In his 50th game for the Hawks, 21-year-old speedster Brad Hill showed how much he has matured with another strong performance in a final. Last season, Hill played in a premiership in just his 29th game but he was a talented extra rather than a key player. Now, alongside Isaac Smith, he has turned the Hawks' outside run into a legitimate weapon, a weapon that might just test the Sydney Swans in the Grand Final. 

Hill was in his customary role on the wing, attempting to find space and create run. "My role is to run and carry," Hill told AFL.com.au. "[Get] on the outside and get back and try to help with the defence then quickly get back with the ball going back up and try to link with the play."  

His main influence came in the third quarter when he had 10 disposals, winning five kicks and five handballs to dominate his outer wing. 

Although Port Adelaide tagger Kane Cornes began the game alongside Hill, he did not stay with him for long, with Port Adelaide content to run Jared Polec or Matthew Broadbent alongside him. The Power were content to do that because they are so good at closing down space. 

It meant Hill had to adjust his game and he did that to great effect. It wasn't so much his sweeping runs that cut holes in Port Adelaide's defence as his quick, creative handball that put teammates into positions to do damage on the scoreboard. Twice he set up Jarryd Roughead for goals in the third quarter and many times he helped out the defence by providing an outlet for them to kick down the line and relieve pressure. 

However he did go missing, like many of his teammates, in the frantic last quarter, only managing one handball. He did halve a couple of one-on-ones, though, with his running power important when he did not have the ball. 

In that influential third quarter Hill gathered a loose ball that Hawthorn's Liam Shiels had forced free through a fierce tackle and shot out a handball to Roughead who kicked a goal. 

Not long after as the end of the quarter drew near, he cut a sharp handball through traffic to shoot Isaac Smith into space. Smith ran too far but managed to squeeze the ball out with a handball inside 50 that Roughead once again turned into a goal. 

Hill and Smith run further than any of their teammates in a game, pushing back and hurtling forward with regularity. "Definitely, we (Hill and Smith) try to work together," Hill said. "We have got a good bond with each other so we try to help each other out." 

With Hawthorn 28 points in front midway through the last quarter, Hill made good position 30 metres out from goal as the Hawks surged forward. Jonathon Ceglar's kick did not hit him on the chest but Hill looked to have enough time and space to gather the ground ball, turn around and kick the goal to seal the game. Unfortunately for the Hawks the ball went right past him. It was like a misfield in cricket but it kept the door ajar for Port Adelaide and became a mistake that was nearly very costly. "I was a bit fatigued and I just wanted him to get me on the chest so I could just go back and have a set shot. It went too low and it bowled me," Hill said. 

As the opposition stormed back into the game Hill tried to put it out of his mind. "[I tried] not to think about it and put my head down."

"It definitely opened up a bit in that third quarter but they are a good side and they cover the outside pretty well. I was getting a little bit nervous towards the end and I was thinking 'Oh, surely we can't lose this one'," Hill said. "I remember at one stage we were 20-odd points up and they came back hard. We knew they would. They are a good running side. It was just relief that we got the win."

Hill has an opportunity to light up the MCG on Grand Final day. He has pace, is smart and has experience and form on big occasions. The Sydney Swans like to get numbers around the football, which opens up space for players such as Hill to run into.  Of course, Hill will need to be on his game defensively too because the Swans have Gary Rohan, Ben McGlynn and Lewis Jetta capable of winning foot races when the ball gets behind a defensive line. He is also likely to have youngster Harry Cunningham for company. Cunningham blanketed Hill's brother Stephen in the qualifying final against Fremantle and then did a job on North Melbourne's Brent Harvey in the preliminary final. Hill has become used to being tagged this season and is a hard-working player. Regardless of what happens he is certain to provide at least one memorable moment in the Grand Final. He's also determined to enjoy the experience. "Sydney is obviously a good side. We have got to enjoy this week and get ready for Sydney. I remember last year it just went real quick and I can't really remember too much. I just want to enjoy this one a bit more," Hill said.