Stephen Hill has been in plenty of fantasy sides this year, especially in salary cap formats where coaches are looking for value from a player who has struggled with injury in recent years. His best years are long gone and he spends time on the HBF instead of the guts these days, but he has been quietly accumulating to prove a worthwhile pick, if a little underwhelming. Perhaps this might have been the week to offload him, as he comes up against the Eagles who normally dominate Derbies and shut down Freo's runners.
Stephen Hill has been in plenty of fantasy sides this year, especially in salary cap formats where coaches are looking for value from a player who has struggled with injury in recent years. His best years are long gone and he spends time on the HBF instead of the guts these days, but he has been quietly accumulating to prove a worthwhile pick, if a little underwhelming. Perhaps this might have been the week to offload him, as he comes up against the Eagles who normally dominate Derbies and shut down Freo's runners.
Uphill trudge hard on legs
After a consistent durability record which spanned a decade, Stephen Hill suffered a series of quad and hamstring related injuries that derailed his 2019 season. Renowned for his smooth movement and classy delivery, Hill was restricted by his body and minutes during his limited involvement. Hill is in the traditional peak years for a footballer and has every chance to hit the ground running, enjoying an uninterrupted preseason to date. Available as a defender, selecting him in the late rounds as an upside pick could prove wise.
Sisyphean task for Hill
Just like his brother, Stephen Hill was dealt an injury blow that hampered his most recent campaign, and the midfielder eventually went under the knife over the summer to remove scar tissue on his left quadricep. Historically, Hill has been a consistent year-to-year player with consecutive 90+ seasons. With those days far gone, the 200-game veteran averaged sub-20 touches for the first time since 2013. Hill is suited to make a strong return from an injury-riddled 2018. He will slot straight into the midfield when fit and help with the gaping Lachie Neale-sized crevasse. Keep him on the watchlist over the preseason, and if all lights are green, snap him up in the later middle rounds to close out the midfield. If there remains uncertainty, draft him with a late pick for depth.
Hammy hurdle for Hill
Despite Nat Fyfe returning to midfield for 2017, Stephen Hill stayed in the engine room with him to complete a move made after Fyfe had been injured the previous year. His numbers suffered after a hamstring pull in round 5, and he didn't reach 25 disposals again until round 19. Hill's best form is at least a dozen points better than his recent numbers suggest. It sucked for his owners last year, but it is probably safe to assume that was a short-term problem that will not hinder him in 2018. He is worth a middle round pick.
Hill builds on his future
A player that has most certainly not suffered the second year blues is Stephen Hill. The number three draft pick will always be compared to Daniel Rich and others in the top 10 of the 2009 draft, but this kid can play.
Fantasy wise, Hill still has that inconsistency that most young players get at the start of their careers, but his best games are very, very good. High Dream Team scores of 102 and 101 are achievable for young Stephen, along with high SC scores of 120 and 115 as well. He isn't setting the world on fire in the scoring department, no, but his average is has climbed up this year which is positive.
I wouldn't take a look at him for the remainder of the year, but I can guarantee you there will be moments when you say "how good was that" when he has the ball. He'll be the pick of the '09 draft, he'll win games off his own boot, and he'll be fantasy star in years to come. Just not 2010. Yet.
