At a club with a proud Indigenous history, Stephen Hill has helped continue the legacy started by the club’s early Indigenous stars, according to Fremantle life member Antonio Grover.

In total, 34 Indigenous players have played 2,122 games for Fremantle. Incredibly, this is the most of any AFL club despite Fremantle being the third-youngest in the league.

Grover contributed 202 games to the total and Hill has 199 to date, with Hill set to join Grover and Michael Johnson as Fremantle’s third Indigenous player to reach the 200-game milestone.

“The culture stems back from the leaders that were there before me, Dale Kickett, Winston Abraham, Scotty Chisholm, Troy Cook, Des Hedland,” Grover said.

“They set the bar and have continued the leadership qualities to bring other young boys through, put their arm around them and let them know what’s required at AFL.

“When Stephen was living with me I’d try to promote that professional lifestyle and I think he grasped it quickly.

“It took me a few years to work out what was required to get to the level but in giving that advice to Stephen, it only fast-tracked him.”

Grover and Hill knew each other before Hill joined Fremantle with pick no.3 in 2008.

“I’ve known him and his family for a long time,” Grover said.

“I remember the day that his mum was at my house with my mum having a cup of coffee and she was saying how Stephen wanted to play AFL football so I gave her a pair of boots for him.

“I started following him when he was in the state 18s and obviously there was a lot of debate whether he’d get picked up at three or Daniel Rich. I’d say we made the right pick.”

Grover said he looks back at his milestone games as special moments in his career and passed on his best wishes to Hill.

“I just wanted to congratulate you on your 200 games,” Grover said in his message to Stephen.

“You’ve certainly been an integral part of the football club. You came into the club as a skinny young man and you’ll leave as a skinny young man but all the best for the future and there’s plenty of more games ahead of you.”