Sport
11 September, 2023
Zac Cicchini becomes Maryborough’s latest junior champion with under 16 success
Maryborough has another junior best and fairest crowned in the Bendigo Junior Football League, with Zac Cicchini taking the coveted under 16 senior competition best and fairest. Just a week after Oliver Cassidy’s triumph in the under 14 division...
Maryborough has another junior best and fairest crowned in the Bendigo Junior Football League, with Zac Cicchini taking the coveted under 16 senior competition best and fairest.
Just a week after Oliver Cassidy’s triumph in the under 14 division two competition, Cicchini was able to savour the success in the top division of Bendigo junior football, scoring 26 votes to win by three votes.
While Cicchini’s exploits haven’t quite resulted in a grand final, with Maryborough losing their preliminary final by 39 points on Sunday to Golden Square, it’s been a celebration throughout the year for the young midfielder.
“It was nerve-wracking, but I was very happy to get the trophy. It’s so exciting,” he said.
“We started off a bit slowly, but we pushed through the grading games, had a few wins and made it to the top division. We played some good teams like Golden Square and Sandhurst, but most of the games we had, we were good enough to win.”
That came after being urged to try football at a higher division, having played eight years at Talbot, winning multiple best and fairest awards along the way.
“I played at Talbot for eight years, and I’ve won a few league and club best and fairests. A lot of people urged me to try the Bendigo league, and see how I go at that level,” Cicchini said.
That’s resulted in not only the league best and fairest, but also selection in the V-Line Cup division one squad for the Bendigo Pioneers in Shepparton in two weeks’ time, where Cicchini will be playing alongside fellow young starlet Logan Howell, while Campbell Wood and Archie Chadwick will be playing in the division two Pioneers team.
“Having Logan in the same team will be very helpful, to have a teammate that you know you can work well to experience it with. But I’m excited for the V-Line Cup, it’s an opportunity to get to that next level with the Pioneers,” he said.
Cicchini was very succinct in celebrating his teammates throughout the season, having made friendships for life in his first season with the Magpies.
“The guys have been fantastic, our team is really diverse with their strengths, every player is different and they are all fun to play with,” he said.
Cicchini says preparation is important on a weekly basis to ensure he is good to go for every game, and takes great care of what he does to ensure he has an opportunity to take his football to greater levels.
“I always make sure to have a good sleep, eat the right foods, and turn up to a game feeling fresh, making sure the body is good. I try to do some stretching and rehab every week,” he said.
Whether that takes him to the Coates Talent League in 2024 and beyond, or staying at Maryborough, Cicchini isn’t fussed at this stage.
“I hope I have a future in the Coates Talent League, but if not, I’m happy playing footy at Maryborough,” he said.