HAWTHORN youngster Bradley Hill is excited to be the Round 6 Rising Star nominee, but says he wants to keep improving to cement his place in the best 22.
Hill was announced as the Round 6 nomination on Tuesday morning on the back of his 17 disposals and two goals in Hawthorn’s 11 point win over Adelaide on Saturday at AAMI Stadium.
The 19 year old has played in each of Hawthorn’s opening six matches, already bettering his tally of five games in his debut season last year.
He says he’s excited to be the Round 6 Rising Star, but his focus is on playing good football for the Hawks.
“It’s very exciting to get nominated, I found out yesterday when Clarko told me in front of the boys, I was pretty excited,” Hill told hawthornfc.com.au
“(My goal) wasn’t to win a rising star nomination, I just wanted to get into the team and play some consistent footy and play as many games as possible.
“It has been a good start to the season, but I just want to keep improving and hopefully I can play some good footy… keep my spot in the side and keep improving as a team as well as an individual.”
One of Hawthorn’s most exciting youngsters, Hill was recruited from West Perth with selection 33 in the 2011 National Draft.
He made his debut in his home state in Round 4 and quickly became a favourite amongst Hawthorn fans.
With the retirement of Chance Bateman at the end of last season, Hawthorn’s first ever indigenous premiership player and life member, Hill was the popular choice to inherit the fan favourite’s famous number 10 guernsey.
Hill was chosen by Bateman, a fellow West Australian and the end of last season to inherit the jumper, and opportunity the talented midfielder jumped at.
While he says it’s a privilege to inherit the jumper, he admits it’s something he doesn’t think about too much.
“Chance offered me the number and I thought it was a good opportunity to take it,” Hill said.
“He was a great player for this Club and hopefully I can do similar things to him.
“It’s a privilege having his number obviously, but I don’t really think about it too much.”
Bateman offered only a few words of wisdom when he handed Hill the jumper, such is the confidence he had in Hill’s talent and ability to make an impact at the elite level.
“All he said to me was ‘make sure you play well in this jumper and I’m sure you will’,” Hill revealed.
The Hawks speedster also admitted Hawthorn was one his favourite teams as a junior, home to two of his favourite players – Cyril Rioli and Lance Franklin.
Now, Hill finds himself sharing a locker room with his idols at a club that has had a positive impact on his football and his life.
“Hawthorn was probably my favourite Melbourne team before I came here because Cyril Rioli was probably my favourite player and obviously Buddy Franklin as well,” he said.
“The Club has been very good for me, it’s a good family club and all the boys are great here.
“Cyril is probably like I thought he would be and he’s a really close mate of mine now. It’s good having him around.
“We try and look for each other when we play, it’s great playing with him.”
Hill burst onto the AFL scene before even making it onto an AFL list with his results in the 2011 AFL Draft Combine shocking recruiters.
The West Australian teenager recorded the highest beep test result on record (reaching 16.1) and won the 3km time trial as well as impressing with his unique athletic ability and speed across 20m by finishing fifth and placing tenth in the 30m repeat sprint test.
When he arrived at Hawthorn though, Hill knew his endurance would be matches by some of his new teammates, with Isaac Smith the Club’s time trial champion.
But the confident youngster won’t concede defeat to Smith, eyeing a victory in the 2.2km Club time trial in the near future.
“I went alright at draft camp but obviously coming to an AFL club, there’s always going to be someone a bit better and that’s Isaac Smith here,” Hill said.
“He’s a very good runner but I think I’ve improved a lot more since the camp and hopefully I can catch him one day.”
