Welcome Welcome to Hawthorn: Matt Hill! CatB rookie, ex-Storm

[Brant]

Hope he handballs the ball and doesn't throw it rugby style though!!

Trade to Footscray?

 

[Clarkos_Soldier]

Hope he handballs the ball and doesn't throw it rugby style though!!

I don't know. Throwing has been working for Fooscray for many years.

 

[Xtreme]

I don't know. Throwing has been working for Fooscray for many years.

Was tongue in cheek but at least there have been footscray references so in that respect mission accomplished

All kidding aside, Hawthorn hunted him for a reason, hopefully he brings an added x-factor to the side.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

I am lead to believe that Matt Hill wasn’t a complete unknown to Hawthorn as he had an affiliation with the Big River Hawks in Katherine, where his brother also played and we kept an eye on him.

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

 

[Beandip]

Kid has elite wheels, and evasiveness... liking what I'm seeing

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Eyes only for the footy - love it.

 

[kazzooka]

Fast, tough and got the fend off and breust style rugby side step.

How much football has he played? is he going to be like other rugby converts that took a long time or has a played a lot of junior footy?

 

[kazzooka]

Fast, tough and got the fend off and breust style rugby side step.

How much football has he played? is he going to be like other rugby converts that took a long time or has a played a lot of junior footy?

Okay a bit of research and can answer my own question.

Hill played Australian football from 10-15 and was good enough to be asked to join the gold coast academy. Brisbane broncos then convinced him to join their academy at 16 and he then switched to Melbourne storm. He's played rugby since he was 4 years old.

So my guess is that phyisically he should be at a pretty high level, may not have the AFL endurance though, but thankfully still young so doesn't have to drop a heap of bulk like Karmichael hunt or israel falou did.

 

[toomanysquibs]

You’ll get a good understanding about him from this clip.

302K views · 5.5K reactions | MATT HILL | He's the 16-year-old kid from Katherine leaving a lasting impression not only on his opponents but one of the NRL's biggest clubs. In Brisbane for the... | By 9 News Darwin | Facebook

He's the 16-year-old kid from Katherine leaving a lasting impression not only on his opponents but one of the NRL's biggest clubs. In Brisbane for the...

www.facebook.com

Speed, hands, vision, Luke Breust level sidestep (just with more pace). Damn.

 

[hilly82]

Matt is 187cm. He’s my nephew, he is fast (runs top speed at 9.7m/sec) jumps high (did year11 high jump at 193cm) extremely fit and dedicated and committed with a great attitude to learn and respect the coaching staff in his career… biggest part now will be for him to learn how to play his role at Hawks and soak in the structural parts of his game.
Will be a defensive wingman or attacking wingman… intercepts as a Full Back in rugby and is explosive so can be attacking naturally too.
Once he learns to play he will be an exciting player to watch

 

[TheFourPillars]

Matt is 187cm. He’s my nephew, he is fast (runs top speed at 9.7m/sec) jumps high (did year11 high jump at 193cm) extremely fit and dedicated and committed with a great attitude to learn and respect the coaching staff in his career… biggest part now will be for him to learn how to play his role at Hawks and soak in the structural parts of his game.
Will be a defensive wingman or attacking wingman… intercepts as a Full Back in rugby and is explosive so can be attacking naturally too.
Once he learns to play he will be an exciting player to watch

Are you telling me he runs a 100m in 10.3s? get out of town

Edit: Grand final sprint here we come

 

[number23]

Okay a bit of research and can answer my own question.

Hill played Australian football from 10-15 and was good enough to be asked to join the gold coast academy. Brisbane broncos then convinced him to join their academy at 16 and he then switched to Melbourne storm. He's played rugby since he was 4 years old.

So my guess is that phyisically he should be at a pretty high level, may not have the AFL endurance though, but thankfully still young so doesn't have to drop a heap of bulk like Karmichael hunt or israel falou did.

As someone said previously, he's built like an AFL player, not an NRL one. More wiry than a stocky big thighed rugby player.

 

[hilly82]

Matt is 187cm. He’s my nephew, he is fast (runs top speed at 9.7m/sec) jumps high (did year11 high jump at 193cm) extremely fit and dedicated and committed with a great attitude to learn and respect the coaching staff in his career… biggest part now will be for him to learn how to play his role at Hawks and soak in the structural parts of his game.
Will be a defensive wingman or attacking wingman… intercepts as a Full Back in rugby and is explosive so can be attacking naturally too.
Once he learns to play he will be an exciting player to watch

Also I forgot to answer a few questions on how is his Footy Level, he played in a premiership with an A Grade QLD side Yeppoon Swans and in his best games as a 15yr old he would gather 30+ touches and boot 4 or 5 goals being the most he’s kicked from the wings….
Yes QLD bush footy isn’t much to go off but he was raised with a Sherrin and a Burley in his hands his whole childhood..
Needs to learn lots to be at the Highest levels but we know he can do that over the next year or 2

