Dylan Moore has had an exceptional year, from an illness-riddled preseason to a maiden All-Australian blazer, his first AFL final last weekend, and now, his 100th game this Friday night.
Moore was selected at Pick 67 in the 2017 national draft, and after a year spent playing with Box Hill where he won a VFL Premiership, he made his AFL debut in Round 3 of 2019 against North Melbourne at the MCG.
He managed to play seven games in his debut season and three in the 2020 season, the last game of that year saw Moore awarded with his first Brownlow vote for his 25 disposals and a goal performance against the Suns.
Moore was delisted at the end of that 2020 season but was retained by the Hawks as a rookie.
In 2021 Moore began to assert himself as a vital member of the Hawks line up, playing 20 games in 2021 averaging 1.4 goals and 15.4 disposals and in 2022 played all 22 games averaging 1.2 goals and 20.2 disposals.
2023 saw the 25-year-old appointed as co-vice captain, and again played all possible games that season and was named Most Courageous at the club’s awards night.
Moore has finished fourth, third and sixth in the past three Peter Crimmins Medals to further highlight his importance and internal regard at the Hawks.
This year Moore has again played every game to date, producing a career-best performance in the Round 13 win over Adelaide where he booted five goals and had 27 disposals.
Speaking with AFL.com.au last week Moore said he knew he had what it takes to succeed at AFL level and that was something he felt he needed to prove.
"I knew I was good enough. Even going pick 67, clubs were passing before I was taken and I thought I was better than players being drafted before me, no offence,” Moore said.
“I felt like what's wrong with me? What have I done wrong? I took that into my first couple of years and thought, maybe I am just pick 67.
"Going into that pre-season (2021) Craig McRae came to the club as a forward line coach and one of the first things he said to me was: Why are you good at footy? What are your weapons? Workrate, tough in the contest, footy IQ. He said let's work on them.
“That was a crucial point. I was focusing on the wrong things. Now I work 75 per cent on my strengths and just work on my weaknesses in the background.
"I connected so well with 'Fly' by being yourself and not worrying about what others were doing. He gave me a lot of belief in my fourth year. I started getting a game each week and playing a role for the side. He gave me great belief that that mattered.
“Then with Sam taking over, I've had more of a license to do more of what I want. Sam gave me more freedom to spread my wings and that has helped take me to another level."
Moore shared how much he’s enjoying his football this season, feeding off the excitement and character of the team.
“That's the trap of AFL football, the most tense part of the week is the weekend, performing under pressure. We know that. What we've tried to foster making it the most enjoyable two hours of the week,” he said.
“That's why we do the celebrations, the selfies after the game, we want to enjoy it. We want to not put too much pressure on the weekend, lets enjoy it, play for each other.
"We feel like that's our X-factor that's the driving force behind our resurgence, we've embraced it.”