EAGLEHAWK’S Tim Hill knows the wear and tear suffered on his ankle this year is most likely going to shave some time off his football career, but it’s a price he’s more than willing to pay after becoming a premiership captain on Saturday.

While 2018 ended in the ultimate glory for Hill on Saturday when his Hawks triumphed over Strathfieldsaye by 49 points in the BNFL grand final, it has also been a frustrating season in which he spent more than half of it sidelined.

Hill – a long-time general of the Eaglehawk defence – sustained a serious ankle injury in the Hawks’ second practice match against North City on March 24 and was faced with two choices.

Have surgery to repair ruptured ankle ligaments and miss the season or spend six to eight weeks in a moon boot and “hope for the best”.

“I took a punt, put it in the moon boot and it has been a bit of a slow crawl from there,” Hill said.

“When I first got back playing I felt really good, but as the season has gone on it has got stiffer and sorer, but it’s all worth it now.”

Hill made his comeback to the field in the reserves against Gisborne in round 12.

He played two games in the reserves before coming into the senior team against Kyneton in round 14.

Hill ended the season playing seven senior games – all victories.

“There was certainly plenty of doubt early on about whether I’d get back and play this year because I didn’t have great reports initially on the ankle,” Hill said.

“But I thought if I did enough of the right things I’d be a small chance of getting back. I’ve had a few injuries in the past, but been lucky that I have been a fast healer.

“It was a bit of a gamble and is probably going to cost me two or three years of my career, but I knew we had the group that was capable of winning it and that’s what drove me.”

For Hill Saturday’s triumph was his second Eaglehawk premiership.

With Matt Gretgrix (medial) not lining up in the Hawks’ team following a build-up of selection mind games by the Borough, Hill was the only member of Eaglehawk’s previous flag 10 years earlier in 2008 who was part of Saturday’s victory.

“It has been a long time in between and that’s what makes today really special,” Hill said.

“But it’s not just about this year, it’s about the past seven or eight. We’ve had a lot of players who have been so loyal, committed and determined to reach this moment here today.

“This isn’t just the culmination of 12 months of hard work, we’ve had blokes like Brodie Collins who has been here for seven years, Glenn Daly has played 250 games and hadn’t won one, Jesse Collins and Ben McPhee have been here for a long time… I’m sure they get big offers elsewhere, but have been so committed to the club and that’s why today is so special.”

Hill also has a North Central premiership with original club Charlton in 2009.

Meanwhile, Saturday’s win continues a recent run of premiership success for the Eaglehawk community.

As well as now being the BFNL senior premiers, Eaglehawk is also home to:

• the 2018 Bendigo Amateur Soccer League men’s champions;

• the 2018 Bendigo Bowls Division division one premiers; and

• the 2018 Central Victoria Hockey A Grade women’s premiers.

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