WHILEHawk forwards Lance Franklin and Jarryd Roughead share the spotlight in thewake of the side’s fighting win over Collingwood, young defender Stephen Gilhamis happy to keep flying under the radar.
Quiet,but with a driven determination to succeed, the former Port Adelaide player hasbeen involved in all 13 games this season.
Hiscareer total is only 18, but he has developed into a vital cog in the Hawks’defensive system.
The22-year-old rated the eight-point win over the Magpies, in front 50,248screaming fans, as the highlight of his career to date.
“Itwas the first time I’ve played against Collingwood and to get over the line wasa great feeling,” Gilham said.
“Itwas right up there as one of the best games I’ve played in.
“Itwas pretty emotional for both sides and we are rapt to get over the line andgive our supporters a win.”
Aftera shaky start on Magpie first-gamer Ben Reid, Gilham impressed with his closingspeed on the contest and ability to find the footy inside the defensive 50.
Heended the night with 18 possessions and 10 marks.
“I’mstill relatively young in terms of AFL experience and I’ve only played ahandful of games,” he said.
“I’mstill learning a lot from every game and feeling the excitement of tonight andplaying in front of a big crowd is definitely a big learning curve.
“Myaim is to just improve every time I run out there.”
Gilhamalso had an aim to play 18 games this season, a goal that appears a givenbarring injury.
At192cm and 90kg, Gilham is the fullback the Hawks have been searching for sincethe departure of Jonathan Hay two years ago.
“After the back end of last year I played thelast four games and my aim this year was to play 18-plus games,” he said.
“Isort of thought that I’m 22 now, and I could see a spot for me in the side, soI was going to try and make it mine.
“Everygame I’m hanging on to that thought and revisiting that goal and if I canachieve that it will give me a real leapfrog into next year.”
Ashe lapped up the atmosphere generated by a packed crowd that hung on everykick, mark and handball, the young Hawk said the belief generated from a win insuch a tight contest would do wonders for the group.
Likehis coach, Gilham said the lessons learned from a nine-point loss to Sydney in round 11 wereput to good use against the Pies.
“Weprobably learned more out of that Sydneygame than any other this year,” he said.
“We’vetaken a lot from the loss to the Swans and we always speak about it.
“Wespoke about it in the lead up to the game against Collingwood and I’m sure itwill hold us in good stead for later in the season.”
Everyoneis asking just how far the Hawks can go in 2007. If players like Gilhamcontinue to improve at such a rate of knots, the sky appears to be the limit.
