Stephen HILL

2017 Digest:   Second to Neale in the best and fairest was a tribute to one Docker who performed at a consistently high level on the wing.

2017 NAB Cup:  

2017 Season

1	Geel	Close to Dockers best. Class stood out when he won the footy and found some space when others couldn't.	7
2	Port	Tried in vain all day, didn’t have too many teammates on the same level.	6
3	WB	Best on ground thanks to his inside and outside game. His 33 possessions were telling.	8
4	Melb	Playmaker ran himself into the ground to gather 18 disposals. Not his best effort but goal in final term was handy.	6
5	NM	Really good until he hurt his hamstring late. Had 25 possessions and kicked better than most.	7
6		Hamstring.
7		Hamstring.
8		Hamstring.
9	Carl	Did okay. Worked into the game. Only 16 possessions.	5
10	Adel	One tackle, one centre clearance, one inside-50 and one rebound-50, not good enough when your team needs you to shine.	5
11	Coll	Didn’t have an influence with his disposals.	5
12	Bris	Didn’t adapt his game to the conditions. Rarely took the first option and that brought him undone a few times.	5
13		Bye.
14	Geel	Pretty quiet one given the side’s effort; 10 effective disposals not enough for a player of his class.	4
15		Calf.
16	NM	Rarely wasted a possession on a wing and through midfield. A class act.	7
17	WCE	Fought through pain to have 19 disposals. Worked hard and his skill was needed.	6
18	Haw	Picked up 21 possessions. Not as influential with the ball as usual.	6
19	GWS	Better than his brother as he was just more impactful with it. 571 metres gained was big and also mixed in 12 contested possessions.	8
20	GCS	Collected 27 disposals and kicked one goal. Returning to his best.	7
21	Syd	Never stopped working in the middle all day. Was solid in the contest.	5
22	Rich	One of Freo’s main contested ball winners. Tried hard.	6
23	Ess	Responsible for Merrett when the Bomber got off the chain, then was shifted.	5

2016 Season

1	WB	Only broke free a few times – all when the game was over. Needed to impose himself more.	4
2	GCS	Worked hard but 13 of his kicks were ineffective. That’s unlike Hill.	6
3	WCE	The receiver across half back but didn’t use the footy like he normally does.	5
4	NM	Back to somewhere near his best form in the middle two quarters.	7
5	Carl	Had plenty of the ball but wasn’t as clean as he usually is.	6
6	Adel	Elite kicking skills were a treat coming from half back.	7
7	GWS	His ball winning and skill helped Fremantle to fight back.	7
8	Haw	Good early but off in third quarter with a groin problem.	4
9		Adductor.
10	StK	On the wing ran hard from start to finish and was one of his side’s best.	7
11	Ess	His kicking gave the club great drive.	6
12	Bris	Rebounded off half back with seemingly no opponent.	6
13	Port	His skills weren’t as damaging as usual.	5
14	Coll	No involvement early. Plenty of turnovers.	2
16	Melb	Came to life in the third term when thrown into the middle. A positive to take from game.	6
17	Geel	Huge game highlighted by massive final term. Six clearances, five inside-50s.	8
18	GCS	Had close company in Sexton all game who nullified his influence.	5
19	Syd	Won 10 clearances. If he’d won the ball in space he could have been damaging.	6
20	WCE	Freo’s best because he not only won the ball, he took risks.	7
21	Adel	Won 32 possessions but 14 were ineffective.	6
22	GWS	Won a mountain of ball backward of centre. Not a huge impact on the game.	6
23	WB	One of the team’s best players. His run was back to what everyone loves.	7

2015 Season

1	Port	Tagged. Still had 17 disposals, four inside 50s and five touches in last term.	6
2	Geel	Joined party to slaughter Cats’ midfield. Team high 10 inside-50s a highlight.	8
3	WCE	Continued superb early season form with another three goals.	8
4	Syd	Found space and ran with the ball but also had five clearances. Quality again.	7
5	Melb	Solid first half and while drifted out of the game it mattered little.	6
6	Ess	Not as dominant as we’ve seen this year. Melksham kept him in check.	5
7	WB	A bit subdued on a wing compared with early season form but OK.	5
8	NM	Damaging when he got the ball in space.	7
9	Adel	Playing more as a sweeper at half back.	6
10	Rich	In and out of the game early but got busier in second half.	6
11	GCS	Not afforded as much space but was still damaging.	5
13	Coll	Important first term helped steady side and clean play and run a highlight.	8
14	Bris	Not his most influential game but had it 17 times.	5
15	Haw	Cut through the congestion a couple of times but otherwise well contained.	5
16	Carl	All quality. No team can afford for Hill to have nine inside 50s.	8
17	Rich	The game-breaker on the outside late when Freo needed a spark.	7
18	GWS	Oppositions can’t afford for Hill to have 32 possessions. He’s damaging.	8
19	StK	Brilliant third quarter when he was everywhere and cut holes in Saints.	8
20	WCE	Freo’s best player. Carried the ball and was good when they were bad.	8
21	NM	Tailed by Gibson, but still did his bit on the wing.	6
22	Melb	Under pressure when he found the footy. More of a contested game.	6
23		Rested.
QF	Syd	Great game. Provided run and used the ball brilliantly.	8
PF	Haw	Winger lined up on his brother and was shaded overall.	5

