Im calling it early

[Reasonable]

I think we all owe a massive thankyou to Mr Curley, who was instrumental in ensuring Stephen Hill was our first pick in the 08 national draft.

I will happily admit, I had my reservations about Hill over Rich. But now I am beginning to understand the thought process.

He has pace to burn, the quickest player the clubs had over those first 5 steps, not only that he attacks each contest as if it's his last, he will not die wondering, he is hardly a coaster.

I watched run full pelt into a contest against Tyson Stenglien in the middle who is a very solid unit, the clash was very, very big and Hill copped it square in the ribs, he took a moment, composed himself and then proceeded to run straight back into the next marking contest.

Initially, I'll admit I thought, WTF are we doing, are we going to have the next Tambling?

Now I can safely and honestly say I am happy, unlike that hack from Richmond he has football smarts, pace and fierce appetite for the contest.

Well done Freo and cheers Todd.

 

[CruiZer01]

I think it's a bit early to make assumptions like that. You have no idea what may become of Daniel Rich, he could win a Brownlow. It's just too early to call. But yes, Hill does look good.

 

[Reasonable]

I think it's a bit early to make assumptions like that. You have no idea what may become of Daniel Rich, he could win a Brownlow. It's just too early to call. But yes, Hill does look good.

Thats why I said Im calling it early....

 

[Stronzo]

He could really be something, but I'm just happy to be quietly confident at the moment.

 

[Kenny_01]

Hill is going to be very very good. Could not be happier with him and Suban.

 

[Chops_a_must]

I would have been most annoyed had we got Rich.

I remember standing up for Hill quite strongly before we picked him.

With him, you get the same kicking as Rich basically, with absolutely everything else. And it does appear almost everything.

Love the kid really. Out of all the comparisons, he reminds me more of Kickett than anyone. Absolutely doggedly determined - will do anything for the team. And he is more athletic, although Dale was pretty dam good in that regard as well.

 

[The Night Shift]

Can't say I'm disappointed thus far. I don't think I will be. Suban sounds like he may be a spartan as well. Time will tell of course....

 

[4n20]

Is this the slow and lazy Rich that some people are talking about when i viewed him at 0.12 on this??.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKtkyIR7SVI

 

[greenred]

I think we all owe a massive thankyou to Mr Curley, who was instrumental in ensuring Stephen Hill was our first pick in the 08 national draft.

Don't Fremantle have a recruiting team in place? If they are making their decisions based on the advice of an assistant coach who was in place for a couple of weeks prior to the draft, it's no wonder the trophy cabinet is bare.

 

[Bubba_5]

Whoever said Hill's kicking is more or less the same as Rich's is kidding themselves.

There are a few things that Hill has over Rich - athleticism, drive, mental strength - but kicking is most definitely not one of them.

Rich is still my preference of the two especially with the prospect of Palmer and Rich working in tandem, but all the same good luck to you Fremantlians with Hill.

 

[Chops_a_must]

Rubbish.

Hill has an absolutely phenomenal boot. And there are a few things about it that make it better than Rich's IMO:

1) He can be used in a much more attacking manner for scoring goals than what Rich's boot can.

and

2) He can pull it off at top speed. Rich is best off a few steps at low speed. Not what you want as a midfielder.

 

[SupersonicDocker]

Rubbish.

Hill has an absolutely phenomenal boot. And there are a few things about it that make it better than Rich's IMO:

1) He can be used in a much more attacking manner for scoring goals than what Rich's boot can.

and

2) He can pull it off at top speed. Rich is best off a few steps at low speed. Not what you want as a midfielder.

Right there was the main reservation of many clubs recruiters with Rich.

 

[Moo]

Forget Rich - if Hartlett or Yarran are superstars our recruiters had an equal chance of them too.

Lets just focus on who we got and that is a bloody nice little player at this stage.

 

[Bubba_5]

Rubbish.

Hill has an absolutely phenomenal boot. And there are a few things about it that make it better than Rich's IMO:

1) He can be used in a much more attacking manner for scoring goals than what Rich's boot can.

and

2) He can pull it off at top speed. Rich is best off a few steps at low speed. Not what you want as a midfielder.

I haven't seen Rich miss a target. I have however seen Hill absolutely shank a kick. There is no chance in hell that his kicking is better than Rich's. As I said, there are quite a few things Hill has over Rich, but kicking aint one of them.

 

[Latro]

So you didnt see the kicks in his first game that straight over his team mates head?

On Hill he had a kicking effeciency of over 80% across his junior career.

 

[DockersMad]

I haven't seen Rich miss a target.

You either haven't been watching or you keep your eyes shut, his kicking in his first NAB cup game was abysmal.

 

[Alfonz]

Hill might not be as good a kick as Rich, but his pace means he can cover more distance with a run+kick. Also, I reckon Suban's kicking looks about on par with Rich and we might just have got someone similar to Rich anyway.

 

[The Matt]

Rich = Their Gun
Hill = Our Gun
I like our Gun

 

[Stronzo]

Don't Fremantle have a recruiting team in place? If they are making their decisions based on the advice of an assistant coach who was in place for a couple of weeks prior to the draft, it's no wonder the trophy cabinet is bare.

Considering that the assistant coach in question had coached Hill at wafl level, then perhaps his advice may have carried some weight, certainly more than Scott Watter's advice would.

 

[Marlin01]

It is way too early, but he did some things on Saturday night that caught my attention. He is absolutely lightning and does appear to go in hard. Rich looks bloody good too though.

 

[Belnakor]

Rich's kicks have a higher hurt factor, because they travel with more speed. However Hill is just as accurate.

What does it matter anyway, its not like Judd has ever been the greatest kick in the comp and he has still dominated for the past 5 years. its about being able to clear the ball from a pack or go on a run, and Hill has that in spades. You don't need to worry about bombing a kick 60m off a step if you can run it clear and kick 40m at full pelt.

 

[anchor man]

I think both are very good players but I am not sad or disappointed we didn't get Rich.
I think Hill has more chance to improve than Rich.But Rich is still a very good player.