World Footy News

Hawks defender Stephen Gilham recently travelled across the Tasman to present the Club's newest International Scholarship holder Ben Miller with his Hawthorn guernsey.

Miller played his first Australian football game for the Otago Boys’ School in 2010 against the university team, Otago Riot. It was in his second game that he took a high mark well above his opponents in the pack and set up several scoring opportunities from the wing where it became clear Ben had potential to play this game. Given that so far Otago has no formal competition with just a University Club, that play spasmodically, and some junior development programmes within a few secondary schools, this is a monumental achievement.

In February 2011 he travelled to Auckland for the NZ under 20 National Provincial Championships playing for Wellington. Showing his potential, Ben was selected to play for the NZ U20's against VAFA and NZ U16 Oceania Cup 2011 where he was instrumental in the team’s success.
 

Gilham met with the Hawks’ four New Zealand recruits last week at an Australia Day function at the Australian High Commission in Wellington, with Miller (17) joining other International Scholarship holders Shem Tatupu (16), Kurt Heatherley (17) and Rhys Panui-Leth (17).

The Hawks have now positioned themselves as the leading club in seeking out international talent.

For more see including photos see http://www.hawthornfc.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/4742/newsid/128305/default.aspx