With the 2014 season now complete, hawthornfc.com.au will review the season of those who played a senior game for the Hawks in 2014 with the help of GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan.
 

After a breakout year in 2013, Bradley Hill took his game again to another level this year to become one of Hawthorn’s most important players.

It’s hard to believe 2014 was just Hill’s third AFL season and second full year, after managing just five games in 2011.

Notching his 50^th career game in the Preliminary Final, Hill is now a veteran of 51 senior games and six finals, experiences that have helped fast track his development.

He started the year in exceptional form, picking up from where he left off after last year’s premiership by averaging 24.7 disposals, 5.0 marks, 4.1 inside 50s, 2.2 tackles and almost a goal a game in the opening seven rounds.

The dynamic wingman started the year on fire with 26 disposals against the Lions in Round 1 and 22 against the Bombers in Round 2 before putting in his first 30-disposal game against Fremantle in the Grand Final re-match.

Outstanding in that game, Hill added nine marks, five inside 50s and a goal to that explosive performance, one of his best for the season.

Such was his impressive form that Hill led the Hawks for inside 50s for most of the season and, with an improvement in his ball use thanks to some hard work over the pre-season became a lethal weapon for the Hawks going forward.

By Round 14, the West Australian was rated so highly by opposition teams that he was tagged by Collingwood’s Brent Macaffer in the win over the Pies at the MCG.

With his elite running capacity, Hill impressed with his determination and skills to at times break the tight tag to still be damaging with 14 disposals, six inside 50s and a goal.

Quieter during the middle part of the season, Hill exploded back onto the scene during the finals series and underlined his reputation as a big game player.

He averaged 24 disposals, 5.6 marks, 4.6 inside 50s and 3.3 tackles during the finals series and provided valuable spark and inspiration through the midfielder with his willingness to take the game on and set up opportunities for his teammates.

Hill was outstanding against the Cats in particular in the Qualifying Final with a series-high 27 disposals, five rebounds 50s, five inside 50s and three tackles.

But that was outdone by standing up again on the game’s biggest stage, with 23 disposals, four inside 50s, a goal and a goal assist on Grand Final day.

He also had seven running bounces against the Swans – the most he recorded all year.

All in all it was an outstanding year from the 21 year old who played 22 of a possible 25 games, while averaging 20.4 disposals (up from 16.1 in 2013) per game and ranked second for inside 50s (3.9 average) for the season.

What GM – Football Operations Chris Fagan said: “'Hilly’ smiled his way through another great AFL season and was really influential and important for us with his outside run.

“He just lifts the whole team when he gets the ball and runs with it, and I reckon he lifts the whole crowd too and that makes a real difference.

“He hit the scoreboard and had a number of games where he got more than 20 possessions.

“He really stepped up from last year, which is great because sometimes when players are young and they win a premiership early in their careers, they tend to get carried away with that. But Hilly didn’t do that, he kept trying to improve to make his game better. He had a super year.”
 

Bradley Hill in the news in 2014
- Milestone comes quickly for Hill
- Hill on the big stage

Videos featuring Bradley Hill in 2014
- Hill speaks after the premiership
- #everymoment: Hill

An iconic image from the Grand Final win: Bradley Hill jumps on teammate and good friend Cyril Rioli after kicking a goal against the Swans.