“IT’S SO exciting. Every week, I’m going ‘I get to play footy again this week!’.

Just as much as Mimi Hill is enjoying being back in the Navy Blue, we’re enjoying watching her. 

And her last month since returning may just have her featuring in a certain post-season award. 

01:35

AFLW R9 | "I love being back with the 'Baggers": Hill on win

Mimi Hill spoke to Fox Footy following the Round 9 win over Gold Coast.

It was in Hill’s first game in nearly a year following an ACL injury where she received a NAB AFLW Rising Star nomination. 

While missing the opening month of the season may be held against her when voting comes around, the stats sum up the incredible impact the 19-year-old has had on the Game Changers in her five games this season. 

With one round remaining in the home-and-away season, there are 18 NAB AFLW Rising Star nominees as things stand. 

Among those 18, Hill ranks No.1 for disposals, kicks, handballs, metres gained and uncontested possessions. Additionally, she ranks second for contested possessions, intercept possessions, inside 50s and rebound 50s, while placing third for clearances and marks.

Averaging 22 disposals per game, she sits seventh in the competition, placing her in elite company. The top six have all featured in All-Australian sides, with five of them receiving multiple selections since the AFLW’s inception.

To achieve this coming off a 12-month layoff makes Hill’s season all the more impressive, where she has proved to be one of Carlton’s prime movers in the midfield in recent weeks. 

Having received AFLCA Champion Player of the Year votes in each of the games she’s played and producing a best-on-ground performance on the weekend, Hill is making a rush to become Carlton’s second NAB AFLW Rising Star behind teammate Maddy Prespakis. 

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    AFLW R9 | "I love being back with the 'Baggers": Hill on win

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However, if you ask the player herself, she really is just taking it one week at a time — and lapping it up in the process.

“I love being back with the ‘Baggers,” Hill told FOX Footy post-match on Sunday.

“It’s been great in the least few weeks, there’s been a great energy around the group. I’m so happy to be back.

“Every week, I’m going ‘I get to play footy again this week!’. It’s crazy.”