SIGNING on at IKON Park was a no-brainer for Mimi Hill, who allegedly hasn’t left the premises since the conclusion of the 2022 season in March. 

Putting in the work over the off-season, Hill is very excited at the direction of the Club and is raring to go for the next season starting in August, ahead of Tuesday night's commencement of pre-season.

“I’m very excited – I haven’t really left the joint for a while to be honest, I was ready to get back to work as soon as the season ended because I love this Club,” Hill said. 

“I’m very excited that the season is very soon because I haven’t played much footy over the last two years. 

“To know that I’m playing in a few months is amazing – I’m ready for it.”

Coming off her NAB AFL Women's Rising Star nod in the 2022 season after playing six games, Hill - who also finished third in the Club's AFLW Best and Fairest count - hasn’t slowed down at all, with her accolades only fuelling her desire to take her game to the next level.

Working with Kade Simpson and Kerryn Harrington in her spare time, Hill is ready to prove herself as a role model within the Club, leading by example through her work ethic and determination. 

“Over the break, I’ve been doing a lot of work with Kade Simpson in his new role as Head of AFLW Development,” she said. 

“I’ve been trying to run with [Harrington] because she sets a very good pace, she’s got it all set up and I get to just run beside her: she’s someone that I try to learn some things from.” 

No longer the new kid in town, Hill is looking to her trio of leaders (Harrington, Vescio and O’Dea) to find what style works best for her to assist her moving forward in her desire to put her own stamp on the Carlton Football Club.

With the draft only weeks away, Hill is excited at the prospect of having some more draftees that she can mentor, having taken the likes of Brooke Vickers and Keeley Sherar under her wing in the build-up to season six.

“It’s something that makes me really excited, being a leader,” she said.

“I get excited when the new draftees come in, with some more kids that I can take under my wing – I had a lot of fun with our draftees this year, so it’s something I’m looking forward to.” 

Hill is also open to the prospect of helping her teammates who may need to rotate through the midfield, teaching them the craft and system that she displays so consistently through the centre. 

“Being in the midfield, there are a few spots open so we can maybe get a few new people in and I can help them out if they’ve never played there before,” she said. 

“We’ve had a few group sessions, which has been great to stay connected with the whole team and I’m feeling very prepared for this season.” 

Speaking on connectedness and cohesion within the group, Hill admitted that †the team needs to be united in their approach heading into the new campaign. 

With some newcomers joining the Club, Hill isn’t too worried about how they will fit in, knowing the culture and attitude of her teammates will be welcoming from the get-go. 

“With all the movement that’s gone on, we know we need to stick together,” she said. 

“We’ve had a few conversations about this being an opportunity and it has already started: I’m feeling very good about the environment we have.

“Helping those new people out and making sure they’re comfortable with the environment we have at Carlton — it’s very welcoming, I know that for a fact. 

“I’m not nervous about what they’re coming into.” 

On the midfield itself and the consistency of the group going forward, Hill is confident that the team can replicate some of the form produced heading into the end of the last season earlier this year.

Buying into Daniel Harford’s vision and plan for the team, Hill notes that the side will be blocking out any external noise that tries to distract them from their goal of playing finals in 2022. 

“I know we’re going to work really hard both ways, which is something we struggled with in the first half of the [last] season,” she said.  

“If we can emulate what we did in the second half of the season, I have no concerns about the midfield.

“We’ve got a good thing going and everyone within the Club can see where this group is going with ‘Harf’s’ leadership. 

“There’s a lot of external noise but we block that out because we know what our system is.”