Stephen Hill over Daniel Rich?

[SupersonicDocker]

Why Fremantle could overlook Rich


29th October 2008, 9:15 WST

WA could produce three of the first four players in the national draft with mounting speculation that Fremantle will choose West Perth’s Stephen Hill with their No. 3 draft pick ahead of Subiaco’s Daniel Rich.

With Melbourne tipped to pick key forward Jack Watts first and West Coast favouring Swan Districts ruckman Nick Naitanui second, the Dockers will choose between Rich and Hill and are understood to have the wiry Hill at least on even terms.

Port Adelaide would almost certainly then pounce on Rich with the fourth pick on November 29.

“Put it this way. If we have the option of considering him we would be very pleased to have the option,” Power football manager Peter Rohde said yesterday.

The scenario would leave WA with the second, third and fourth picks in the draft for the first time since the compromised draft of 1991 when South Australians were excluded under Adelaide recruiting concessions and WA produced the first nine selections.

Hill’s rapid rise shapes as the story of the 2008 draft. He blossomed at the 2008 under-18 titles, eclipsing highly rated opposition midfielders Tom Scully (Vic Metro) and Hamish Hartlett (SA) on his way to All-Australian selection.

Fremantle have refused to comment on their likely selection but WAFC talent and coaching manager Jon Haines confirmed Hill was now rated a top-end pick.

“He is a very talented player with good skills, a good mover and he is pretty resilient,” Haines said. “The way he has progressed this year has probably surprised a few people.

“The key thing we noticed in the State program was that his ability to play roles for the team in a team context was just outstanding.

“He would play on the opposition’s best midfielder, shut him out and then go and win a lot of the football himself. That was really impressive.

“I think that was what got a lot of people’s attention from a recruiting point of view.

“He showed a really strong sense of resilience and mental toughness which is very attractive from an AFL club’s point of view and he tested really well at the draft camp.”

Hill smashed the draft camp record in the agility test and ranked third in both speed over 20m and in vertical jumping. “He is very different to Rich,” Haines said.

“If it does come down to a choice between those two players for Fremantle then they are going to face a tough choice between the two because they are so different.”

Haines warned against devaluing the achievements of Rich, one of few players in modern football who will enter AFL ranks with two senior premierships under his belt, and particularly warned against judging him as a part-time midfielder because of the role he played for Subiaco. “Playing among his own age in colts level he would definitely be playing midfield,” Haines said.

“Given the quality of midfield at Subiaco and his age, I think Subiaco managed him.

“I don’t think there is any doubt that he could play most of his time as a midfielder.

“Both over a short and long distance he has got outstanding kicking skills and he is very good in close, in contested situations. The other thing that came out through the 18s is that he has got strong leadership attributes.

“Over a serious period of time, the last three or four years, he has been right at the elite level in under 18s teams.

“He is a dual All-Australian under 18 and a dual WAFL premiership player. Not many players come out of the under-18s with that experience already.

“That is going to hold him in great stead when he does get drafted.” MARK DUFFIELD



Interesting indeed, normally i wouldn't pay attention but it was duffield who wrote it

 

[silverscope]

no way no how!!! sif select hill over rich. rich @ #3! LOCK IT IN !! stupid article.

 

[FootyEater]

will not happen, rediculous article.

 

[BluesRock]

“Both over a short and long distance he has got outstanding kicking skills and he is very good in close, in contested situations. The other thing that came out through the 18s is that he has got strong leadership attributes.

“Over a serious period of time, the last three or four years, he has been right at the elite level in under 18s teams.

“He is a dual All-Australian under 18 and a dual WAFL premiership player. Not many players come out of the under-18s with that experience already.

Reading those comments you would have to seriously doubt the likelihood of Freo even slightly considering Hill over Rich.

Rich is simply streets ahead of Hill. No brainer choice......

 

[rgauci]

Interesting.

Hill does have more height and pace than Rich. He definately has more endurance. He's a wiry player who throws himself at the contest.

