IRON sharpens iron, and there has been plenty of ‘iron’ for Cynthia Hamilton to sharpen her skills on over the journey. Born into a big sporting family, the 18-year-old started out playing boy’s football alongside her brother until the age of 13. A move to women’s footy saw the Giants Academy come calling, and the rise has continued to prove steep from there.

At the end of last year’s AFLW Under 19 National Championships, the bottom-aged Hamilton was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) for the Allies, having averaged 22 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal per her two games. Though opportunities are not as present for NSW and ACT-based prospects, Hamilton has certainly made each one count.

“Because I was bottom-age it means I have to hold that level now or be even better,” Hamilton said. “It’s exciting to see what this year holds.

“I feel like some of the Canberra girls and the Swans get unlucky with not playing in the NAB League where they don’t get as much opportunity, while the other girls are playing every single week. Like Tassie, they all know how each other play but we get thrown together and are expected to gel straight away.”

At representative level, Hamilton is now used to making quick adjustments. The midfielder-forward dominated for NSW-ACT against the Allies (Northern Territory and Tasmania) on Monday, collecting a game-high 25 disposals, six clearances, and one goal despite her side’s 40-point loss.

Playing in just her second game back after ankle surgery, Hamilton says it was “heaps fun” getting back to “a good standard of footy”. Having played both with and against her current and future teammates for multiple years now, making friends of foes in the 2022 Allies squad should make for light work ahead of Friday’s clash against Western Australia.

“I can’t wait to play with (the Allies),” Hamilton said. “It’ll be good to form a team – verse them this week, play with them the next week.

“I knew a few of them already from last year. J’Noemi Anderson, we know each other from last year, I thought she might’ve forgotten me but she came up to me after the game and hugged me, it was like we’d never not seen each other. “It was good to click. “It’s pretty easy when you’re thrown together to just meet each other and get used to each other.”

Having featured there last year, Hamilton will likely spend plenty of time in the Allies midfield during the 2022 carnival. Although, she feels her best position is up forward where she can read the play and know “when to stay out or go in”.

As for what’s next for the promising youngster, she will likely have a big decision to make come draft nomination time. The Giants Academy member is still undecided on whether she will look to remain in her home region, or potentially nominate to join her sister, Lexi (North Melbourne AFLW) in Victoria. Either way, the goal remains the same.

“Obviously to get drafted is the main goal, but to end up on any list would be a dream come true,” Hamilton said. “I’ll give it a crack for the top 10 but see how we go.”