The Cats No. 22 is celebrating a decade in the club’s colours, having first donned the navy blue and white guernsey back in 2016, becoming part of the furniture down at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve following his move from Congupna.
A mainstay in the senior set-up’s back-line, he led his teammates into battle once more against Kyabram in round nine of the Goulburn Valley League campaign, forming part of a resounding 15-point victory.
Consistency proved key over the four quarters against the Bombers, with Keelin Betson, Coby James, Liam Betson, Reeve Evans and Mackenzie Calleja among the top performers in a gritty all-round showing.
That win was the Cats’ second on the bounce, following on from 23-point triumph over Seymour in their previous outing in round eight.
In a post-game locker room address to his troops, coach Lamont earmarked Hicks for praise as he expressed his gratitude towards his captain for his efforts both on and off the field.
“A milestone game, it doesn’t happen that often at this level of footy, it’s a special day,” he said, in a rousing speech, amid rapturous cheers from the skipper’s teammates.
“So congratulations, I’m rapt for you and I’m rapt for your family because I know how entrenched you and your family is in this footy club.
“That’s another thing that makes me feel proud, I suppose, as you’re all home-grown, blokes have come through our junior footy club and that is just enormous.
“That’s what people want to see, that’s what junior coaches want to see and wins like that are just a huge tonic for everyone.”
“150 games at the one club in local footy it's pretty rare so that is great celebration around that,” Lamont said, speaking to the News afterwards.
With Hicks leading the way as his eyes and ears on the field, Lamont was enthusiastic about the trip to face Rochester next time out.
“Our recent record at Rochester hasn't been good at their place,” the Cats coach said.
“The older guys really enjoyed enjoyed that winning feeling off the back of the effort of the young blokes (against Kyabram) - we love that feeling so it’s about doing that again.
“We beat (Rochester) at our place the last few times but at their place hasn't been a happy hunting ground for us so it’ll just be more of that challenge and the same sort of theme as the Kyabram game.“
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