The Indecisive Whirling Dervish

[Sainternist]

Has anyone also noticed how often Brad Hill gets the ball, he’ll try to take on his opponents and just end up aimlessly spinning like a top, or doing a whirling dervish?

Gresham seems to have cottoned onto Hill’s dance moves this season, as well.

Invariably, the ball gets turned over after they try to execute this manoeuvre.

It has been painful to watch. Please, someone, make it stop!

[Scollop]

Dougal has a variation on the dance where he also does the splits

...could cause him to twist his knee and rip his groins, but it's very amusing to watch

[Jacks Back]

Every time Hill gets tackled it's holding the ball as he's usually had ample opportunity and then doesn't get rid of it, ever. Does he think the umps will just ball it up? Bloody hell.

[meher baba]

I think Hill’s main problem is that he is nowhere near as good by foot as gumby Brian Taylor and the other commentators think he is. And he knows it.

So he can’t create space with his kicks: he has to wait for players to run well into the clear. And our midfield isn’t much good at that.

This is why I definitely agree with those who think he would go much better at HF then at HB.

[takeaway]

Disagree with the OP. Far from discouraging Hill taking on opponents I would be continuing to encourage it. Sure, he gets caught on occasions and it does not look good, but more often than not he gets through or at the least gets out a handball or chip kick to another player.
When he does get through, it puts us right on the front foot, especially as he is an excellent kick, encouraging forwards to lead for once. He has always done it, that is Brad Hill. What would be more helpful would be more support around when he tries to get clear.

Same with Gresham taking on opponents, he has always had a few dance moves, and takes opponents on, and should continue to try.

Sinclair does, Webster, couple of others, should be more, like for instance Billings, who tends to play it safe. Like him to try and get around a few opponents, even if he gets caught on occasions.

You just need to watch how Melbourne play, and Saints play their best when they take the game on, take risks. We have to now anyway.

[asiu]

yes

take em on

and keep taking em on

and then keep at it until we are good at it
... somewhere (hopefully early) things will CLICK 'n we'll be a force

sort of gotta be ... partyboys

coz thats who we are.

imo fwtw

[The Fireman]

i just love the word "whirling Dervish"

Thread title of the month for mine.

[Sainternist]

Disagree with the OP. Far from discouraging Hill taking on opponents I would be continuing to encourage it. Sure, he gets caught on occasions and it does not look good, but more often than not he gets through or at the least gets out a handball or chip kick to another player.
When he does get through, it puts us right on the front foot, especially as he is an excellent kick, encouraging forwards to lead for once. He has always done it, that is Brad Hill. What would be more helpful would be more support around when he tries to get clear.

Same with Gresham taking on opponents, he has always had a few dance moves, and takes opponents on, and should continue to try.

Sinclair does, Webster, couple of others, should be more, like for instance Billings, who tends to play it safe. Like him to try and get around a few opponents, even if he gets caught on occasions.

You just need to watch how Melbourne play, and Saints play their best when they take the game on, take risks. We have to now anyway.

Some fair points made. It’s just infuriating to see it happen so frequently and often at crucial moments.

[PADDLEPOP1001]

Hill played his best game for our club on the HFF & has barely been put there since particularly as we have several HBF who fit the bill,I just don’t understand it!

[6621104]

great thread title- I immediately thought it referred to Gresham rather than Hill. Why do they so often run themselves into trouble ? Hill rarely has a get out option running with him (watch the better teams- typically one or two shadowing the runner) which is not his fault. Gresham, if he had support runners typically runs them out of position with his "whirling Dervish" impressions. Unlike Sinclair who can kick out of trouble Gresham can't kick.