Fremantle recruit Bradley Hill is focused on a solid pre-season before looking ahead to 2017.
The 23-year-old, who was traded from Hawthorn for the second round compensation pick (23) Fremantle received when free agent Chris Mayne joined Collingwood, wants to prepare properly for next season.
“Obviously we need to think about the pre-season first,” he said.
“We’ll get through that and make sure we have a strong pre-season and then we’ll focus on round one.”
Dream to play alongside brother
A triple premiership player with hawthorn, Hill decided on moving home in about May of this year, but wasn’t sure the deal would be completed.
“I had a chat with my manager and said I was thinking of coming back home and playing with my brother (Stephen),” he said.
“I didn’t know if it would happen this year as obviously I was still a contracted player with Hawthorn.
“I was pretty excited to be able to come across.”
Hill praised the way the Hawks handled his desire to return home.
“They got together with the leaders as well and pretty much said whatever you want to do we’re obviously going to help you through it and we’re not going to treat you any different and just be yourself,” he said.
“They were very good about it.”
The 2013 NAB Rising Star nominee was quick to dismiss speculation his move had anything to it other than wanting to come home.
“It wasn’t anything to do with Hawthorn, like I said it was personal reasons about wanting to come back for family and to play alongside my brother,” Hill said.
A midfield containing the Hill duo, Doig Medallist Lachie Neale and Brownlow Medallist Nathan Fyfe is an exciting prospect for Freo fans, and the 95-gamer is no different.
“It will be pretty good playing with some of the other big names, you’ve got Fyfey, Lachie Neale, Sandilands, blokes like that,” Hill said.
“I’m excited for what’s to come and (it will) definitely be good to play alongside my brother and the other boys.”
Johnson raring to go for 2017
Hill was a Fremantle fan when brother Stephen was drafted in 2008 and admitted he got emotional when Hawthorn beat Freo in the 2013 Grand Final.
“I supported them when Stephen first got drafted,” he said.
“It got a little bit emotional, obviously we played in the Grand Final in 2013, seeing him sad after losing.
“It does hurt you a little bit because he’s my big brother.”
One person who will be particularly excited about Hill’s move back to WA is their mother, Stephanie Gray, who watched the pair become the first brothers to play in opposing teams in a Grand Final in 101 years in 2013.
“Mum’s real excited, I think she can get rid of that guernsey now,” Hill said.
“She has the double sided one and now she gets to wear a Fremantle one so she’ll be excited with that.”
Despite being entitled to a late start to pre-season, Hill is eyeing an early return as he seeks to gel with his new teammates.
“I’ll come in early and start with all the boys,” he said.
“I don’t want to come in on my own, I’d rather get here as quick as I can and meet everyone and show I want to work hard and get in when everyone else does.”
Hill is one of two Hawthorn premiership players heading to WA this trade period, with club legend Sam Mitchell joining cross-town rivals West Coast, and the speedster said he wouldn’t mind meeting his former teammate in a Carlton Draught Western Derby.
“It would be awesome if we did play each other in the derby, but obviously we’ve both got to get the game first,” he said.
