Ryan Burton when he was a draft prospect in 2015. He overcame a serious injury. Credit:David Mariuz Over a coffee on Friday, it was clear Burton had enjoyed the moment. "I was a goal-kicker as a kid. Obviously, any chance a backman gets to be near the sticks, I took it on. It ended up pretty well," he said. So was his week at home. He stayed at the team hotel for two nights but had an extended weekend at the family home in Glenelg, catching up with his mates. "That win last Thursday was pretty special. Obviously, it was my first win in Adelaide," he said. Burton, 20, has emerged as one of the favourites to claim the Rising Star award, having been nominated on the back of his 26 disposals, nine marks and four tackles against the Crows, in round two.

Ryan Burton comes to grips with Adelaide's Taylor Walker. Credit:AFL Media/Getty Images It was the type of performance recruiters remember from his days as a bottom-age forward in the 2014 national championships, and the four senior games he notched for North Adelaide in the SANFL. Until a broken leg and dislocated knee cap in a marking contest in schoolboy football late in the season wiped out his 2015 campaign. The son of former North Adelaide star Craig Burton, who has also been an executive with the Crows, Burton had former Crows' pin-up boy Matthew Liptak as his orthopaedic surgeon. He had a metal plate and 10 screws inserted – two of which remain today. "It was a pretty tough year, obviously. I realised I can be pretty patient and resilient in the end. I didn't think I would be able to have a year-and-a-half off footy. To be able to do that, and still be as keen as ever to come back and play as best as I was before, definitely showed me the hard road of playing AFL footy," he said. "It's definitely held me in good stead now. I managed to put a bit of weight on and learn a bit more about the game, watching every week. It has its pros and cons."

From the rarefied air of almost certainly being a top three, if not No.1 pick, Burton slipped in estimations as a result of the injury. But the Hawks were very keen, and, having completed an extensive review of the leg, pounced on him with their first-round pick, No.19 overall. Burton said he had no fears about being overlooked in the draft. "I wasn't concerned. I had the reassurance I was going to get drafted. Going into that night, I wasn't nervous about – am I going to go or not? It was more about where am I going?" he said. "[There was a chance of] staying home because there was two Adelaide picks in the first round. I thought I was a chance to go one of them. I thought plenty of Melbourne clubs in the teens [were a possibility] – I thought I was a good chance to go to Melbourne, then Gold Coast were in there, Freo a little bit later, West Coast a little bit later. So, I could have been going anywhere. I really prepared myself well to be going anywhere around the country. I was completely fine where I was to be drafted. When Hawthorn read my name out, it was pretty exciting." Burton's performances against the Crows this season have sparked talkback debate in South Australia as to why he was twice overlooked by the Crows in a draft headlined by Carlton's Jacob Weitering. So, how serious were the Crows? "I had a few interviews them as well as a few other clubs but they never told me they had ruled me out or wanted to take me. I really had no indication," he said.

"I thought with two picks they might [take Burton] but maybe they weren't happy with my knee or me as a player. I don't really know. It doesn't really bother me, to be honest. I am really happy that Hawthorn took me." The Crows instead used pick 11 on speedy forward Wayne Milera, from Central District, and pick 17 on former basketballer Tom Doedee, from the Geelong Falcons. Described as "level headed" by a senior teammate, Burton used what he described as his "gap" year to add weight. Having played at 80 kilograms, he dropped to 76 kilograms in the week of surgery, but returned at about 92 kilograms, through lifting his intake of meals and weights. More surgery was needed last year to remove the screws but Burton's talent was obvious with the Box Hill Hawks. He made his senior debut in round 21 last year and played four games. His last, the qualifying final against Geelong, was over in the first term thanks to a knock to the leg. Burton said watching the likes of Swans' prodigy Callum Mills (who won the 2016 Rising Star award), Darcy Parish, Clayton Oliver and Jacob Weitering enjoy rave reviews had not provided greater motivation over summer.

"Not being spoken about much last year, it has not really driven me at all this year. I knew within these four walls at Hawthorn that they had full confidence in me, and that's all I really cared about. They, obviously, backed me in, taking me after not playing in my 18th year," he said. "Obviously, being able to play some footy towards the end of the year to help the team was pleasing." The Hawks, too, were pleased. And Burton was humbled when handed the No.5 guernsey – a number the club understandably says has "spiritual" significance. It was made famous by former captain Peter Crimmins, who, aged 28, lost his two-year battle with testicular cancer days after the 1976 premiership. The number was retired until 1992 when given to Andy Collins. Daniel Harford and Sam Mitchell have since donned it. Burton endured a rough JLT pre-season campaign as a forward but that changed with a switch to defence in the final term against North Melbourne at Arden St. He remained there against Port Adelaide. Suddenly, the Hawks realised they had potentially found a fresh defensive piece at a time when reinforcements will soon be needed for Josh Gibson and Luke Hodge. While he was overlooked for the season opener against Essendon, his impact in round two – and since – has been immense.

