Hurley is the Round 18 NAB AFL Rising Star following his superb display against St Kilda on Friday night.
The nomination is his second in two seasons, his first also coming after an impressive display against the Saints late last year.
However Hurley, who faced court in June as a result of an assault on a taxi driver, struggled to replicate that form in his early matches this season.
The 20-year-old, who escaped conviction but received a two-year good behaviour bond for his indiscretion, said the off-field proceedings may have been on his mind earlier this year.
“Obviously my form wasn’t as good as I would have liked,” Hurley said on Tuesday morning.
“It (the court case) may have played a role but I’ve put that behind me now and the boys have played well the last couple of weeks and hopefully my form can continue.
”Hurley said he was also enjoying having slotted into a more permanent role in recent weeks.
Against St Kilda, he gathered 30 touches and 13 marks as he mopped up in the backline and used the ball superbly.
“[My form] was a bit of a sluggish start and I did struggle early on but I think being thrown down back and sort of having a sound spot for the last three or four weeks has helped ... it’s gradually getting better.
”Hurley, who has played 15 matches this year and kicked 12 goals, said he didn’t have a preference for which end of the ground he played, saying “as long as I’m playing senior footy, I’m happy”
.Earlier this season coach Matthew Knights suggested Hurley would spend more time in attack.
However assistant coach Gary O’Donnell said injuries and suspensions this season to defenders Cale Hooker, Tayte Pears and Dustin Fletcher had made Hurley’s move to the backline somewhat of a necessity.
While good for the youngster’s football education, O’Donnell admitted throwing the youngster from end to end hadn’t made it easy for him to find his best form.
“We probably weren’t kind to Michael,” O’Donnell said.
“He’s saying his form wasn’t as good as he’d have hoped early [but] he’s had a lot of things go on in his life, I think on-field too.
“I don’t think he’s had the ideal preparation for being able to prepare his body as well, so we’re going to see the best of him next year and in future years ... We think he’s going to be a wonderful player for us, and he’s just showed glimpses of that in the last couple of weeks.”
