For reasons both of his own making and beyond his control, Bradley Hill has made news in 2016 for mistakes made away from his football club, and the dot-joining speculation that follows a player coming out of contract who has strong ties to a faraway home. In such a climate it can be easy to overlook his deep connection to the home he’s made at Hawthorn.

Around an Aboriginal flag tattooed on his upper right arm and a blooming rose below it, alongside birds, a wolf, and across his chest to an indigenous motif on his left forearm, the 23-year-old has etched for eternity reminders of those he holds dear. “Just people walking that path with me who are really close,” Hill says.

There’s ‘CR’ for Cyril Rioli, a veritable big brother. “I can talk to him about anything … I just love being out there playing footy with him.”

‘SB’ for Shaun Burgoyne, known as “Big Dad” or “Uncle” to his reverential junior teammates. “Shauny’s the one you go to for advice. You see the way he plays footy, you look up to him. Especially in the big games when we need someone to step up, we’ve got Shaun Burgoyne.”

Second-year Hawk Jermaine Miller-Lewis’s initials are there too, a fellow Noongar from the remarkable West Australian people who have produced a third of the Aboriginal footballers currently playing in the AFL. “I’m very proud to be a Noongar,” Hill says, adding that simply being indigenous to this country is something he holds dear.

Mates and family are represented, and another special teammate. On his left forearm is ‘JR’, high on his right a simple figure ‘2’. Jarryd Roughead means as much to Hill as anyone.

“We pretty much say Roughy’s one of the brothers. He’s been close to all us boys. We always muck around and say he’s the white Aboriginal boy at the club. He means a lot to me and he’s helped me a lot. When I need to talk to someone I talk to either him, Shauny or Cyril.”

His awe for leaders who have piloted his glittering football journey is readily expressed. He calls captain Luke Hodge “ruthless”, tempering the edge by adding that he’s “an awesome guy” who isn’t tough all the time, just when he needs to be. Ditto Sam Mitchell, “probably the most competitive person at the club” who goes a million miles an hour whatever he’s doing. “I’ve learned a lot off him.”

He reckons coach Alastair Clarkson has made not just the club that chose him, but Hill himself a success. “He’s helped me a lot along the way. (He) and the leaders have helped me get to where I am at the moment. I couldn’t thank him enough.”

In late September 2013 he stood with teammates watching Box Hill play a VFL preliminary final, Hawthorn having already won through to a premiership play-off against Fremantle. Talk turned to when brothers might last have been on opposing sides in a grand final; Hill thought it must only have been a few years, was staggered to find he and Docker Stephen would be the first in more than a century. “Even that feels like a while ago now.”

He thinks of that first of a hat-trick of flags, of last year’s preliminary triumph over Fremantle, cheekily acknowledges of his older sibling that “I broke his heart a couple of times”.

His best summer preparation yet was derailed by a wrist broken on the eve of the season and Hill admits his output in 2016 has been up and down. Off-field challenges, notably a nightclub altercation in January that ended up in court, were distractions he and his club didn’t need. “But all that’s gone. I’m more comfortable with all that gone, I’ve got my confidence back.”

A mid-year conversation hinted at a stint in the VFL, but Billy Hartung made way instead. Hill knows he was fortunate, and responded with a more consistent output as a familiar and cherished time of year approached. He loves the vibe around the club come finals, likes to arrive early each day and drink it all in.

“I’ve been very lucky to come into such a successful team. I’ve had good leaders around me to help me out. I’ve developed a lot as a footy player and as a person ... when I first got drafted, probably the big thing that got me drafted was my draft camp.

“I’ve matured a lot over the years. It’s probably been good coming over to Melbourne from back home, being able to do everything on my own.”

Hill knows the rarefied air he’s been blessed to breathe. “Definitely I’m aware of what I’m part of. I’ve thought, I’ve grown up in WA and there’s two teams over there obviously. And there’s been three premierships over the whole time West Coast and Fremantle have been around. And I’ve been lucky enough to do that (many) in my four or five years. It’s been a privilege.”