FROM Rising Star to emerging leader, it’s easy to forget that Mimi Hill has only just completed her first full season of AFLW.

After sustaining an ACL injury in the Blues’ 2021 campaign, Hill couldn’t have fulfilled a better comeback in season six, when she was crowned the competition’s best young player.

In that season, she was named one of the team’s best players in all six games she featured in, including three best on grounds, and backed up her Rising Star status with a third-place finish in Carlton’s Best and Fairest.

And she hasn’t missed a beat in season seven.

“In my first season I played six games, in my second season I played six games, so once I got to that seven game mark I knew we were on,” Hill said.

“It was so good to be back and just playing footy how I want to play and not being held back by injury. It was really nice to get some consistent footy going, which was good, but I did want to get a few more wins on the board.”

The Blues’ highest ball winner across the season, Hill averaged 23.2 disposals per game (10.8 contested), four clearances and 2.3 score involvements.

Polling AFLCA votes across six games, she finished just two votes shy of midfield partner Abbie McKay in the final count.

Assessing the season overall, Hill acknowledged the challenge of back-to-back campaigns, but recognised the foundation that the Blues have been able to establish.

“It was an interesting season – a lot of growth,” she said.

“It's difficult having two seasons in one year. I do love playing a lot of footy, so I'm not mad that that there were two seasons in one year, but it was a lot.

“I'm pretty exhausted but it was really fun while it lasted, and we definitely learned a lot this season and I'm very excited to carry that over to next season.”

Amongst the positives, Hill cited the chemistry building amongst a number of fresh faces.

“There were a lot of new faces in the team every week and nearly everyone on the list played a game. I think that's really exciting in itself and it means that players that haven't played together before are really starting to gel,” she said.

“For me playing in the midfield, we got some consistent games as a group, especially the ruck-mid combo with ‘Moods’ [Breann Moody] and ‘Goodie’ [Jess Good].”

While in only her third season of AFLW, Hill added leadership to her already impressive football resume, elevated into the Blues’ emerging leaders group for season seven and thriving in the role.

“I enjoy being a leader and helping my teammates out," she said.

“I like to bring a pretty positive vibe to the group and I was really given a license to do that.

“’Kez’ and the other leaders really wanted me to use my voice a lot more than I was doing. I had the permission to just go and spread my energy, which was really fun and hopefully I get to build on that and learn some more things.”

Having earned a well-deserved break, after ticking off her university exams there aren’t too many extravagant plans for Hill’s off-season.

“I’m basically just going to get to be a normal young adult rather than someone who has to play footy over summer.”

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