Hickmott Brothers Again Eye AFL Draft

If having a famous football father was not enough to contend with, sibling rivalry would seem an added burden for Subiaco’s midfield duo of Liam and Wil Hickmott.

Yet, while the legacy of their father Adrian and his time with Carlton and Geelong will always be there, as brothers they continue to embrace being able to play together and enjoy the highs and lows of football together.

One of the great images of Subiaco’s Colts Premiership win in September was an on-field interview after the game with both Wil and Liam where it was evident the ability to achieve great things together is what has helped drive both.

Now on the eve of the 2018 AFL Draft the brothers enter proceedings from different perspectives, Wil the prodigious talent looking for a chance and Liam the proven midfielder looking for a chance.

Wil is a skilful, smoothly moving midfielder who has played his best football in his two seasons of colts footy working on the outside where his pace and skills have been on show.

After debuting as a 15 year old at the end of the 2016 season, Wil has played 40 games in the past three seasons, increasing his output year on year.

He finished 2018 with a career highs in disposals, averaging just under 22, marks averaging over four per game and just under four tackles per game.

Wil started the season especially strongly and was part of WA’s Under 18’s Championship team on the back of these performances.

While eligible as a father-son pick at Carlton, as they did with Liam last year, Carlton will pass on selecting Wil, but other clubs remain interested and the Subiaco premiership player is a chance of a draft opportunity late in Friday’s second night of the draft.

Wil improved his chances by excelling at the State Combine, winning a series of the athletic tests, highlighting his outstanding endurance and athleticism that is highly sought by AFL clubs.

Meanwhile for Liam, though the draft buzz is not as high as it is on Wil, on the base of performance, he has to be a draft smoky.

A year after winning the Taylor Medal as Subiaco’s best colt player, Liam backed up with an even better 2018 campaign, with an all round outstanding season.

That outstanding season saw him take out the Jack Clarke Medal as the best player in the WAFL Colts competition as well as repeat as a Taylor Medal winner.

Though not as flashy as some in his colts side, it was Liam’s ability to win the ball and make smart decisions that saw him excel.

Liam averaged over 25 disposals per contest, including five games where he picked up over 30 disposals.

Highlighting his ability both defensively and around the contest, Liam also averaged seven and a half tackles per game, including four games where he posted double digit tackle counts.

His impact around the contest could not be understated as the success of Subiaco’s Colts in 2018 came on the back of a harder edge and better contested play which Liam was instrumental in driving the change for.

The 2018 AFL National Draft commences on Thursday November 22 and concludes on Friday November 23.