Hill high half forward

[Saintmike65]

Just a thought…Hill used as a high half forward given a licence to roam, effectively becoming a 3rd winger.
He has the running power to play this role, plus maybe harder to tag!

[B.M]

Have to find another spot for him now?

How about he gets fully fit

And plays on the wing - where he was dominant in the AFL for 6 years?

Fat contract - not 100% fit
3 premierships- not 100% hungry

His one Wood was running- he’s no longer the best in the AFL
So he’s no longer the best Winger - in fact he’s not even good

[skeptic]

He looks pretty fit to me

[spert]

Seems to have lost a bit of pace that made him a top winger elsewhere, and couple that with not much physical presence, he isn't really suited down back, so I'm not sure what his best position is.

[B.M]

Wing

[B.M]

Has lost pace, lost tank!

He is clearly not as fit as when he was at Freo/Hawthorn

[Impatient Sainter]

Have to find another spot for him now?

How about he gets fully fit

And plays on the wing - where he was dominant in the AFL for 6 years?

Fat contract - not 100% fit
3 premierships- not 100% hungry

His one Wood was running- he’s no longer the best in the AFL
So he’s no longer the best Winger - in fact he’s not even good

He is fit this year, teams are just putting a lot of work into shutting down his space. I agree that he needs to be moved away from HBF, whether it to a wing or HFF I dont think it matters. But what SaintMike mentioned does have some merit.

[B.M]

What makes you think he is fit?

His chubby physique or the fact he is not dominant in time trials?

At Haw he and Isaac Smith were untouchable
At Freo he and Langdon were untouchable

[saintsRrising]

Hill has been worked out as a HBF.

The main thing with Hill is that when under pressure he makes poor decisions and his skills really drop off. Now while this happens with most players, with Hill it is a lot more noticeable. All our opposition coaches know it too. hen he was first put across the HBF to set up play he had space. Opposition coaches no longer allow him to be loose in our backline.

Sinclair by contrast remains very good in decision making and ball use.

As soon as Hill gets space away from any opponent, his disposal and decision instantly are much better.


The other thing with Hill, was when at Freo that their home ground at Subiaco was the AFL's largest so had space. (Optus Stadium is smaller and more MCG like).
At the Hawks it was at the G, and so quite wide = space.

Whereas Marvel is small, and that made him less suited to us.

If we are to keep Hill is our best 22, then he has to be in a role where he has space more often. So wing is the role that will suit him and St Kilda best. This could include HFF at times.

If we can get him in space then his kicking may become a weapon again.

[The Fireman]

He is a beautiful kick. Wouldn’t mind him close to the sticks

[B.M]

With a defender on him, he wouldn’t get a kick

not sure why their is a reluctance to play him in his natural position?

[The Fireman]

He is a beautiful kick. Wouldn’t mind him close to the sticks

Good thread

[Trev from the Bush]

B.M.

Big Mart? Bitter Man?

[Impatient Sainter]

I must say I saw Hills game coming. Absolute beautiful coaching by Ratts, so hopefully it keeps the nay sayers quiet for a while.

[saynta]

Have to find another spot for him now?

How about he gets fully fit

And plays on the wing - where he was dominant in the AFL for 6 years?

Fat contract - not 100% fit
3 premierships- not 100% hungry

His one Wood was running- he’s no longer the best in the AFL
So he’s no longer the best Winger - in fact he’s not even good

Pretty good today. No, I take that back. He was f****** good to day. f****** good.

[B.M]

No doubt

Perfect game for him to play

[lewdogs]

Sensational today.

[YoungGeorge]

Well past his best but good today. He seriously should give up handballing though !

[mightysainters]

Easily top 3 today... 24 disposals and 4 goals.. he's always the first target for the knockers... been in our top 3 in 3 out of 4 games, but the dim wits love to knock him

[saynta]

Both Hill and Members made a few posters look silly today.

Crouch and Ross have been doing the same for all four games.

[Gershwin]

Gee it has taken Ratten a long time to realise Hill is not a defender. He looked like a different player.

I hope he never plays in the backline again.

[1966]

I know for a fact that Hill worked his backside off over the off season. Did a lot of extra running outside the club stuff.
Credit to him as certainly appears to have paid off.

[Killa]

So many opinions

So little knowledge

That of course is a problem when you present as expert on everything

As I have offered elsewhere, St Kilda is in good hands with its administration and with its Coach and his panel

Yes, we have had and still endure a shocking run with injuries

But the result is, when Coffield and Clark return to their half back flanker roles, when Billings, Jones and Hannebery return to mid field duties, who makes way?

Then you allow for the continuing development of our juniors - some of whom have already had a taste and have shown they can contribute at the level

You are only ever as good as your last win so everything is assessed in that context

It is a long season

I would single out the development of Battle and of Sinclair

This is the requirement - and the example

Sandringham today had 12 AFL Listed players, the majority of them only a few games into VFL experience including on debut

Given that we can reduce the injury list these juniors will have support around them at Sandringham

As a side note I noticed the comments on this Forum re Allinson - comment which appears off the mark

The other bonus was Heath who looks very capable as a footballer and particularly given his size

[skeptic]

I think one of the challenges with Hill will be that opposition put so much time into working him out and nullifying his influence…
I think we’re going to have to mix it up with him to a degree.

He was alright on a HBF but they tagged him badly… same issue in the middle too.
This was a nice change of pace and paid dividends today.

IMO he’ll move around a bit this season to make it harder to plan for him

[lewdogs]

Gee it has taken Ratten a long time to realise Hill is not a defender. He looked like a different player.

I hope he never plays in the backline again.

He is best used flexibly. He can still be a gun running off half back eg the Freo game this year. The thing that Ratts has realised this year is it's good for some players to have multiple positions and Hill is massively benefiting from not being pigeonholed in one part of the ground.