It'll all depend on Rich's injury status throughout this year. If he's been fit and runs around like he did on Grand Final day in the WAFL. He might struggle with the transition to AFL.

All this year he hasn't been able to really crack midfielder numbers playing at WAFL level. Remember back, Palmer did have the odd 5 goal 27 possession games for East Fremantle. Rich has taken this year off and is solely concentrating on football. Subiaco is a professional club and Rich has failed to make any serious development this year.

If Rich has been injured, you might be more hopeful he could regain that elite endurance needed, coupled with what looks like one of the best kicks in the AFL to become an elite player.

Though ppl see Rich as a safe bet. I think he's far from it. A short player with an inside frame and a outsider's kick. He just screams Colin Sylvia. If he comes to us at pick 3 i hope im wrong.

I don't think Hill will come into it at number 3. I think its more likely we'll select Ziebell, Hartlett or Swift ahead of Rich.

 

[pistol17]

Take Rich at 3.

Hill can wait until our next pick if he is still available, I dont care who wrote the article it is just another BS story by the West Australian about Fremantle. After all Fremantle are not Essendon *cough* David Myers *cough* *cough*

 

[Memories]

So.. where is Plugga to throw water on the Rich/Hill fire and to suggest Hartlett?

 

[Scham]

I don't know, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. I actually sort of predicted it in another thread when someone said Hartlett would go 3, I said that if we overlooked Rich or Nat then it would be for Hill not Hartlett

I know for a fact that Freo are very impressed by Hill, and as RGauci said, Rich could be a risk.

The way that Mitchell was going on and on the other day about the game being a running game these days, do we really need Haselby, Rich, Schammer and Palmer all in the one midfield? None of them are lightning quick.

In regards to Zeibell, Hartlett etc maybe the WA factor and his obvious upside could throw Hill in front of them?

 

[TOA.]

Reading those comments you would have to seriously doubt the likelihood of Freo even slightly considering Hill over Rich.

Rich is simply streets ahead of Hill. No brainer choice......

Those comments are really based around Rich playing in a super dominant WAFL side. You think back to guys like Wells and Gibbs and you'd probably have thought someone like Rich would have run absolute riot at Subi. He's had the skill and body to do it. Question is why he hasnt. He barely starred at WAFL level at all. Gibbs had a game where he got 35 touches and 6 goals in the SANFL, constantly in the best. Wells dominated and came 2nd in the Sandover in a shocking side. Even NicNat had major impact on games (won 1-2 by himself) and he is an extremely raw RUCKMAN.

I like Rich but there is something which doesnt quite add up. You'd be silly to overlook him IMO. The only bloke I would half consider overlooking him for is Yarran if you think he will make it as a mid. If Yarran makes it as a mid, he will be very special indeed.

 

[FootyEater]

Supersonic, I find that Mark Duffield's writing is a little like Paul Duffield's football - he throws out a good one every now and then and makes you think he's going to be ok, but most of the time it's just terrible.

Given that there is no comment from Freo and that West Coast supposedly haven't even decided who they are taking (despite numerous people who claim they will 'definitely' take Naitanui, or they will 'definitely' take Rich) I think we can just put this one down to Duff's enjoyment of fictional writing.

HAHAHA, thats tough, but fair...... i dont like the cut of either of the duffields jib

 

[FootyEater]

I don't know, I wouldn't be surprised if it happened. I actually sort of predicted it in another thread when someone said Hartlett would go 3, I said that if we overlooked Rich or Nat then it would be for Hill not Hartlett

I know for a fact that Freo are very impressed by Hill, and as RGauci said, Rich could be a risk.

The way that Mitchell was going on and on the other day about the game being a running game these days, do we really need Haselby, Rich, Schammer and Palmer all in the one midfield? None of them are lightning quick.

In regards to Zeibell, Hartlett etc maybe the WA factor and his obvious upside could throw Hill in front of them?

Palmer is no slouch, and i reckon schammer has ok pace.......

 

[Wizard]

If we take Hill over Rich i will neck myself.

