HAWTHORN rookie Conor Glass will start his AFL career this week.

The Hawks signed Irishman Glass as an International Category B rookie at the end of the 2015 season.

Standing at 189 centimetres and boasting excellent skills on both sides of his body, Glass is a likely utility prospect for the Hawks.

The 18-year-old arrived back in Melbourne on Tuesday morning after completing his high school studies.

He said he could not wait to start life as a Hawk.

"It's good to be back," Glass told hawthornfc.com.au

"I'm here full time now, so it's obviously an exciting time for me.

"I'm looking forward to getting back into training and living the lifestyle of an AFL player."

Glass had made multiple visits to HawksHQ previously, most recently training with the club after the Christmas break.