MIMI Hill knows that her newly found status as the 2022 NAB AFL Women's Rising Star will be met with an enhanced reputation and increased pressure.
But it's something which she was instantly keen on embracing.
The 19-year-old midfielder spoke to media on Wednesday night after her individual accolade: this is what she had to say.
On expectations coming into this year:
“A lot of people have said to me that they were hoping that I was just going to get a touch, just get a kick.
“But I was really excited to see what I could do because sitting on the sideline, I was so frustrated. I knew I could make an impact, so I’m really happy with what I put out there.”
On her frustration while sitting on the sidelines:
“I just tried to stay involved with the group. You can get really isolated when you’re in rehab, but I knew what the girls needed from me.
“They needed me to just be there for them – especially when we were losing. I think that made it really easy for me to come back into the team.”
On her relationships with other players in the rehab group:
“They’ve changed my life. They’ve made me a better person – especially those players who have done an ACL injury before, like Kerryn, Nic (Stevens), Mua.
“They all gave me tips – ‘Mads’ Guerin, who recently did one – they all helped me through so much. I’m so grateful to have them in my life.”
On the individual accolades:
“I think the All-Australian squad was a massive surprise. I was just sitting at home and got the notification and was like ‘oh, alright. Sick. That’s pretty cool.’
“I think the Rising Star award particularly, it just means so much in terms of I don’t just get to hang out now. I know there’s an expectation now for me to perform and I’m excited to have that.
“I’m going to work harder. It’s nice not to have an injury cloud over me. I just get to do the work that I want to do, so I’m really excited for next season.”
On the support from the Club after her 2020 injury:
“As soon as it happened I was like ‘I’ve done my ACL’. I don’t know why I knew, but I knew something wasn’t right here. Doing it in my first season as an 18 year old, I was extremely disappointed and I didn’t know what that meant for me.
“Carlton was so supportive for me. The day I did it, Brett Munro - our General Manager – Women's Football - came to my house and talked to my parents and said ‘look, we’re offering her a two-year contract extension’.
“That mentally is massive for me because I knew they were backing me and they were going to give me all of the resources I needed and they did. I’m really grateful for that.”
