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

[toomanysquibs]

he could be the first Junior NRL talent to go to the AFL.

I really hope he makes it, he's young enough if he's been a true 50/50 code stepper.

Going to be fun times watching it play out at Box Hill once he gets into the seniors there.

Will be a handful for a lot of guys athletically!

 

[Simon Crawshay]

That is some kind of resting heart rate, my guess is he becomes an elite endurance runner, and probably isn't far off the AFL average running wise already.

It's really noticeable that his best NFL traits are ones that translate to AFL.

That pace, power to fend off at speed, footwork, sure hands, reading of the high ball etc. all bode well for him.

What was the knock on him in the NRL? Was it just size and power? That's where those guys tend to elevate themselves above AFL players. Just an insane number of repeat collisions in that game, and more big guys who hit hard.

I played footy in the country with a guy who was an ex rugby league player from NSW (pretty decent one as well) who told me that was what stopped him making the step up, he just wasn’t big enough.

And this guy was not small, probably 180cm and 80kg well built, strong dude. Quick as well.

But as you say those NRL guys are beasts.

 

[cryptor]

I have footage of him running at Second rowers and while they try fend him off he’s pushed their arm down and pinned them full pace so good luck to Harley Reid or anyone else trying to fend him off when he’s in the seniors

I vividly remember Cyril grabbing Dusty's arm during an attempted fend off and bringing him to ground to win a HTB free kick. Can't wait to see Hilly do the same to a Reid/DeGoey/Petracca type.

 

[Slainte]

I vividly remember Cyril grabbing Dusty's arm during an attempted fend off and bringing him to ground to win a HTB free kick. Can't wait to see Hilly do the same to a Reid/DeGoey/Petracca type.

He can practice on Worpel.

 

[burger09]

This is some fantastic talent identification by our recruiting department.
Outside the box yet he has as good a chance as most kids to make it. (not saying he will but at least he has the physical attributes)
Fast, tackling machines are diamonds.

Did I mention he didn't cost any picks?

Bravo.

 

[fairdinks]

the advantage he has on a raw draftee is that he has already been in a professional development environment for at least 2 years. Strength and conditioning should be more advanced than other newbies.

 

[threesixpio]

Matt Hill’s uncle is a bit awesome. Cant wait to see Matt develop. Thanks for all the info hilly82

 

[threesixpio]

Also I’ll clear up the Indigenous questions, Matt is cousins with Brad, Bobby Hill and also all the other past Hill boys like Josh Hill and obviously Stephen Hill. We originally come from South West WA the land where our Noongar people originated. We also have family connections with other ex players like Buddy Franklin, Jeff Garlett, Derek Kickett and lots more..
We left Perth years ago to be in Katherine NT for family reasons

Ah heck that’s a good footy pedigree. Love it

 

[hilly82]

DM me the pic and I will post it here for you or try posting in a different thread. There is Hawks List management thread under Hawks board.

You may have to wait for pic to get loaded before you submit. Maybe it is a pic size issue, may be too big to load.

try posting a unrelated pic to see if you have any issue with permissions.

That is some kind of resting heart rate, my guess is he becomes an elite endurance runner, and probably isn't far off the AFL average running wise already.

It's really noticeable that his best NFL traits are ones that translate to AFL.

That pace, power to fend off at speed, footwork, sure hands, reading of the high ball etc. all bode well for him.

What was the knock on him in the NRL? Was it just size and power? That's where those guys tend to elevate themselves above AFL players. Just an insane number of repeat collisions in that game, and more big guys who hit hard.

What do mean the Knock on Him in the NRL?

 

[cs61]

Also I’ll clear up the Indigenous questions, Matt is cousins with Brad, Bobby Hill and also all the other past Hill boys like Josh Hill and obviously Stephen Hill. We originally come from South West WA the land where our Noongar people originated. We also have family connections with other ex players like Buddy Franklin, Jeff Garlett, Derek Kickett and lots more..
We left Perth years ago to be in Katherine NT for family reasons

Was already excited with this signing, but to hear his connection with Brad, etc is absolutely brilliant.

You'd think having rugby league training and experience is only going to help him and be a competitive advantage, as we've seen with Nash that tackling muscle memory doesn't disappear, and he lays those hits at a different intensity. A lightning quick, skilful outside player that can tackle? Exciting prospect, and another example our recruiting team really valuing every opportunity to improve our list (pre season, mid season drafts, etc).

 

[eldorado]

What do mean the Knock on Him in the NRL?

Just what you answered earlier...what were seen as the barriers to him continuing in an NRL career...

 

[hilly82]

Just what you answered earlier...what were seen as the barriers to him continuing in an NRL career...

Oh yeah.. Hawks came at him hard and Storm couldn’t match that intensity that Hawks brought to convince him to cross codes.

 

[hilly82]

Just what you answered earlier...what were seen as the barriers to him continuing in an NRL career...

