St Kilda coach Brett Ratten has come to the defence Brad Hill after the speedster endured another lacklustre performance.
The big-money wingman had just six touches in the Saints’ 20 point win over North Melbourne, having been tagged out of the game by North youngster Bailey Scott.
While Hill didn’t have a big impact on the stat sheet, Ratten said he was still helping the team in terms of their structure.
“I thought some of his (Hill’s) work to take two for ones and try to help out a little bit for others was pretty good,” Ratten said.
“He tried to assist others, and he got sat on. Scott didn’t even want to try and touch the ball, he made it a sole focus.
“He (Hill) was sort of helping our team defence, even though he wasn’t getting the ball a lot.
“But he’s got higher standards than what he achieved tonight, and he’ll keep pushing for that.”
After admitting Hill wasn’t at his best, Ratten says part of the blame must lay at his teammates feet for failing to find him with ball in hand.
“He is a good player, and we’ve got to try and tap in to how we can bring him into the game,” Ratten said.
"Even towards the end there, how doesn’t he receive a handball going inside 50? He’s in the right spot.
"They’re some of the things I was talking about, not doing the predictable thing for your teammate.
“Everyone says, 'Hilly only had six touches', but he should have got it four times with handball receives but we didn’t give it to him.
"Especially in the last quarter I thought he was in some really good spots, but we chose not to (give him the ball)."
Hill will look to regain his form when the Saints host Sydney at Marvel Stadium next Saturday.