Cricket star and GWS recruit Jodie Hicks turned to Ellyse Perry for advice on cross-code dilemma

WHEN cricket star Jodie Hicks was deciding whether to nominate for the 2018 AFLW draft, she had the support of Aust­ralia’s most famous cross-code player and she didn’t look back.

Jodie Hicks will play with the Sydney Sixers and GWS Giants. Picture: Brett Costello

JODIE Hicks was in the right company when it came to deciding whether to nominate for the 2018 AFLW draft.

The Sydney Sixers cricketer, entering her third season with the club, has Aust­ralia’s most famous cross-code player as captain at the Women’s Big Bash League club, Ellyse Perry, who encouraged her to go for it.

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Hicks said Perry was “on board” with the idea and her rolling the dice in the draft paid off after she was the No.5 pick and GWS ­Giants’ first.

The new AFLW player said the sport has always been her passion and a strong season in her local competition inspired her to try her luck.

“I’ve always played footy when I was a young kid,” she said.

“Coming from a country town, I could only play until I was 14 then I had to look elsewhere for sports in Hay, so I started netball, played cricket, whatever I could.

“I still played rep footy every now and then and ­always like it.

Jodie Hicks shows off her cross-code skills at Drummoyne Oval. Picture: Brett Costello

“At cricket I always have a footy in my hand so I’ve always wanted to pursue it but I decided to nominate this year after a good season with the Belconnen Magpies and was fortunate enough to get picked up.”

Women’s cricket turning professional means Hicks won’t have to worry about holding down a job while she juggles the AFLW pre-season with the WBBL.

That leaves her to focus on balancing the two training and playing schedules, and maintaining the communication between the two clubs.

The AFLW draw will be released at the end of the month and she will deal with any crossover of the two sports then.

“I won’t say it’s going to be easy but looking at it at the moment we should be able to do it,” she said.

“I think I’ll do both as long as possible and try to inspire other people to do the same thing.”

Originally published as Cricket star and GWS recruit Jodie Hicks turned to Ellyse Perry for advice on cross-code dilemma