AFL 2018: Essendon VFL star Nick Hind maturing into AFL draft prospect

ESSENDON VFL dasher Nick Hind is a plumber out to prove his AFL aspirations are no pipedream.

Essendon VFL player Nick Hind has emerged as a draft prospect in recent years. Picture: Kadek Thatcher.

NICK Hind is the plumber out to prove his AFL aspirations are no pipedream.

The dashing midfielder has spent the past two and a half VFL seasons with Essendon, having caught the eye of Bombers officials during the AFL Victoria Community Championships.

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Essendon coach Dan Jordan had previously worked with Hind at Ballarat club East Point and a best-afield performance for the BFL against the Western Region league in 2016 sealed an invite to train with the Bombers.

“He has really matured as a kid from five years ago when I had him at East Point,” Jordan said.

“He’s a plumber who works pretty hard during the day. He loves footy.

“He’s got an insatiable work ethic to try and get better.”

Essendon VFL player Nick Hind’s development has him on the radar of AFL clubs. Picture: Kadek Thatcher.

The 23-year-old has speed to burn and has become a VFL regular for Essendon this year after featuring in 15 games in 2017.

Hind was playing at Central Highlands club Clunes, about two hours northwest of Melbourne, as recently as 2015.

His rise to prominence, which included an invite to last year’s AFL draft state combine, has come about almost as swiftly as he leaves opponents in his wake.

Determined to make the most of his obvious ability after a career at local level appeared to be the pinnacle, Hind’s form with the Bombers has generated interest from AFL clubs.

“I probably didn’t take footy as seriously as I needed to when I left the TAC Cup,” Hind, who broke his collarbone while playing for North Ballarat Rebels, said.

“From the minute this stuff (representative selection) happened with Ballarat I was like, ‘I am going to try and be the best player I can be’.

“It just drives me every day. I moved down to Melbourne for that.
“I pinch myself a little bit that people say that (I could be drafted), but I am also believing in myself that’s something I can do.”

Nick Hind first crossed paths with Essendon VFL coach Dan Jordan while playing at East Point.

Hind was elevated to the Bombers’ leadership group this year and has averaged 22 disposals, four marks and three tackles per game.

“I started to feel like I belonged after the first couple of rounds of last season,” he said.

“I definitely backed my pace and my outside run.

“It made me realise after those first couple of games that if you have got pace and you are a fast runner, then you need to show coaches and players that’s why you are there.

“Once I got in the state league squad, I thought, maybe I can take this to where I really want to go.”

Nick Hind climbs for a hanger while playing in the Central Highlands league for Clunes.

Hind is thankful he joined East Point, where his association with Jordan started.

“We were looking for players with speed that could use the footy,” Jordan said of his time at East Point.

“I certainly thought he could take his footy further.

“I only coached him for that year and was hoping he’d go to the VFL and have a crack at it.”

Hind said Jordan had been “the biggest influence in my footy life”.

“Sometimes it just takes someone to get your foot in the door,” he said.

“He fast tracked me a lot, spent a lot of time with me.”

Hind lives in Footscray and has juggled full-time work as a plumber with pursuing his AFL dream.

The commitment required can be thankless, but Hind knows his sacrifice will be worthwhile if the initial interest AFL clubs have shown materialises into an opportunity to showcase himself at the elite level.

“I love the guys from the VFL in terms of full-time jobs, tradies, the hours they put in,” Jordan said.

“(It) really shows they are dedicated to footy and really appreciate the chances if they ever do go up and get a chance at senior level.”