"As a forward, you know where you want to be leading and how you want to get the ball. Then you turn into a defender – I know my opponent is wanting to go into this place, and I am going to stop him from doing that. You know the cues and you can read the game as a forward. It definitely helps when you are playing down back," he said. Along with Burton, the Hawks have found a fresh look inside defensive 50. Blake Hardwick, a strong junior forward, is making his name as a rebounding defender (he has the best disposal efficiency of all Hawks' defenders), while James Sicily had his best game as a backman last week, having a game-high 13 intercept possessions and six intercept marks. That's also been a trait of Burton's, and he ranks No.1 at Hawthorn for intercept possessions. The Hawks have generated 74 points directly from his intercepts – ranked fourth in the competition of the top 50 intercept players, with only Michael Hurley, Robbie Tarrant and Rory Laird above him. His ability to read the play and then attack is pivotal, for he is behind only midfield teammates Tom Mitchell and Isaac Smith in terms of combined inside and rebound 50s. "We have got some really experienced players in Hodge and Gibson and [Ben] Stratton and [Grant] Birchall [in defence]. We learn a hell of a lot from those guys," Burton said.

"It was also good to know there was a bloke your age or a year above you standing alongside you that is going through the same sort of emotions that you are – is learning at the same time as playing. It definitely helps to be able to feed off young boys as well." Burton eventually hopes to become a midfielder, and at 191 centimetres and 90 kilograms, he would be physically on par with Fremantle captain Nat Fyfe. In the meantime, life in Melbourne is going well. He enjoys golf with teammates, closely follows NBA star Paul George who, like Burton, has recovered from major knee surgery, and is working through a project management course, with university to follow next year. Having inked a contract extension in April last year, he is tied to the Hawks until the end of 2018 but don't be surprised to see an extension offered before the year is out, for those Crows may now have a change of thinking. Then there is the simple joy of taking to the field on a weekly basis, with the Hawks still in the hunt for September when they face Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

"It's exciting to see so many young guys. We had about 10 guys under 23 a couple of weeks ago. It's almost half the side," Burton said. "I know if we play like we did against Adelaide – who knows what can happen with finals? At the moment, we are just trying to get games into young boys. Us young boys are just trying to learn the best we can. We are not sure what the end of the year will hold but we are excited."

WHERE RYAN BURTON FELL IN THE 2015 NATIONAL DRAFT: 1: Jacob Weitering (Carlton) 2: Josh Schache (Brisbane)

3: Callum Mills (Sydney) 4: Clayton Oliver (Melbourne) 5: Darcy Parish (Essendon) 6: Aaron Francis (Essendon) 7: Jacob Hopper (GWS Giants)

8: Callum Ah Chee (Gold Coast) 9: Sam Weideman (Melbourne) 10: Harry McKay (Carlton) 11: Wayne Milera (Adelaide) 12: Charlie Curnow (Carlton)

13: Matthew Kennedy (GWS Giants) 14: Eric Hipwood (Brisbane) 15: Daniel Rioli (Richmond) 16: Harrison Himmelberg (GWS Giants) 17: Tom Doedee (Adelaide)

18: Jade Gresham (St Kilda) 19: Ryan Burton (Hawthorn) HIGH FIVE: HAWTHORN'S No.5 GUERNSEY WEARERS Alec Albiston (1936-1949) Games: 170: First to kick 10 goals in a game, the first to play 100 games wearing No.5 and was captain and coach in his final two years. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2011. John Fisher (1957-1965) Games 94: A speedy wingman in the club's first premiership in 1961.

Peter Crimmins (1966-1975) Games: 176. A courageous rover who shone in the 1971 premiership. Was captain in 1974-1975. Lost his battle with testicular cancer aged 28, just days after the 1976 premiership, now known as "Crimmo's Cup". His guernsey was retired from 1977 until 1992 when the Cimmins family offered it to Andy Collins. Inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2009. Andy Collins (1987-1996) Games 212: Holds the record for consecutive games for the Hawks – 189. The back pocket featured in three premierships – 1988 (wore No.40), 1989 and 1991 (wore no.4). Named best and fairest in 1990. In 1993, the Crimmins family asked if the No.5 could be brought out of retirement and given to Collins, as his blonde hair and style of play reminded them of Peter. Collins accepted. Crimmins had been his childhood hero. Daniel Harford (1995-3003) Games 153: A creative half-forward and onballer. Played in the 1999 night premiership. Loading Sam Mitchell (2002-2016) Games 307: Creative and with blonde hair like Crimmins. Captain from 2008 to 2011. Played in four premierships – 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015.

Source: Hawthorn website