Experienced Fremantle midfielder Stephen Hill is relishing the mentoring role he has adopted this pre-season to Freo’s young recruits.
Entering his 12th season of AFL, Hill has placed a focus on helping his young teammates reach their opportunity to play at the highest level.
“We have got a young group, so I’m just trying to help them grow,” Hill said.
“They train really hard and there are a lot of good kids here.
“I think we can play some good footy, who knows what we can do."
Hill said it’s hard to believe he now finds himself as a senior member amongst the group, despite the constant reminders from Michael Walters.
“Sonny is always telling me I’m the second oldest at the club now,” Hill said.
“I don’t really feel like I am, but it is a little bit strange being a senior player at the club.
“It feels like yesterday I got drafted and now I’m sort of towards the backend of my career, it goes really quick.”
As well as out on the track, Hill has taken his mentoring role off the field with new recruits Liam Henry and Leno Thomas moving into the 29-year-old’s home.
Both Henry and Fremantle’s first pick in the 2019 National Draft Hayden Young, have caught the attention of Hill at training.
“Liam is obviously a really talented kid and he’s good off-field with what he’s doing,” Hill said.
“He’s really switched on and I think he’ll have a good career.
“Youngy is a very good kick, a left footer, we’ve got some really good skilful players here.
Hill said he has been tracking well throughout the pre-season, incorporating plenty of sprint work into his program.
“I’m excited, obviously last year I missed a fair bit of pre-season so to be back out there is exciting,” Hill said.
“I feel really good, I’m getting through training really well and pulling up fine.
“Throughout the pre-season I’ve been doing a lot of sprint work and personally, I feel like my running hasn’t changed too much.
“I’ve still got my speed and my endurance, so I feel fine and hopefully I can bring that speed into games.”
In August this year, Hill signed a two-year contract extension with Fremantle, seeing him stay with the club until at least the end of the 2021 season.
Hill said he is looking to repay the faith by the club and is gearing up for 2020 and beyond.
“The club from the start gave me the opportunity and to give me another two years, they have been so great to me,” Hill said.
“We’ve got a young list and I want to be a part of it.”
