STANDING 175cm tall and weighing a mere 70kg, Port Adelaide forward Cameron Hitchcock is one of the smallest players in the AFL, but what the 20-year-old lacks in size he makes up for in sheer talent and excitement.
Hitchcock started his career on the Power’s rookie list late last year, but just a few weeks into pre-season training it became obvious that he wouldn’t stay there for long.
The small forward wowed teammates with his speed, skill and goalkicking nous, while coach Mark Williams wondered just how this little ‘gem’ had slipped through to pick No.12 in the NAB AFL Rookie Draft.
Hitchcock impressed in the pre-season competition and forced his way into a near full-strength Port Adelaide side for the round one clash with North Melbourne.
He booted two goals on debut as the Power ran away with a 14-point win.
“I got drafted as a rookie, so didn’t really expect to play too much but I worked hard over the pre-season and some opportunities fell my way,” Hitchcock said.
“I got a go in the NAB Cup and it went from there. I tried to do everything that I could and to keep learning and keep improving.”
Hitchcock played the opening four games of the season before being sidelined with a back strain.
The back complaint wasn’t the elusive goalkicker’s first injury of the season and it wouldn’t be his last, with a shoulder problem - sustained in the NAB Cup opener against Adelaide - rearing its head again in round 10.
Hitchcock’s shoulder popped out of its socket when he was tackled to the ground by an inevitably bigger and stronger Richmond opponent.
He spent a week on the sidelines, but was recalled to the team in round 12 and said he was confident his tiny frame could withstand the rigours of AFL football.
“When I go out there I don’t notice my size and I don’t think about it when I’m out there playing because I’m thinking more about getting the ball, what I’m doing and where I’m running,” he said.
“I don’t notice it too much but I get told every week that (I’m small) and people ask me, ‘How tall are you?’ or ‘How much do you weigh?’”
Midfielder Steven Salopek said Hitchcock had already found a place in Port Adelaide’s best 22.
“Hitchy brings that little extra zip inside 50 and he’s that specialist crumbing forward that we don’t really have. We have Daniel Motlop and Brett Ebert who are terrific on the lead and are good goalkickers, as well as Jason Davenport, who runs up and down the field all day but Hitchy is a real genuine crumber,” Salopek said.
“He kicks those little freakish goals that you dream about kicking as a kid and he brings that x-factor back into the team.”
Hitchcock was aligned to Glenelg in the SANFL, but spent most of his junior days playing for his school Sacred Heart College.
He was overlooked in the draft as an 18-year-old and only came into AFL calculations after kicking 80 goals across the U18 and reserve competitions with Glenelg last season.
“I didn’t take the normal path. I played school football for Sacred Heart College all the way through, so I didn’t play for Glenelg that much - only in the school holidays and when I could,” Hitchcock said.
“I missed out on being drafted as an 18-year-old. I suppose it spurred me on a bit to see if I could get there.”
