Success is nothing new to Horsham's Greater Western Victoria Rebels draft prospect Ben Hobbs.
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The 18-year-old comes was originally a part of the Horsham Demons Football Netball Club.
The Demons' senior football side won 11 Wimmera Football Netball League senior premierships between 2003 (Hobbs' birth year) and 2014, including 10 in a row, and another two in 2017-18.
Hobbs managed to, as a 15-year-old, play in the 2018 premiership, just a year after winning an under-14 flag with the club.
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Playing against men at such a young age is something he is thankful for.
"That was really good for my footy and something I'll always look back on," he said.
Fast-forward to 2021 and Hobbs helped co-captain, alongside Josh Rentsch, the Rebels and lead them to a 7-3 season and second on the NAB League ladder.
Now, an AFL career awaits the 18-year-old, who has been touted all season as a potential top-five pick in this year's draft.
Hobbs said as the draft approaches and with a bit more free time up his sleeve after finishing year 12, he's been able to look forward to what is to come.
"I try not to look into it too much but lately I guess not playing footy and being done with school I've been able to sit back and probably pinch myself a little bit (with) the position I'm in," he said.
"It's really exciting but a bit nerve-wracking as well."
The big-bodied midfielder endured an interrupted start to his season, playing the opening game and then falling victim to an ankle injury midway through the second.
He hit the ground running once he returned, averaging 31 disposals, 4.75 tackles, four inside 50s and a goal per game in his next four hitouts, helping him finish third in the Adam Goodes Trophy, the Rebels best and fairest award.
His domination didn't stop there, Hobbs able to pick up 37 disposals and kick two goals for Vic Country against Vic Metro.
When asked how he deals with the media pressure that comes with being a top draft prospect after numbers like that, Hobbs said he has used it as a chance to improve in that area.
"I guess it's as expected going into a professional environment so I guess it's been good for me to have a bit of that practice and get better at speaking in front of media and stuff like that," he said.
"I'm up for it and I enjoy it so it's been good."
As the draft order stands right now, six of the top 10 picks are set to be made by interstate clubs.
Potential bidding on father-son selections Nick Daicos and Sam Darcy could change that, however, there remains a chance that Hobbs could land outside of Victoria.
Having boarded at Ballarat Clarendon College since year nine, Hobbs said he is willing to move wherever he is required.
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"I'm pretty happy wherever, I'll just be that happy and relieved when my name's called out so I'm just excited for anything really," he said.
"That was just a move purely for sport but then I also got the academic side of it through Clarendon as well."
With Hobbs being one of many draft prospects at the Rebels this season, he looked back fondly on his teammates and coaches from 2021.
"I think it's definitely helped (me), I got a lot out of David Loader as well as Jason Lappin so they were both really good for me and I got a lot out of them," he said.
"The boys were really good this year as well, being able to learn a few things off them and really bounce off each other and perform better as a group so it was good, I really loved it this year."
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