OVER the next three weeks, Rookie Me Central will be counting down our 23 Players Under 23 years of age to watch in the upcoming 2023 season. The criteria is the player must be born in 2001 or later, and must have played at least one AFL Women’s match in Season 7. As the list is completely subjective, the opinion is that of the individual author.

#3 Mimi Hill (Carlton)

DOB: 04/10/2002
Height: 165cm
Position: Midfielder
Games: 22

Mimi Hill has quickly become a fan favourite at Carlton, coming in as a high draft selection, winning the Rising Star in her second season having overcome an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury in Round 6 of the 2021 season. She would go on to return during Season 6 and add a further six games and take out the Rising Star Award.

Having played as a defender and wing through her Oakleigh Chargers days, she was selected with Pick 12 in the 2020 AFLW Draft. The 166cm silky talent has spent her fair share of time on the inside for Carlton, and played all 10 games in Season 7 where she became one of the stars of the competition. Last season, Hill won the Carlton Best and Fairest, and was elevated into the leadership group where she has been named co-vice captain for Season 8.

SEASON 7 KEY STATS:

Games: 10
Goals: 1
Disposals: 23.2
Disposal Efficiency: 57.3
Marks: 2.1
Metres Gained: 268.4
Tackles: 2.8
Clearances: 4.0
Inside 50s: 2.4
Rebound 50s: 2.4
Intercepts: 3.3
Score Involvements: 2.3
Time of Ground %: 84.3

Hill’s Season 7 went to another level after an impressive taste of her ability during Season 6. Effectively lifting the bar across the board, Hill spent more time on-ball and her disposal and clearance numbers rose, to become Carlton’s best player during the season. Having only played 12 games coming into the season, it was incredible to think she bounced back from a long-term knee injury to have such an influence at the elite level.

In Season 7, Hill only dipped below 80 per cent time on ground twice, with her hard running a feature of her game, and she picked up 20 or more disposals in all bar one game. Her 33-disposal haul against Melbourne in Round 5 – where she spent 90 per cent of the time on the ground – was a personal best. She also recorded five clearances, which would be one of three occasions where she achieved the feat.

In Round 2 against Essendon, and in Round 7 against St Kilda, she had eight clearances in both games, as well as 21 and 26 touches respectively. Though her metres gained in Round 2 as only 130 metres – the lowest of her season, her work on the inside was critical. In her other nine games, she eclipsed 200 metres gained, and finished the year with 40 clearances, and at least one in each match.

LOOKING AHEAD

Mimi Hill is a player who is a genuine chance for the League Best and Fairest. While Carlton struggled at times last season, the midfielder was a shining light for her club. Her elevation into the leadership group is an indication of the fact she is rated as highly internally as she is externally, and one could expect an All-Australian blazer in the near future. Still only 20, Hill has plenty of potential for the future and is one to watch in Season 8.