Bellamy and all the development staff loved him and were sad he left but the kid had it in his heart to go once Hawks put some months into him

 

[Rowie6]

Natural midfielder as a kid, I see him start off the flanks either back or forward half and doing lots of 2 ways runs to chase down tackle pressure and explode away from congestion to attack.. He’ll end up being a wingman when his tanks good for it.
Everything you mentioned is accurate.
I have footage of him running at Second rowers and while they try fend him off he’s pushed their arm down and pinned them full pace so good luck to Harley Reid or anyone else trying to fend him off when he’s in the seniors

Hilly just to let you know if you were not a Hawks supporter previously?
You have described your nephew as the perfect midfielder we are screaming out for at Hawthorn?
In my opinion?



On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Ned Ryerson]

You hit the nail on the head, he walks around 82kgs and couldn’t get to the required 90+kgs that the seniors requested.
He loved the club but made a move also because it limited his career growth at Storm with the weight issue..
He played Footy as a kid right up to 15yrs old and was selected for State QLD 16s but refused to go on because Broncos took him as a Development Player

Crazy how the game has changed so rapidly - Brett Hodgson was one of the best fullbacks of his era but had the build of a halfback of his day. Preston Campbell made Hodgson look big but was a brilliant fullback. Matt probably wouldn’t have had an issue making the grade if it was 2004 but 20 years on it’s a different beast. Rugby league’s loss is hopefully very much Hawthorn’s gain!

 

[Strapping Young Lad]

Hilly just to let you know if you were not a Hawks supporter previously?
You have described your nephew as the perfect midfielder we are screaming out for at Hawthorn?
In my opinion?



On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

Great post?

 

[TylerDurden]

Why Maher is excited about Hawthorn's Cat B rookie signing of cross-code speedster

He has crossed from rugby league.

www.sen.com.au

 

[Ned Ryerson]

Also I’ll clear up the Indigenous questions, Matt is cousins with Brad, Bobby Hill and also all the other past Hill boys like Josh Hill and obviously Stephen Hill. We originally come from South West WA the land where our Noongar people originated. We also have family connections with other ex players like Buddy Franklin, Jeff Garlett, Derek Kickett and lots more..
We left Perth years ago to be in Katherine NT for family reasons

Hilly feel free not to touch this one if it’s a sensitive issue - but mind if I ask - given the highly publicised issues that are going through the courts was there an evident culture in the club that is there now that a young Indigenous kid and his family have no concerns coming to the club? Just curious if it was addressed during the recruitment talks.

 

[Howe Amazing]

Matt will obviously fit in well with Sam’s game plan just add to our speed and excitement, if he starts at Box Hill I will be attending to watch him can’t wait

 

[Simon Crawshay]

I personally think that his best shot at making it will be as a hard hitting, lightning quick forward (at least initially).

We have some very good small forwards now but I feel like we are still missing a really quick small forward that can tackle hard and apply elite defensive pressure (the Wiz is good at applying pressure but he doesn’t have Matt’s size).

Will be very interesting to see how the club uses him at Box Hill, that will give a good indication of what position they see him playing in the seniors.

 

[eldorado]

Great post?

Wait...what?

 

[toomanysquibs]

What do mean the Knock on Him in the NRL?

Did he switch across because his frame is better suited to AFL, and it was going to hinder him in League?

 

[Noel Gallagher]

I was really chuffed when we brought over Conor Nash

11

Conor Nash

Age

26

Ht

198cm

Wt

94kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

8.7

2star

K

3.9

2star

HB

4.8

3star

M

2.0

2star

T

3.1

5star

CL

0.3

2star

No current season stats available

D

8.4

3star

K

4.2

2star

HB

4.2

4star

M

2.4

3star

T

4.0

5star

CL

0.2

2star

due to his elite background in Gaelic Football and Rugby League. Watched him closely live in 2 VFL games in his first season and was convinced that he would make it at AFL level. Going over the recruitment of Hill with his dual AFL/Rugby league background have a very similar gut feel as I did with Nash. This kid is special and IMO a brilliant bit of recruitment by the Hawks

I really liked what I saw with Josh Bennetts and was pretty gutted when we delisted him. Reality is we had to in order to rookie Hill. As tough as it was, think we made the right decision

 

[Rowie6]

Great post?

Thanks??


On iPhone using BigFooty.com mobile app

 

[Turly]

Also I’ll clear up the Indigenous questions, Matt is cousins with Brad, Bobby Hill and also all the other past Hill boys like Josh Hill and obviously Stephen Hill. We originally come from South West WA the land where our Noongar people originated. We also have family connections with other ex players like Buddy Franklin, Jeff Garlett, Derek Kickett and lots more..
We left Perth years ago to be in Katherine NT for family reasons

Please stick around

Truly appreciate you coming in here and providing knowledge around this young man and your family heritage. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

I cannot wait to see him out on the track. Just from the few clips he seems to be tremendous young man and very level headed. Your posts reaffirm this and then some.

Not to mention the obvious talent and potential upside. Very exciting!

Again, thank you.