It’s been a breakout year in the brown and gold for 19-year-old Hawk Olivia Flanagan.
Tipped to be in the frame for selection at this year’s AFLW draft, Flanagan has kicked five goals from 12 games this season, and is set to play her first final at the level after the Hawks sewed up a top-four spot with last week’s 25-point win over the NT Thunder.
“Playing in finals and being successful this year would be amazing,” Flanagan said following the Hawks’ win.
“This team just continues to grow, and it's such a great environment to be a part of.”
The hard-at-it forward has impressed with her natural football smarts and ability to rotate through the midfield in 2018. Her best performance arguably came against Williamstown in Round 9, where she booted two impressive goals to go with her 11 touches.
Read: Hutchins lauds the VFLW program
Ever modest, the second-year Hawk has credited much of her good form to the influence of Senior Coach Paddy Hill and Assistant Coach Brett Alexander.
“All the coaching staff have been great,” Flanagan said.
“Brett being my forward line coach has been really good, he’s helped me learn all the new structures that I wasn’t super confident with in the past.
“Paddy’s been great as well, he’s a person that cares not just about your footy, but about the other aspects of your life as well."
A member of Box Hill’s VFLW side in 2017, Flanagan said the competition had taken a step up in 2018. Rebranded as Hawthorn at the end of last season, the Hawks themselves have also improved, rising to third on the ladder with eleven wins so far and still one game remaining before finals.
“It’s a lot different to last year,” Flanagan said.
“Learning the new structures this year has been difficult but I’m getting the hang of it now.
“And the competition this year’s a lot tougher than what it was last year.
Flanagan represented the Under 18s Eastern Ranges side in the TAC Cup in 2017, before missing out on selection at last year’s AFLW draft.
But her fortunes could be changing, with the youngster looking in prime form to take the next step after an excellent 2018 campaign.
