Matt Hill released from Melbourne Storm, signed by Hawthorn Hawks

St Brendan’s College graduate Matt Hill seemed destined for an NRL career with powerhouse club Melbourne. But the Hawthorn AFL club has poached him and Yeppoon Swans coach Mark Wallin says it comes as no surprise to him.

Rugby league sensation Matt Hill is headed to the AFL ranks after being signed by Hawthorn as a Category B rookie.

Matt Hill’s sporting career has taken a seismic shift.

AFL club Hawthorn has swooped on the St Brendan’s College 2022 graduate, signing him as a Category B rookie.

It’s a dramatic development for the 20-year-old who seemed destined for a career in the NRL.

Hill has been granted a release from the Melbourne Storm after being part of their academy for the past two years and a member of the club’s First Nations Pathways Program.

Matt Hill has been signed by AFL club Hawthorn as a Category B rookie. (Photo: Taken from Hawthorn Football Club Facebook page)

The brilliant back scored 29 tries playing for the Storm’s Jersey Flegg team over the past two seasons and made his NSW Cup debut with their affiliate club, the North Sydney Bears.

Hill hails from Katherine in the Northern Territory and made the move to Yeppoon and St Brendan’s as a boarder in Year 8.

He was a revelation in the leading schoolboys rugby league competitions and for the Central Queensland Capras underage teams.

He was instrumental in St Brendan’s winning the Aaron Payne Cup in 2021 and the new iteration of the competition, the Dolphins Cup, in 2022.

But he was no stranger to Aussie rules, representing St Brendan’s and playing club football with the Yeppoon Swans before making his senior debut under legendary club coach Mark Wallin.

St Brendan’s head rugby league coach and NRL legend, Scott Minto, had big raps on the kid from Katherine.

Matt Hill has been in the Melbourne Storm Academy for the past two years.

He once described him as having the running game to match the NRL’s elite, with aerial skills of the best AFL players.

Minto said Hill’s ability to manipulate space and beat players was like nothing he’s seen before.

His core strength, speed and ability to kick off both feet were also skills that would hold him in good stead in Aussie rules.

Mark Wallin knew he was witnessing a “special talent” when Hill made his senior Aussie rules debut with the club.

“He was a gun, a freak,” he said.

“He played in the junior ranks and we were well aware of him in the under-17 program because he was such a good player.

“The first senior game he played with us I remember him sitting on people’s shoulders and taking grabs.

Matt Hill flies high for the Yeppoon Swans, displaying the kind of skills that have seen him signed by AFL club Hawthorn.

“He had magical skills and was so quick.”

Wallin said it was a great opportunity for Hill, whose cousin Bobby Hill plays for Collingwood.

“We have a few players from the Swans who have gone on to higher levels but I don’t know of any others who have gone down this path,” he said.

“It’s great news for Matt and hopefully he can crack it.”

Hawthorn national recruiting and list manager Mark McKenzie said Hill possessed a unique and exciting skill set.

“Matt has shown in his young sporting career that he is a naturally gifted athlete with exciting speed,” he said.

“He has immense potential.”