BIO

John Hicks started with the Norwood colts in 1950 and in 1952 won the best team man award for the senior colts. 

He played in the senior pre-season trials in 1953 and was tried in the ruck and at full back. He was selected in the reserves training squad and although he initially struggled to make the reserve side, by season’s end was a regular member playing mainly as a ruck rover resting in the back pocket.

In the 1954 trials he was again tried at full back and a reporter at the time referred to him as the ginger headed full back who played a good game.

Hicks again made the reserves training squad and playing as a ruck-rover was consistently in the best players in the early games. 

He won promotion to the league side for the match against Port Adelaide in early July. He was 19th man for his first two league games against Port and Glenelg. On each occasion only coming on briefly in the last term. He finally made the starting lineup against West Adelaide in May but the following week was back in the reserves .This set the pattern for his league career as he managed just 12 games over a three year period, culminating in the 1956 first semi-final, lost by Norwood to North Adelaide .

Hick's service to the club was quite outstanding. Playing 79 games for the reserves, he won their best backman award in 1954, the best team man award in 1955 and the best utility award in 1956 and 1957. In 1956 he was also awarded a league services rendered award.

B Ridge Oct 2021