Bacchus Marsh recruit former Vic Metro forward to bolster attack

A friendship with captain Jake Owen has helped Bacchus Marsh land a former Vic Metro representative key forward for 2022.

Rex Hickman during his time at Melton Centrals. Picture: Angie Basdekis

Bacchus Marsh has added another weapon to its already potent forward line.

The Cobras secured key forward Rex Hickman from Central Murray outfit Mallee Eagles for 2022, adding him to an attack that already including skipper Jake Owen and Aaron Willetts.

Hickman played just five games this season but was a key player in the Eagles charge to the grand final in 2019, kicking 28 goals in 20 matches, including two in the grand final loss to Woorinen.

The forward is no stranger to the Ballarat Football League having previous played for Melton South and Ballarat.

He represented Vic Metro in 2018 while playing for Caroline Springs in the WRFL and spent time with Broadford and Melton Centrals in the Riddell District.

After spending time with Bacchus Marsh last pre-season, Cobras coach Tom German was looking forward to having Hickman officially on board.

“He’s a really good fella, Rex,” German said.

“He trained with us last year during lockdown because he works with our captain Jake Owen.

“He had a couple of sessions with us so he was already familiar with the club and we’ve been working on him.

“You want good people around the club and I think he’ll fit in really well around the club.”

Owen finished third in the BFL goalkicking this season with 28 majors while Willetts booted 18 in just six appearances.

German said Hickman would work in with his twin towers or even be used down back if needed.

“Having Aaron Willetts and Jake (Owen), it will certainly complement those guys,” he said.

“Aaron had a bad calf this year after Round 5 but I think he was leading the goalkicking at that stage with Jake, so it gives us a lot of flexibility.

“It was, he’s also a mobile tall, he’s not a one-trick pony.

Bacchus Marsh coach Tom German. Picture: Hamish Blair

“He’ll be able to swing forward and back, depending on where we need him, and he’s got a good track record on field.”

It was a disappointing end to the season for Bacchus Marsh.

The Cobras were sitting inside the top five until a Round 10 loss to Sunbury saw them tumble to sixth and the home-and-away season called off due to Melbourne’s COVID lockdown.

It meant the Cobras would have missed the finals had they gone ahead by less than 3 per cent.

German admitted it was a frustrating end to the campaign but believed there was plenty of positives to take into 2022.

“It leaves us with a bit of unfinished business,” he said.

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“We were sitting third or fourth for most of the season, which was the most disappointing part.

“We felt we had a pretty good year irrespective of where we finished on the ladder.

“If you look at points we finished equal fourth … it wasn’t a waste of a year we had a lot of improvement from guys. We’ll use it as a platform to build off.

“It was a tough year, our senior side is split – including myself – between regional and metro and when you’re having those lockdowns it affects your continuity.”