Shepparton talent Adam De Cicco used one word to sum up his first foray in Goulburn Valley League.
Challenging.
Quite the surprise answer given the gun on-baller has been a standout for the Bears since he shifted across from Murray Football League outfit Cobram in the off-season.
The former Tiger has looked right at home in GV footy, even if it has been a tough task to handle for the speedster.
“I have found it pretty challenging to be honest,” De Cicco, 26, said.
“Last year I thought I should give it a crack. My partner Lili (Murphy) plays netball here and so I was often watching them (Bears) play and I think it was always a matter of when not if. I decided I may as well do it sooner rather than later.
“I think the biggest difference (between MFL and GVL) is the quality of players, it’s that next step above ... adjusting to the physicality, the pace, the smaller grounds, but I’m really enjoying my time here. I feel like every week is a challenge, which is good.”
When De Cicco crossed to Cobram in 2018, after starring for junior club Leitchville-Gunbower in the 2017 senior premiership, he made a name for himself as an elite winger.
His pace, speed and ability to break lines saw him become a valuable member of the Tigers’ roster ― which culminated in last year’s heartbreaking grand final loss.
His cross to Shepparton last summer was a tough call, but it was made easier by some familiar faces joining him on the trip south.
“The hardest part was leaving some of my close mates who play at Cobram,” De Cicco said of the decision to depart Scott Oval.
“It wasn’t great to leave on the back of a grand final loss, it was hard to leave, but it was easier knowing Lili was already here and the fact Izac (Artavilla), Tyron (Baden) and Lewis (McShane), all four of us going to the same club.
“I still follow their (Cobram) results closely. Hopefully they can finish the year off strongly.”
It seems rising to higher standards of football doesn’t faze De Cicco.
He has catapulted himself into the top-10 midfielders in the competition and is ranked elite for disposals (25.9), contested possessions (10.9), tackles (7.2) and clearances (4.8).
The skilful ball user is ranked first in the league for tackles, fourth for total disposals, seventh in total ground ball gets, ninth for contested possessions, 11th for inside 50s and 13th for clearances ― while he is ranked first at club level in each category.
It’s quite the impressive CV, considering this year’s crop of GVL on-ballers consist of ex-AFL talents Will Hayes, Joe Atley, Sam Reid and Nathan Hrovat.
De Cicco confessed his tackling numbers surprised himself this year.
“I’m one of the smaller midfielders getting around and I probably wasn’t really known for my tackling in the Murray league,” he said.
“I knew that I had to put in the effort and put in a good pre-season if I wanted to handle the rise in level. I worked hard on getting my fitness level high enough and that is slowly paying off.
“(Playing on Hayes, Atley, Reid) you have got to be on your game every time. I’ve enjoyed testing myself against those type of players and I can also learn from them and it’s good to watch how they go about it.”
De Cicco’s input this campaign has been a shining light for the rebuilding Bears and, like he did at Cobram, he’s become an integral member of the squad.
He is also enjoying life at Deakin Reserve and it’s why supporters of the Bears will see the smooth mover in maroon and gold in 2024.
“I had a discussion with the club the other week and I’m locked in for next year which is exciting,” he said.
“From a team perspective, we’ve shown that our best footy is good enough to match it against the teams above us. We’ve just paid the price for not playing four quarters.
“There’s plenty of positives there though; the average age is 21-22 and the future is looking really good.”