sadler encourages the young girls of AFL NSW/ACT to put their best foot forward in pursuing their footy goals.
“My advice would be for them to keep playing they game they love, striving to be the best they can and absorbing experience and knowledge from the senior football community and their coaches.”
