Sometimes, Nick Hull can make it look all too easy. Clunking grabs, planning and executing taps to a flying midfielder, getting out for the handball-receive himself, or lazily slotting shots from outside the 50-metre arc.
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They can be things of beauty to behold, if you're not the opposition.
But 2019 hasn't been easy for the Hawks big man. Now working in Young, Hull's been travelling to play. He missed six weeks with a broken finger early in the year and has been troubled by a nerve problem in his back in the latter rounds.
"I've found it pretty hard, to be honest. A bit of a struggle," Hull said.
"I've had a few issues this year, that comes with not training and that kind of stuff."
However, the gun ruckman's hit familiar heights in their two finals, rising to the occasion against Marrar and North Wagga. He won't admit to the duress he's been playing under. He just laughs.
"Four quarters to go. She'll be right, mate. She'll be right."
The 26-year-old won a league medal and a flag in 2016, and a second Gerald Clear Medal last year.
At the time, he rated 2018 as one of his best seasons. But there's nothing like being back in a grand final.
"It's very exciting," Hull said.
"We've probably had the crew to get there (in the last two years) but with other teams being stronger, it's taken the privilege away from us.
"So it's good to be back and hopefully we can bring another one home."
They say grand finals are the only way players can thank a club's supporters.
And there's no bigger support for Hull, and supporter of East Wagga-Kooringal, than his mum, Tonie.
She says it was pot luck that he ended up at Gumly - his grandfather took him to an Aussie rules registration day and the Hawks had the shortest line.
Tonie couldn't be prouder of what her son's achieved. But thanks and appreciation goes the other way too.
"Very important. Mum does so much, she's basically like a personal secretary. I couldn't see myself playing anywhere else. And I don't think mum's leaving here any time soon," he said.
Hull's only regret is that he's not playing a grand final with his younger brother, who suffered a serious knee injury in the first round of 2017.
"Josh hurt himself a couple of years ago and he hasn't played since. It's a bit annoying not being able to play footy with him.," he said.
"Having mum around the club, it's a big family club. Everyone's a big family out here... to give a little bit back would be nice."
As for Saturday's assignment against North Wagga, Hull will go in full of confidence in his teammates.
"You look back six weeks ago and we were probably struggling a bit. Where we are now, it's pretty exciting," he said.
"I think our leaders like Gordo (Chris Gordon) and Benno (Ben Absolum) have stood up the last couple of weeks.
"But it's been a real team effort. We got back to doing what we do best and that's applying pressure - full ground pressure - and getting the results from it."
EWK haven't lost since their 11-goal trouncing by Marrar, on the Hawks' home deck.
"That was a very embarrassing performance," Hull said.
"We had the premiership reunions (of 1979) on here and it was hard to look anyone in the eye that night after putting up something like that.
"After that, we got together and we knew that we couldn't put anything like that out again, and we've turned it around since."
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