DEALING with expectation is nothing new for rising Perth star Ian Hill.  

Since he claimed WA's MVP award at under-16s level, the slightly built small forward has been on the radar as a likely top-end pick.

Now he's eligible for the draft and the eye-catching youngster's every move will be watched by recruiters when the Black Swans kick off their NAB AFL Under-18s Championships campaign in South Australia on Sunday.  

U18 CHAMPS Check out the full fixture

It's a lot for a country kid from Northam to process but Hill, nicknamed 'Bobby' by his parents, is pushing the hype into the background and focusing on his footy.  

"It's a bit too much getting talked about, you get a lot of pressure. It's just trying not to be a big-headed person and think 'I'm better than these blokes'," Hill told AFL.com.au.  

"You've got to keep calm and collected.  

"I've got a manager (Andrew McDougall), so every now and then it comes up and I talk to him about it or talk to mum and dad, a couple of close mates, but I try not to think about it too much."  

Having a support network close by has helped Hill immensely. His parents relocated to the city this year and he moved back in with them in Rivervale – close to the Demons' home ground – after boarding at Wesley College.    

Hill's extended family have also been there for him, including Dockers stars Bradley and Stephen, who are his second cousins.  

"Now (Bradley) lives in Perth I see him every now and then and go to his house," Hill said.  

"I've got my uncle Leon Davis on one side and Jarrod Pickett also on mum's side, then mates like Zac Fisher, Kyron Hayden, Gordon Narrier and you ask them what it's like going that big step into an AFL lifestyle.  

"Coming through the AFL Academy, they get you prepared for the little things outside footy as well with diet and stuff like that.  

"I think I'm pretty professional before games. I take that very seriously."  

Hill, 18, is blessed with pace to burn, skilful and clever with the ball. He showcased his extraordinary talent lighting up a win over Vic Country with 25 touches and five inside 50s as a bottom-ager last year.  

He went through last season anxious about his shoulder, which he dislocated laying a tackle in round two playing for Perth in the WAFL, but put off surgery so he could keep playing.  

It now feels as strong as ever, and intense defensive pressure – modelled on Hawthorn jet Cyril Rioli – will be his No. 1 priority for WA.

"His pressure, or even Willie Rioli, just how they put pressure on players and don't need a lot of the ball, to get noticed as a small forward you've got to do those things for the team and also be yourself," Hill said.  

The electric youngster enters the national titles in red-hot form, after averaging 21 disposals, five tackles and kicking six goals in four games for the Demons this season.  

In round four, Hill laid 10 tackles and booted 1.2 from 14 touches in a win over East Perth.  

"His footy for Perth was outstanding in the first four games," WA coach Peter Sumich said.  

"One of his better games I've seen him play was in the wet last Friday night against the country amateurs, so I think he's really grown."

Believing Hill has what it takes to step into an AFL side immediately next year, Sumich has had a quiet chat about the standards he needs to meet to make that happen.  

"We've had conversations about his professionalism and what I know he needs to do to be a good player at AFL level, and if he wants to play straight away he needs to do right now," the former West Coast and Fremantle assistant coach said.  

"He's under enormous pressure because he's probably touted top-10 (pick) and hopefully if he listens a little bit to what I say he can get by and get that result."

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