 

[FootyEater]

If we take Hill over Rich i will neck myself.

I hear that

 

[dont bowl there]

If we take Hill over Rich i will neck myself.

I doubt it will happen but if it does it wouldn't be the worst pick. Hill probably has the one thing Harvey is looking for in young players...courage. He throws himself at every single contest and will never shy away from a hit. Very good skills and tough as nails, sounds good to me. Good on Harvey if he goes and gets exactly what he wants rather than get the player thats more highly regarded at THIS stage of their careers.

 

[Plugga]

So.. where is Plugga to throw water on the Rich/Hill fire and to suggest Hartlett?

I can only pass on what info I had...& that was that Freo weren't interested in Rich. IMO I like Rich...but let's just wait & see...my info was gleaned from a current member of coaching staff/admin....but that was 4 weeks ago...alot can change in that time. I know they did rate Hill very highly as well as Hartlett.

 

[peppy la pew]

I doubt it will happen but if it does it wouldn't be the worst pick. Hill probably has the one thing Harvey is looking for in young players...courage. He throws himself at every single contest and will never shy away from a hit. Very good skills and tough as nails, sounds good to me. Good on Harvey if he goes and gets exactly what he wants rather than get the player thats more highly regarded at THIS stage of their careers.

Well said dbt, Harves has gone through the joint with a massive broom,

Let him build the new list.

 

[Alfonz]

As much as we like to pontificate over who are the better young kids ... almost 100% of us have really no idea. We'll have to trust what our people in charge do. In some ways its a bit hypocritical to say this and then say I don't want Naitanui ... but on the other hand that's more about wanting the best midfielder.

It doesn't sound so ridiculous when you consider Hill's athletic ability and the supposed lack of interest in Rich. Also the fact Hill seems a very smart and team-orientated footballer, based on comments in that article regarding the jobs he's done out on the field. He maybe isn't as good a kick as Rich ... but I also seem to remember him banging through a goal outside 55m vs Vic Metro. And we don't know the mental commitment players have shown in interviews regarding playing for Freo. Rich might not have shown much interest if he is a rabid WC supporter.

Players like Thomas or Pendlebury were probably ranked by the likes of bigfooty at a similar level to Hill ... around 10-20, so it shouldn't surprise if someone like Hill goes up the ladder. Whether it be to us or someone else, time will tell.

 

[bigburger]

Lol. Mark Duffield is usually a lot better writer than this. You already have Palmer why the **** would you need another outside quickish mid in Hill. Rich is what you blokes need especially with Carr, Bell and Shauny Mac gone.

 

[Lach72]

lol. Mark duffield is usually a lot better writer than this. you already have palmer why the **** would you need another outside quickish mid in hill. Rich is what you blokes need especially with carr, bell and shauny mac gone.

lol!

 

[Freo_4eva]

Lol. Mark Duffield is usually a lot better writer than this. You already have Palmer why the **** would you need another outside quickish mid in Hill. Rich is what you blokes need especially with Carr, Bell and Shauny Mac gone.

hmmmmmmmm

 

[FootyEater]

Lol. Mark Duffield is usually a lot better writer than this. You already have Palmer why the **** would you need another outside quickish mid in Hill. Rich is what you blokes need especially with Carr, Bell and Shauny Mac gone.

hmmmm, someone is looking like a spanker

 

[DockerNJL]

hmmmmmmmm

I dont think he seen the derbies this year lol's

 

[FootyEater]

if rhys palmer got any tougher he would be chuck norris

 

[bigburger]

Palmer is definately more of an outside midfielder imo. Sorry if that offends. I guess I am just thinking more about his 18's carnival with all the ball Masten was dishing out to him.

 

[dont bowl there]

It only offends because you clearly have no clue, Palmer may have played the outside roll in the baby footy champs but I guess we tend to look at what he did in the AFL and that was play a good mix of inside and outside football. Silly us for thinking AFL form is a better indication of where he plays in the...well AFL.