CONTINUING to develop the ability to play multiple positions has been a key focus for second-year Hawk Dallas Willsmore this season.
The 20-year-old has been a consistent contributor at VFL level for Box Hill Hawks in 2015 and has impressed the coaches with his ability to play a variety of roles.
Willsmore has been just one of four players to have played all 15 games at VFL senior level in 2015, and said he had been pretty happy with his year to date.
“I think I’ve had a more consistent year this year, playing numerous roles,” he said.
“I’ve played half-forward, on a wing and half-back and am getting my hands on the footy and working on my defensive actions.
“I’ve probably improved my versatility – playing that wing and half-back role, where I was playing mainly half-forward last year.”
The 191-centimetre utility was recruited by the Hawks with pick 17 in the 2014 Rookie Draft, and spent a year on the rookie list before being promoted to the senior list prior to this season.
He has put an emphasis on developing the defensive side of his game – “tackling and being hard at the contest” – this season.
“I need to work on my inside footy – my outside footy has been pretty good this year – but my inside footy and (winning) contested footy is something I’m continuing to work on,” Willsmore said.
“I’ve tried to (be consistent). I just need to keep working on my defensive actions and I’d like to get on the scoreboard a bit more often.”
Willsmore is “pretty happy” with where his football is at, and hopes if he keeps doing the right things at VFL level he can push for an AFL debut in the latter stages of 2015.
Outside of football, the up-and-coming Hawk is studying a diploma of business at the club, alongside teammates including Jarryd Roughead, James Sicily and Jonathan O’Rourke.
Willsmore enjoys the opportunity to head home to Underbool in north-west Victoria – but it’s tough to head home all the time when home is a 500-kilometre drive from Melbourne.
His junior football club is currently in merger talks with long-time rival Ouyen United – which is a 50-kilometre drive from Underbool – for when the five-team Mallee league ceases to operate at the end of this season.
“I’ve been back a couple of times this year, it’s always good to get home and see everywhere, see the family and the community,” he said.
RELATED
Hawks chasing back-to-back wins
Langford re-signs for four more years
