URGENT UPDATE: Jayden Hucker, a rising star from the Lavington Football Club, has confirmed he gained an impressive 13kg in just one year, now weighing 95kg as he prepares to make his mark in the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League.
Last year, Hucker stood at 201cm and was eager for improvement. He has committed to a rigorous diet and weight training routine aimed at enhancing his performance on the field. “When I spoke to Graham Hart and ‘Schneids’ around this time last year, they said, ‘we want you to go back to Holbrook and get in the gym to put on some size.’ That’s what I did,” Hucker revealed.
The young athlete’s transformation is remarkable and rare in the sport, where bulking up over the off-season is common, but gaining two stone within a year is exceptional. Hucker shared that a friend, Parker Fox, introduced him to new dietary habits, helping him add 6-7kg during the last off-season, followed by another 4kg during the season.
His daily diet consists of a protein smoothie for breakfast, oats and protein yogurt for a mid-morning snack, beef and rice for lunch, and either steak or schnitzel for dinner. Hucker stated, “I’ve been flat out eating and flat out in the gym,” emphasizing his commitment to reaching 100kg while maintaining agility and athleticism.
Adam Schneider, Lavington’s coach, expressed excitement about Hucker’s potential. “He’s still growing and his focus was to put on some more kilos so he could compete with those bigger guys in the O and M. I’m looking forward to what he can do,” Schneider said.
Originally from Holbrook, Hucker debuted at the senior level in 2023 and made the Hume interleague team in July, showcasing his durability with 61 games played over three seasons and 43 goals scored. Despite missing the Brookers’ drought-breaking premiership in 2022, Hucker remains determined to contribute to his team’s success.
“Obviously, it was a bit of a heartbreak to miss out, but I went back and tried to help us win another,” he reflected, acknowledging the challenges faced in recent matches against Osborne, which claimed its third successive flag last month.
Hucker’s resilience has paid off, as he noted after facing formidable competition from Dan Madden. “Putting on that weight paid off this year. I wasn’t getting pushed around as easily and was able to hold my ground more,” he concluded, emphasizing the importance of his physical transformation in enhancing his game.
As he continues to train and prepare, all eyes will be on Hucker to see how his hard work translates to performance in the upcoming season.
