Congupna’s young president Jack Hicks is on the cusp of seeing The Road’s first senior flag during his lifetime

The Road knocked over Benalla All Blacks 15.12 (102) to 15.7 (97) in a grand final for the ages, well before a vast portion of Congupna’s current list were born.

Jack Hicks certainly wasn’t.

While he’s not technically part of the senior playing group — Hicks runs around in the reserves — The Road’s 29-year-old president isn’t old enough to have experienced or remember Congupna winning a flag.

That could all change on Saturday.

Ben Bingham’s side is a hot favourite heading into the decider, with only one game dropped in 2024, coincidentally against the looming grand final foe, Finley.

While he won’t feature on the park, Hicks issued a call for mental strength, vocal support and all-round fortitude from Congupna’s main men, in what could become the club’s eighth senior premiership deliverance.

“Whether we win this game on the weekend or not, everyone will have the chance to be a leader on the ground that day and in the community during the celebrations,” he said.

“I emphasise humble wins and future thinking, maintaining a healthy ego and belief in our group.”

Future thinking is what landed Hicks at The Road’s helm in the first place.

A local through and through, it wasn’t until Hicks began volunteering at various sporting clubs in Melbourne while at university that his penchant for mucking in truly sparked, in tandem with a yearning for one of his old haunts.

“I tried any club that would take me at the time, and they all lacked that community country feel,” he said.

“When I returned to Shepparton after completing my time in Melbourne, I remembered the club with the best country feel.

“Standing in the place where Thursday night dinners are held, I recall fond memories of having a second family and a dinner to come to when my parents were busy.”

Soul food and footy roped Hicks back to Congupna initially.

Next came social committee involvement followed by a seat on the club committee.

And when David ‘Digger’ Gee and Mick Dwyer suggested he throw an arm up for presidency once Geoff Jacobson announced his departure from the role, Hicks thought “why not?”.

Four years on from being voted in as The Road’s head figure, the tenacious leader admitted he had learned skills that simply could not be bought through his service.

“It has progressively become something I’ve loved, embracing the challenge of leadership at a young age of 29,” Hicks said.

“I believe everyone should try volunteering and taking on some form of leadership in the community because it teaches you a lot about yourself and how to make an impact.

“I know what it gave me as a kid to have that impact. Regarding our junior development, all our junior teams are now fielded on the ground, which was one of my major goals.

“The other major goal was to get the seniors to a premiership flag, which has been 31 years in the making.

“It’s about time, and this is a fantastic opportunity. The reserves got the glory last year, and I know that this club is poised to attain that senior flag.”

Last year, Congupna’s reserves triumphed in the grand final.

On Saturday, so could the seniors.

And in the near future, Hicks has designs for The Road’s netball sides to touch the same dizzying heights as their oval-ball counterparts.

“We’re doing everything in the off-season to ensure the netball girls achieve success because they look over to the football ground and want the same,” he said.

“We’re getting the right leaders in place for netball, and I’m confident it will be replicated.

“The model doesn’t change much — it’s about belief, having the right system in place and the girls taking it from there.”