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AFLW 2024 - Round 8 - Chat, game threads, injury lists, team lineups and more.
I've been on Freo forums a few times now saying the same thing over and over.
I'll say it again! Hilly's taggers should feel like they have to look over their shoulder in fear that someone is going to lay a fierce, crunching block. Fair but crunching, currently they get away with stepping on his toes, blocking his run, hanging off of his jumper an pushing him around. That's were Hill's next level will come from, his teammates.
In the game against Brisbane I noticed at one stage Raines pushing Hill in the chest
putting Hill on his backside, before standing over him and getting stuck into him verbally. Freo were happy to let that happen unbelievable.
At this stage Hill's going to have to break tags on his own, just until Freo really become that championship team and not a team of champions.
I've been on Freo forums a few times now saying the same thing over and over.
I'll say it again! Hilly's taggers should feel like they have to look over their shoulder in fear that someone is going to lay a fierce, crunching block. Fair but crunching, currently they get away with stepping on his toes, blocking his run, hanging off of his jumper an pushing him around. That's were Hill's next level will come from, his teammates.
...<snip>
At this stage Hill's going to have to break tags on his own, just until Freo really become that championship team and not a team of champions.
Hill had two clearances.
Of course he can win his own ball, but it's not his natural role, he's not a natural bash and crash inside ball winning magnet.
He's never going to have the inside instinct or skills of a Barlow or Fyfe or Mundy, so I struggle to see the push to get him there.
His game tonight was fantastic, he out worked his opponent through will and fitness.
Loved it toward the end.
The way the blues are kicking the ball at the moment Freo should walk through us.Agree...i think this Friday nights game is a good place to start.
Well Pav, it seems the coaching staff are more aligned to myself and Clay's view.
Word for word said it's easier for him to lose him man on the inside. 2 minute mark:
[YOUTUBE]tjdbaQQxSmU[/YOUTUBE]
Well which is it Chops, he's a pure inside mid or he's not?
Of course it's easier to lose your man in traffic, but is he a natural clearance inside ball winner?
Absolutely not.
Anyone catch the Dons vs Blues? Lonergans tackle on Carrazzo broke his collar bone in the first, gave away a free but put their best tagged out of the match.
Stanton gets off the leash and dominates.
It's a stupid question, because he is neither a pure inside mid or an outside receiver.
Yes, I do think he is very effective with clearances because of his agility he is able to get into space with a couple of steps and set up play.
What you're getting confused with is a first hands player. No, I don't believe he is your Haselby/ Barlow type tap receive player. But yes, he is a natural clearance player. And yes, he is effective at stoppages because of his ability to clear the ball.
His right foot is still poor. Are you serious you have no idea IAMJUNGLEMUFFIN.
No idea!!! Hills right foot is immaculate as far as the wrong side of the body goes.
Armfield will come back in to tag Hill.
I reckon he suffers from the 'NicNat' Syndrome. Meaning he was recruited to play to his greatest attribute, this being his speed and secondary his pinpoint burst kicking.I don't get it. I watched the game again today, and while he didn't have the ball on a string in the first half, he wasn't deplorable.
Does he have to get 7 possessions every single quarter to not be a complete dud or something?
I don't get it. I watched the game again today, and while he didn't have the ball on a string in the first half, he wasn't deplorable.
Does he have to get 7 possessions every single quarter to not be a complete dud or something?
This thread was started after the Brisbane game I think. But yes the principle remains. Hill is held to higher standards than anyone else in our team due to where he was taken in the draft and the players taken after him. Revisionist love to point to the likes of Hartlett & Ziebell or Hurley who they were absolutely stone cold positive at the time would be stars.
He (Hill) can be a bit of a soft target as he can be a little, well, soft at times. He's a shy young man who's perhaps a bit humble to fully display his talents yet.
We thrilled to the free wheeling young gazelle he was before his incredibly damaging skills brought the wrath of oppo taggers down upon him.
About 1/3 of the way through 2010 one of the footy shows displayed a stat that Hill was the number one player in the comp for goals scored off his inside 50 balls and they also showed how far he was carrying the ball on average (I think).
Around this time teams began to send there biggest thug out to teach Hill what it's like to play with the big boys and like many before him (including those as great as Kerr and sometimes even Judd) he found it a bit harder to get hold of the ball when he was getting scragged, punched and pinched every time he went near it.
He developed shin splints at the start of 2011 and the recently retired Paul Haselby declared our season dead in the water before it began such is how highly he rates Hill's importance to the Freo machine.
With reduced fitness and the fact our other decent mids were all injured making him easier to tag, he had a poor year by his standards despite still finishing top 6 or so in most statistical indicators and of course footballer watchers with limited patience were forced to conclude that he was washed up at 21 and a waste of a draft pick and he joined a long line of distinguished whipping boys here on the Freo boards.
Ross Lyon (who of course knows little about football compared to the great minds here) commented upon joining our fine institution that in his opinion he always put most of his planning into stopping Hill because he's such a devastating player on the burst. Ross went on to say that he considered Stephen to tracking perfectly in his development for his age (shows how much he knows right?).
This year having completed a full pre-season we are seeing the next stage of his development as he gradually learns the business of playing at the elite level with the company of a tagger. As well as having prodigious burst speed Hilly is an elite distance runner and he's learning the tricks of the trade to outwit a minder. All of 22 years of age he has a few years left in him yet. He has an excellent work ethic, works both ways hard and is running out games really nicely now.
As our other elite mids become fit and available Stephen's job should get easier and by the time we have Mundy, Barlow, Fyfe & Morabito (please God let it be soon) lining up alongside him in the centre he will be causing carnage regularly.
It is interesting to note that when a Crowley or McPhee tags a superstar like Judd or Hodge (elite footballers in the prime of their career) out of a game we think it's natural, that the tagger has only done what's expected yet when Hill is tagged out of a game by one of other elite stoppers in the game he is pilloried as lazy and soft.
It is however true to say that he doesn't go as hard as he could sometimes and it's fair that he cops a whack every now and then for taking short steps or dropping his head but players develop at different rates and he's still quite immature in some respects. If he keeps tracking the way he is he's going to be a sensation by the time he's 25 or so.
(apologies for the short essay, I just finished writing a Uni essay and clearly still had a bit in the tank).
Something I've noticed over the last couple of games is that just about every single time Stephen is on the ground (either tackling or tackled) the opposition player gives him a little push or knock afterwards. Not only intimidating, but also preventing him from getting up quickly and go to the next contest. Happens more to Hill than anyone bar Frodo, and we never remonstrate.
I love how Dal Santo is down in the foreground with Crowley standing nice and quiet watching the contest.Something I've noticed over the last couple of games is that just about every single time Stephen is on the ground (either tackling or tackled) the opposition player gives him a little push or knock afterwards. Not only intimidating, but also preventing him from getting up quickly and go to the next contest. Happens more to Hill than anyone bar Frodo, and we never remonstrate.