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EAGLEHAWK 2018 premiership captain and one of the BFNL's premier defenders of the past decade, Tim Hill, is taking his career full circle by finishing his playing days back home at Charlton.
Hill has signed back at the Navies in what's a strong start to Charlton's bid to improve on this year's North Central league preliminary final appearance.
"It's hard to leave Eaglehawk given it has been my home for such a long time, but I'm 32 now and just felt over the past couple of years that major league footy might be starting to pass me by," Hill said on Friday.
"It seems like the time is right now to head back to Charlton and finish off where it all began."
Hill is a two-time premiership player at the Hawks, winning flags in 2008 and 2018, which he captained.
However, his career at Canterbury Park came to the most frustrating of ends last month - sidelined with a torn quad and watching on as the Hawks lost the grand final to Strathfieldsaye by 14 points.
I'm 32 now and just felt over the past couple of years that major league footy might be starting to pass me by
- Tim Hill
"It was a horrible feeling to not be part of the grand final, particularly knowing that this was more than likely going to be my last year at the club," Hill said.
"When the quad went on me (in the second semi-final) I immediately knew I had probably played my last game for Eaglehawk and then sitting up in the stands on grand final day wasn't easy... I was praying the boys would get over the line, but it wasn't to be."
Such has been the consistent performer Hill has been in the Hawks' backline for so long, he shapes as one of the leading contenders to be named full-back in the BFNL's upcoming 2010-19 Team of the Decade announcement.
With Hill's return to Charlton, he will again play alongside his 2008 Eaglehawk premiership team-mate Kain Robins, who is coaching the Navies for a third season.
"We're absolutely rapt to have Hilly coming back home," Robins said.
"We've been inquiring about him over the past couple of years, but he wasn't ready to come home yet.
"Getting him back now just complements what is already a solid backline that we've got.
"His leadership and experience is second-to-none and what that does for our team is going to be invaluable."
As well as playing in Eaglehawk's 2008 and 2018 premiership teams, Hill also won a flag with Charlton in 2009 when the Navies defeated Donald by 12 points.
Charlton lost this year's preliminary final to Birchip-Watchem by 23 points.
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