‘From a fan to a teammate to a brother’ Freo young-gun’s tribute to Stephen Hill

Fremantle forward Liam Henry has paid tribute to retiring teammate Stephen Hill ahead of what’s shaping up as a do-or-die clash with cross-town rivals West Coast in tomorrow’s western derby.

Hill called time on his 218-game football career this week after being plagued by injuries in recent years.

Henry, who grew up in Derby, posted a picture social media of himself as a boy with Hill.

“From a fan to a teammate to a brother,” he wrote on Instagram.

Henry later told the ABC their time playing together was too short.

“I grew up watching him,” he said.

“I would have loved to have played more games with him.

“He had a lot of injuries and setbacks but he was a person that was willing to never to give up.”

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Henry was drafted to the Dockers in 2019 and played his first game the following year.

As a young player, he vowed to hold onto advice from Hill.

“He continues to tell me to work hard — talent will only get you so far,” he said.

‘Get ready to play’

Fremantle and West Coast will be hoping to redeem themselves in the derby clash, with both coming off losses last week.

Henry said the Dockers were looking for a win.

“The intensity in our training was there,” he said.

“The boys are ready to hit the derby from the first bounce.

“[We] look forward to the challenge and to bounce back from last week.”

The Fremantle home clash will kick off at 3.10pm on Sunday.

Source: AFL NEWS ABC