 

[hilly82]

Are you telling me he runs a 100m in 10.3s? get out of town

Edit: Grand final sprint here we come

That’s his TOP speed being clocked so it won’t be that speed for 10 seconds.. He is a High 10s 100m runner though and yes would be doing the 100m GF dash

 

[TheFourPillars]

That’s his TOP speed being clocked so it won’t be that speed for 10 seconds.. He is a High 10s 100m runner though and yes would be doing the 100m GF dash

yeah stupid of me that still pretty bloody good

 

[TheFourPillars]

Also I forgot to answer a few questions on how is his Footy Level, he played in a premiership with an A Grade QLD side Yeppoon Swans and in his best games as a 15yr old he would gather 30+ touches and boot 4 or 5 goals being the most he’s kicked from the wings….
Yes QLD bush footy isn’t much to go off but he was raised with a Sherrin and a Burley in his hands his whole childhood..
Needs to learn lots to be at the Highest levels but we know he can do that over the next year or 2

I look forward to seeing him at preseason training. What is his endurance like? I am sure Burge has got him on his own program. A fascinating watch

 

[hilly82]

I look forward to seeing him at preseason training. What is his endurance like? I am sure Burge has got him on his own program. A fascinating watch

We’ve been getting him to run his 3km and 2km runs..
He is a natural runner.
I won’t share too much but I’ll just point out that his resting heart rate is 40BPM and he has a lot of cardio in his tank.
Will obviously need to be an endurance runner playing a different sport but he will do his Preseason with extreme diligence like he has the past 2 Storm Seniors preseasons which are very testing to any player.
He’ll adapt in time to be a good runner in the AFL.

 

[SSSSSS]

I've always thought Jars would make a good NRL Fullback. Tough as nails, quick, powerful and agile. Great under a high ball as well.

Get Hill to shadow him all year.

 

[TheFourPillars]

We’ve been getting him to run his 3km and 2km runs..
He is a natural runner.
I won’t share too much but I’ll just point out that his resting heart rate is 40BPM and he has a lot of cardio in his tank.
Will obviously need to be an endurance runner playing a different sport but he will do his Preseason with extreme diligence like he has the past 2 Storm Seniors preseasons which are very testing to any player.
He’ll adapt in time to be a good runner in the AFL.

Thanks so much for sharing as much as you have. He is an exciting prospect I am sure the hawthorn fan base will be all over him wanting to get a look at him play.

 

[Ned Ryerson]

So my guess is that phyisically he should be at a pretty high level, may not have the AFL endurance though, but thankfully still young so doesn't have to drop a heap of bulk like Karmichael hunt or israel falou did.

Fullbacks in the NRL will run about 8km over an 80 minute game and will always be in motion when there's not a stoppage. Will probably need to develop his tank a little but I don't think his endurance will be that much of an issue.

 

[killerspud]

Imagine if this one comes off - speed flair goal sense and elusiveness that is a feature of indigenous footballers with the hardness, physicality and tackle prowess of rugby - These picks are always high risk to reward but the reward might be really high on this one

 

[Rowie6]

Matt is 187cm. He’s my nephew, he is fast (runs top speed at 9.7m/sec) jumps high (did year11 high jump at 193cm) extremely fit and dedicated and committed with a great attitude to learn and respect the coaching staff in his career… biggest part now will be for him to learn how to play his role at Hawks and soak in the structural parts of his game.
Will be a defensive wingman or attacking wingman… intercepts as a Full Back in rugby and is explosive so can be attacking naturally too.
Once he learns to play he will be an exciting player to watch

Good Luck!
I hope Matt gets a good run at it !
Thanks for sharing this information about Matt!



On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Fleabane]

Matt is 187cm. He’s my nephew, he is fast (runs top speed at 9.7m/sec) jumps high (did year11 high jump at 193cm) extremely fit and dedicated and committed with a great attitude to learn and respect the coaching staff in his career… biggest part now will be for him to learn how to play his role at Hawks and soak in the structural parts of his game.
Will be a defensive wingman or attacking wingman… intercepts as a Full Back in rugby and is explosive so can be attacking naturally too.
Once he learns to play he will be an exciting player to watch

Just wanted to thank you for your input. Much appreciated! Really looking forward to seeing Matt play.

 

[Fleabane]

Here's a news item from Melbourne Storm.

Matt Hill granted release

Melbourne Storm has released Jersey Flegg squad member Matt Hill from his contract to allow him to take up an opportunity with AFL club Hawthorn.

www.melbournestorm.com.au