2014 Season

1	Coll	One player who had no trouble finding space early. Even more potent as night went on.	8
2	GCS	Gold Coast couldn’t effectively contain him– game-high 10 inside-50s.	7
3	Haw	Run made him one of better Dockers in first half. Handling not as clean as usual.	7
4	Ess	Broke the game open with his run and energy. Two goals a bonus.	7
5	Syd	Dangerous only in bursts, finishing with six inside 50s.	5
6	NM	Got a bit of the ball, but his man had a lot of it going the other way.	5
7		Hamstring.
8	Port	Subbed off in the third term with a leg injury. Had looked dangerous.	5
9	Geel	Huge first term (12 disp) set team on path to victory. Beat Hunt tag.	7
11	WB	Best on ground with 24 disposals and four goals. Outstanding.	9
12	Adel	Plenty of touches on wing.	6
13	Rich	Early run helped set up the lead and while he faded it mattered little.	7
14	Bris	Tried to make fast breaks, but not always able to.	5
15	WCE	Game-breaker on a wing with three goals, including the sealer. Huge late.	8
16		Quad.
17		Quad.
18		Quad.
19	Carl	Hammered by Curnow. Only nine disposals in final three quarters. Struggled.	4
20	Geel	Injured ankle early but returned. Handy with a goal and link play.	7
21	Haw	Three telling goals in an electrifying performance.	8
22	Bris	Ultra consistent and set up scoring opportunities.	7
23	Port	Kept well clamped by close tagging Cornes.	3
QF	Syd	Couldn’t break Cunningham’s tag.	4
SF	Port	Tagged by Cornes and was able to break free to link between defence and attack.	7
PF		–
GF		–

2013 Season

1	WCE	Huge third quarter helped sway momentum.	6
2	WB	Speed was a factor at times through the middle without dominating.	6
3	Ess	Shadowed by Hocking and disappointing most of the night.	4
4	Haw	Tagged by Osborne and didn’t work hard enough to break free.	4
5	Rich	Saw plenty of the ball and was a good contributor.	6
6		Quad.
7		Quad.
8		Quad.
9		Quad.
10	Adel	First game from injury and showed class is permanent.	8
12	Bris	Not always as incisive as he can be, but contributed.	5
13	NM	Covered lots of ground early to shake Hine tag.	5
14	Geel	Horrid. He’s got to learn to break tags and influence big games.	2
15	StK	Jones tagged him out of game.	3
16	WCE	Hard runner and constantly involved.	7
17	Rich	Quiet game aside from a few spurts. Dockers needed more with stars missing.	3
18	Adel	Had Mackay for company but burnt him off in a polished display. Kicking sublime.	8
19	Carl	Tagged by Curnow and didn’t have big numbers but his touches cut Carlton apart.	6
20		Hamstring.
21	Melb	Dashing display on a wing and at half back. Consistently cut through Dees traffic.	7
22	Port	Picked up a solid number of touches.	5
23		Hamstring.
QF	Geel	Link play was good and won some hard footy. Kicked sealer after five-bounces.	7
SF
PF	Syd	Found the majority of his ball on the outside – just three cont. poss. Gave good run.	6
GF	Haw	Ball use early not up to scratch and while he tried hard he didn’t hurt Hawks.	5

2012 Season

1	Geel	Had his moments but was pretty well held by Taylor Hunt.	5
2	Syd	Quiet early, but played a big role in the Dockers' second half fightback.	6
3	Bris	Tagged out of the game by Raines.	4
4	StK	Quiet first half when tagged by Jones. His last hour was crucial to win.	8
5	Carl	Armfield went to him at start. Always dangerous with the ball in hand.	7
6	GCS	First goal a ripper, copped a corkie and was of little use from there.	2
7	Port	Influential when it mattered. Had six clearances and ran hard.	8
8	Haw	Not a factor in first half and put on Rioli to get him into the game.	3
9	WCE	Well held. Just 11 possessions. The Dockers need him to get the footy.	4
10	Adel	Had 20 possessions but no damaging runs.	5
11	Rich	Sent scare through camp when went off early but returned to play a key part.	7
15	WB	Tagged out of the game by Picken. Just eight possessions.	3
16	Melb	McKenzie tag kept his efficiency down but still had seven inside-50s.	6
17	GWS	Kicked two goals and was damaging when he had the footy.	8
18	Port	His run and carry is a sight to behold in full flight.	6
19	WCE	Showed that quality is more important than quantity with some key touches.	6
20	Adel	His usual run and carry was non-existent all afternoon.	4
21	Rich	Started really well. Needed to go on with the job though.	6
22	NM	Did a lot of damage early. Swallow should have tightened up on him. Tapered.	7
23	Melb	His run lit up the ground and he was damaging.	7
EF	Geel	Shoulder and leg problems dogged him early but still won the ball. Big third.	7
SF	Adel	Only had a handful of touches in first half.	3