Despite a strong individual performance, Bradley Hill said he felt only disappointment after Fremantle’s 58-point loss to West Coast at Optus Stadium on Sunday. 

Hill led Fremantle with 30 disposals on the day in a performance that showed the 2017 Doig Medallist is building back to his best footy after missing most of this season with a knee injury.

The running midfielder felt Fremantle were able to match the Eagles in the middle but said Freo’s ball use let the team down.

“It was a tough day for us,” Hill said.

“We didn’t play the way we wanted to play and they were just too good for us today. We just didn’t execute, so we’re disappointed.”

Hill highlighted that Fremantle were unable to move the ball freely by foot, with their 167 kicks well below their season average of 202.5.

Additionally, Fremantle have taken the seventh-most marks this season with an average of 91.2 per game but took only 73 against the Eagles.

Hill also highlighted that West Coast were able to capitalise too easily from Fremantle’s turnovers, scoring 95 points compared to Fremantle’s 39 – a differential of 56 points.

“We only had 164 kicks which is very low and we had about 60 uncontested marks so that’s not helping us,” Hill said.

“I thought we were good in the midfield but on turnover they hurt us.”

Despite the result, Fremantle showed some promise up front, with forwards Matt Taberner and Cam McCarthy kicking two goals each on their return to AFL football.

McCarthy led Fremantle for marks inside 50 with three, while Taberner took two.

“I thought ‘Tabs’ and Cam competed well today,” Hill said.

“We probably didn’t get it in there enough or clean enough out of the middle to the forwards.

“It’s just our ball use from the backline coming through the midfield. It wasn’t that great today but I thought when we did get it in there we did compete and get the ball to ground.”

Hill collected 30 or more disposals for the first time since this point of the season last year, with his highest total since he collected 33 touches against Gold Coast in round 20, 2017. 

“I feel like I’m getting fitter but I’m obviously I’m just disappointed in the result. It doesn’t really matter about my performance,” Hill said.

“I’m getting back into it. I’ve played four or five games now. But it’s a disappointing result so I’m not really focusing on the way I played.”