RIVERINA FOOTBALL LEAGUE
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RIVERINA Football League premier Narrandera has secured the services of exciting Canberra speedster Cody Kickett as it begins to up the ante on its title defence.
The Eagles yesterday unveiled Kickett as their first major signing for the off-season after working on the signature for several months.
Kickett will arrive at Narrandera after a full season with Tuggeranong in the North Eastern Australian Football League (NEAFL) where he played 13 first grade games with the Hawks.
The 20-year-old is the brother of Narrandera premiership player Jay Kickett and his arrival is sure to boost the chances of the decorated forward going around for another campaign.
Narrandera co-coach Jim Rice predicts Kickett will be an excitement machine.
"It's pretty exciting for us," Rice said yesterday.
"He's going to add that bit of pace on the fringes for us and he's obviously been playing at a lot higher level so that will hold him in good stead.
"He'll turn heads."
Kickett made his first grade debut as a 17-year-old where he joined his brother Jay in Tuggeranong's senior team.
He spent some time in and out of Tuggeranong's senior team before he knuckled down last season to cement his position in the Hawks' NEAFL team.
Narrandera pursued Kickett hard over the off- season and was thrilled yesterday to finally land his services.
Rice said he was a different player to his older brother Jay.
"They're a little bit different," Rice said.
"Jay is smart and knows when things are happening through his experience.
"Cody is a fair bit younger than him and that sort of knowledge is still to come but what he might be lacking in experience he makes up for with the exciting brand of footy he plays."
Kickett's signature is the first of three Narrandera hopes to secure in the coming weeks.
Rice said Kickett could play in a number of positions but he and co-coach Shaun Brooker will decide on a permanent spot by the start of the season.
"He could play in the midfield or on a wing, he also has the ability to be a rebounding player off half-back and would be just as exciting across half-forward," Rice said.
"He's a utility player but hopefully we'll try and put him in the one position and leave him there."
The arrival of Kickett is Narrandera's first recruit since the departure of Zac Williams, Tim Mathieson, Adam Sangston and Brett Powell.
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