Most young players have plenty to learn in their second season of AFL but for Harry Himmelberg that task grew exponentially as he played in virtually every position on the ground across his 12 games in 2017.

Recruited as a forward with pick 16 in the 2015 NAB AFL Draft from the GIANTS Academy, Himmelberg spent his first season learning to become a defender and broke through for four AFL games in 2016.

That versatility held Himmelberg in good stead across 2017 as he added to his games tally playing back, forward and sometimes even in the middle.

“It was definitely a little bit harder moving between lines throughout the year and throughout games sometimes but I’m just happy to be playing AFL football,” Himmelberg said.

“If that’s what the coach and the coaches want me to do then I’ll do what’s best for the team.

“I enjoy playing at both ends so I’ll come back at the start of next year and see where it takes me.” 

Himmelberg was in and out of the side across the season but re-gained his spot for the GIANTS’ first qualifying final against the Crows in Adelaide. The typically cool 21-year-old calmly slotted the first goal of the game in a night that didn’t go to plan for the away side.

Coming into the finals series Himmelberg had scored three goals across his career and had the task of replacing the injured Jeremy Cameron up forward. 

With one goal in each of the club’s first two finals, Himmelberg made a name for himself in the preliminary final against the Tigers when the youngster slotted two first-quarter goals to finish with a career-best of four for the evening.

“It was by far the biggest crowd most of the boys have played in front of so it was an awesome experience but we’re probably just disappointed we couldn’t go a step further,” he said. 

“Everyone gets nerves, especially when there’s 95,000 supporters for the other team there so I think all the boys were nervous including myself especially. 

“I was probably just lucky to be in the right spot a few times early and that definitely took the edge off the nerves.”

Himmelberg recently signed a new two-year deal with the GIANTS, keeping him at the club until at least the end of 2019. The laid-back Wagga product is just looking to continue his development - in whatever position that may be - across the next few years.

“Getting to play AFL footy last year and make my debut was awesome and to build on that this year and play another 12 games was really exciting, and I’ll look to build on that next year as well,” he said.

“I was really excited to sign on for another two years, I’ll just keep doing what I’m told by the coaches and develop my game where they want me to.”