Midfield wrecking ball Hrovat picks up possessions with ease and nearly every AFL club has shown interest in drafting him. Is he the next Sam Mitchell?
Nathan Hrovat could end up at Collingwood, the team he grew up supporting. Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media Source: Herald Sun
IT was the $50 that helped put Nathan Hrovat on the draft map.
After copping a blast for his fitness levels in a frank 2011 season review, the pint-sized midfielder was told it was time to "pull his finger out'' or his AFL dream would disappear.
Hrovat got straight to work, hell-bent on producing a faultless pre-season.
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He grabbed his runners on New Years Day and hit the Rye beach and was desperate to not let a family holiday on the Gold Coast in January thwart his fitness regime.
Hrovat forked out $50 for a seven-day membership at a Gold Coast gym and hit it twice most days.
When he wasn't lifting weights in the sunshine state, Hrovat was out honing his kicking skills at Southport and any football ground he could find.
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"Being a diminutive type I need to be really strong around the ball, so it certainly helped,'' Hrovat said.
His initiative didn't end there.
Nathan Hrovat of Vic Metro in action during the 2012 NAB AFL Under 18 Championship between VIC Metro and Western Australia at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. (Photo: Michael Willson/AFL Media) Source: Herald Sun
The Northern Knights captain hooked up with Brent Harvey, eager to tap into AFL resources after seeing the fruits of Lachie Hunter and Jack Viney's father-son connections.
Hrovat's dedication immediately impressed the North Melbourne champion.
"He's got a lot of talent, and that's one small part of it, but the want and the desire to constantly improve is a big part of making an AFL footballer, and Nathan's got that,'' Harvey said.
"I guess the knock on him is he's short. And that's why he wanted to speak to me, to see what sort of extra stuff you need to go to get over that hurdle.''
Harvey mentored Hrovat this year, dishing out key advice on burst speed techniques, diets and training approaches.
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As the Sam Mitchell-type tore TAC Cup sides apart with his clearance work, he went from speculative draft hopeful to a probable late choice.
Then the accolades came, igniting Hrovat up the order.
Vic Metro's MVP and vice-captain, All-Australian, Knights best-and-fairest winner despite playing just eight games and third in the Morrish medal and second in TAC Cup coaches award.
"I spoke to our recruiters at the start of the year and they said 'he's got things to work on, he might get drafted' to people talking about first-round now,'' Harvey said.
n05wp607 Nathan Hrovat has been selected to represent the Vic Metro u15 footy team in the National Championships Picture: Travis Mccue Source: Herald Sun
"It'd be good to have him at Arden St, he's an outstanding footballer and he's got great character, so he'd fit our club well.''
Knights talent manager Peter Kennedy said Hrovat's standing as a late first-rounder was testament to his consistency and work-rate.
"There's not a lot of players under 180cm taken, so he knew he had to work really hard,'' he said.
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"He had to cover all bases and he did. His ability to win the ball, weave through traffic and hit targets is (impressive), and he's got the ability to kick a goal when needed.''
THE NATHAN HROVAT FILE
AGE: 18
HEIGHT: 174cm
WEIGHT: 76kg
FROM: Northern Knights
POSITION: Inside midfielder
DRAFT RANGE: 15-25
IN THE MIX: Roos (15), Freo (17), Pies (21)
PLAYS LIKE: Sam Mitchell
Follow Sam Landsberger on Twitter: @SamLandsberger
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