HAWTHORN has locked away exciting premiership wingman Bradley Hill until the end of 2017.

Hill, 19, wasn’t due to come out of contract until the end of 2015 after signing an extension in September last season, but after his outstanding start to the year, the Hawks have secured the future of one of their brightest young stars.

“It’s really exciting news that I get to stick around the Club for a while because I’m really enjoying my time here,” Hill told hawthornfc.com.au

“I feel privileged to play with Hawthorn for another few years.”

Since being drafted by the Hawks with pick 33 at the 2011 National Draft, the West Perth product has played 38 games and has an impressive 31 win and seven loss record, including a premiership.

While being part of a successful team is important, Hill says his desire to commit to the Hawks goes much further than that.

“I want to stay at Hawthorn because I really enjoy it here, winning is just a bonus,” he said.

“Obviously being part of a successful team makes it a lot easier to be happy in a team environment when you’re winning all the time.

“(But) I love my teammates, my coaches; they all make you feel welcome when you first arrive.

“I love playing footy for the Club.”

After playing just five games in his debut season in 2012, Hill was a vital member of Hawthorn’s premiership-winning side in 2013, where he played 24 games.

He won a nomination for the AFL’s Rising Star award, recognised as one of the game’s best young players, but it has been his impressive form and fast tracking developing in 2014 that has seen him become one of the game’s best young players.

Hill has played every game so far this season and averaged 23.2 disposals. - he has become an important members of the Hawthorn midfield, with his run and carry his biggest asset.

The wingman is ranked second at the club for uncontested possessions and inside 50s and ranked fourth for running bounces. He has also kicked five goals in the opening nine games.

The down-to-earth youngster says having one full season under his belt, plus finals experience is behind his impressive early-season form.

He says it has given him the confidence to take the game on.

“I guess it’s a sign you’re playing alright footy if they want to sign you up,” Hill said of his start to the year.

“Playing 24 games last year, I got a lot of footy under my belt in what was my first full season of footy.

“This year I’ve had an extra pre-season into me so I feel a lot fitter and now I’m even more confident than last year so I can take the game on a bit more.

“Now I’ve got the confidence to take on the game and I feel like I fit in at this level.

“The finals series was good for me but this year I now take more people on because I back myself more.”

Hill is studying a Certificate III in Support and Education at RMIT, where he will soon head out into schools and communities to work with young Indigenous kids and teach them the importance of a good education and living a healthy lifestyle.

He is one of a number of Hawthorn players undertaking study or outside business interests to allow some downtime from the full-on world that is the AFL.

Since beginning his studies, Hill says he has learned of the importance to keep his mind fresh and to switch on and off from footy when required.

He believes mastering that ability will help him play consistently at the high level we’ve seen so far this season.

“To keep it up I don’t really know how you do it, you just have to keep coming with the right mindset to play well each week,” he explained.

“You have to keep busy on your day off and outside of footy but also having the right mindset on game day and being ready to play. That’s a pretty big one.

“It’s good doing that kind of stuff to get away from the club and not think about footy, that way when you come back you can switch back onto it with a fresh outlook.”

Hill played in a premiership-winning team in just his 29^th game of AFL football and that has only fuelled his desire to achieve another flag with the Hawks.

He admits it was a shock, to win the game’s ultimate prize in just his second season in the system.

At 6 wins and three losses and sitting fourth of the ladder at present, Hill hopes that day will come again this September.

“When we won it last year it was a shock, it didn’t really feel real,” he explained.

“To win it in my second year – I didn’t even expect to play AFL footy in my first couple of seasons.

“I wanted to have a really big pre-season to get ready for 2014 and hopefully do the same this year so I can enjoy it a bit more because last year it was a shock - it felt like a dream.”