HAWTHORN forward Paul Puopolo is the latest Hawk to commit to the Club, signing a two-year deal that will see him remain a Hawk until the end of the 2014 season.

Standing at just 173cm, Puopolo is excited by what the future holds for the Hawks.

“I was happy to get the contract done and I’m looking forward to the future, it’s an exciting time for us,” he said.

Taking a unique path to AFL football, similar to Isaac Smith who also signed a new deal as part of the Seven in Seven campaign, Puopolo says he was focused on taking it one game at a time in his first year in the system.

“You still want to be playing the best footy you can, but just being a part of the team,” he said.

“I think I was just looking at each week as it came, and I was just happy to play every game (I could).

“Just fitting into the team was the exciting thing for myself.”

After missing the draft with a back injury, Puopolo said the introduction of expansion teams Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney opened the door for a spot on an AFL list.

That gave him the motivation to play harder and stronger.

“I thought that as I was getting older, but then the AFL brought out the two new teams and I ‘thought “they’re going to be looking for older blokes,’” he said.

“It spurred me on a little bit and drove me to train harder and play harder."

Puopolo reflected on his journey to the Hawks, which all began with a back injury that saw him miss months of football and ultimately miss a chance to become an AFL player.

“It’s the most important time as an 18-year-old, you want to make sure you’re playing good footy at that time (the draft),” he said.

“I had a setback with a back injury - I had a stress fracture in it and kept me out for three months, I couldn’t really do much.

“I put on a little bit of weight, and not the right weight in terms of muscle, I was a little bit chubby… I had to work that off.

“It was a little bit disappointing not to play my best footy then, but it’s paying off now.”

The 24-year old credits former Adelaide full back Nathan Bassett for his ability to make a name for himself in the AFL.

While playing for SANFL club Norwood, Bassett became a mentor for Puopolo, and gave him the belief he needed to make it at the top level.

“(He was) my main helper with that (breakout season), he drove me a little bit because of his AFL experience and he was fresh out of the system,” he said.

“He taught me all I needed in the backline and what I needed to do, he gave me great confidence in my ability.

“I backed myself in a bit more and it just paid dividends.”

Now Puopolo can play at both ends, this season making his name as a small forward whose forward pressure is vital in the Hawks’ ability to create turnovers.

“I’ve got the ability to play at both ends and that’s what the coaching staff want from me, but at this stage I’m playing more as a forward so I’ll probably try and learn a few things off (Cyril) Rioli,” he said.

“It’s been a good learning curve, playing a new role in the side.”

Kate Salemme is a member of Hawthorn Football Club’s Digital media team reporting exclusively for hawthornfc.com.au from the Ricoh Centre




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