Ian Hill wants to make his own way in AFL, separate to famous cousins, Brad and Stephen Hill

An excitement machine with football royalty running through his veins, Ian Hill isn’t your typical draft prospect, and looms as a likely first-round pick in next week’s AFL Draft.

West Australian draft hopeful Ian Hill.

An excitement machine with football royalty running through his veins, Ian Hill isn’t your typical draft prospect.

On his dad’s side of the family, he has been picking the brains of his second cousins and Fremantle stars Stephen and Brad Hill.

While on his mum’s side, Collingwood champion Leon Davis and current Carlton forward Jarrod Pickett round out the list of family members to crack the big time.

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Put that knowledge and talent together and you get Ian – a forward who can also cause havoc in the midfield and has enough pace and x-factor to make any opposition defender nervous.

However, while he is thankful for all the advice he has received from his famous family members, Hill knows his surname counts for nothing once he is out on the field.

“From my bottom age year, that is when it started,” he explained. “People started saying, ‘That’s their cousin’.

Ian Hill chats to Rhylee West ahead of the under-18 national championships in July.

“If I made it to the AFL, it would be a dream come true. But I want to try and make my own name and be able to stand on my own two feet.”

Hill hasn’t had any issues forging his own path throughout his junior career, with the speedster emerging as a highlight machine.

After an eye-catching bottom age Under 18 Championships for Western Australia last year, he shot up draft projections and was being touted as a potential first round pick.

A suspension for a sling tackle ended this year’s campaign early however, it won’t stop him from being snapped up on draft night.

Hill will be the perfect fit for any club searching for a bit of forward x-factor.

“I don’t need a lot of touches to impact the game,” Hill said.

Ian Hill

Age: 18

Club: Perth/ Western Australia U18

Height: 175cm

Weight: 76kg

Position: Forward

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“Not being too cocky but I think I can have a big impact off 15 touches. I’m more of a pressure forward as well. I like to put pressure on and I think everything comes from that.”

While the “go-home factor” may be a potential red flag with some draftees, Hill definitely isn’t one of them.

In fact, after talking to his famous family members, the teenager is happy to swap his home-town of Perth for the bright lights of the MCG.

“I’d rather come over here to Melbourne,” he explained.

“Perth would be alright but you’ve always got family and friends there. I’m happy to stand on my own two feet though and live the dream of being an AFL player and living the AFL life in Melbourne.”