Jodie Hick plays 50th AFLW game

Jodie Hicks (centre) celebrated her 50th AFLW game at the Dreamtime match in Darwin. She is pictured with parents Max and Bronwyn.

Image: Ellie Hicks.

By Krista Schade

Jodie Hicks played her 50th AFLW game last Saturday night in the Richmond Tigers’ Dreamtime in Darwin clash against Essendon.

It was a frantic final few minutes of the first AFLW Dreamtime match, which saw both sides score 6.6 (42) to post a full-time draw.

27-year-old Hicks was a first-round pick at the 2017 AFLW Draft and has not missed a game in the past three seasons.

After playing 40 games for the Giants from 2018 to 2023 and finishing fourth in the club’s Season 7 best and fairest, the defender was acquired by the Tigers in the 2023 AFLW Trade Period.

She is described by the Tigers as “a skilful player, with high football IQ, poise, and composure with ball in hand”, and has played in every Richmond AFLW match this season.

In a report published by Richmond, Hicks described reaching the milestone as a journey with “ups and downs.”

“I was a dual athlete and struggled a bit there and fell out of love with the game. I never thought I’d make it to 50 (games),” she said.

“Early on, I was quite young and probably got brought into the system and didn't really realise mentally what it took. I think I struggled a bit too because I wasn't really making the cricket team and wasn't really playing in the AFL side regularly.

“I really learned how to be a team player and still be involved with the team without actually playing.

Hicks says the move to play for Richmond had paid off, and hasn’t placed a ceiling on what the group can achieve.

“I feel like the group they have now is in a premiership window, so I just thought I'd move down and try something else and thought I could add value to the team on the field,” Hicks said.

"The girls and the culture, it's pretty hard to find a group like that when there's 33 players on the list.

"(And) you get to play on Punt Road, like there's not more you can ask for."

Hicks said playing the Tigers’ Dreamtime in Darwin clash was a “massive occasion”.

“You don't want to play Indigenous round anywhere else other than Darwin, so it's going to be good,” she said.

Her family travelled to Darwin to be part of the occasion.

Prior to AFLW football, Hicks spent four years with the Sydney Sixers in the Women’s Big Bash League.

Image: Richmond Tigers