26 May 2001
What do explorer Ludwig
Leichhardt, aviator Charles
Kingsford-Smith and English aristocrat Lord Lucan have in
common?
They were people in the public eye. Then they
suddenly disappeared. It was as though they got lured into
the Bermuda Triangle.There is a player who made an important contribution
before
vanishing into the football ether.
The man was Paul Hills.
The Hoist had a winning background. Under age and some senior footy with North Ballarat the power club of central Victoria. The Roosters have produced such legends as Mick Malthouse and 'Plugger'. Essendon chose Hills with 1988 national selection 93. He ended up with the number 11 jumper made famous by John Birt and Geoff Blethyn and Greg Anderson who tranferred to the Crows for 1993.The PH factor made his senior debut in 1991.
Played mostly on the wing but went into smoke from the ones to refine his defensive skills at magoos level. He did a lot of work on his game and acted on advice from specialist coaches. From 1992 Hills had a range of abilities. For example in the round 12 game versus Richmond at the MCG, he gave a spellbinding performance. 20 minutes into the second bonanza, Paul grabbed the ball from a marking contest and accelerated from half back. As he took three bounces he switched on the afterburner. Steadied and drove the V dub lace out into the chest of Todd Ridley. Ridley easy goal. Early in the last, number 11 booted a clever curling goal from 40 metres. Essendon victors 19.16 to 11.13.Round 23. Bombers vs. Roos at the MCG. Hills kicked a 55 metre set shot major late in the second. It was the signal for a goal gorge. Essendon home by the length of a Sunline win. 20.19 to 10.11.
Paul was as old as the Hills as far as experience goes when 1993 ticked over. He blasted out of the blocks during the Fosters Cup match against Brisbane. 12 minutes into the third he ran on to a loose ball in the middle, took four bounces and kicked truly from 35 metres.Round 4 at the SCG. The Bombers cubed the Swans 28.13 to 14.11. Hillo scored the last goal of the encounter, the pink icing on the game's coffee scroll. The unforgettable round 6 against Geelong at the G. Everyone remembers Salmon kicking 10 and Ablett 14 in a losing side. But some recall the Hoist's great six pointer in the third. The Hillsman continued to show good form. He played a responsible game against Carlton in the 1993 grand final. Took some gutsy marks. Like an ambulance made space in heavy traffic. PH finished the afternoon with a premiership medal.
Hills had some injury and form problems through 1994. But he recorded a snag in the round 15 win over the Roos. Then at the end of the season he left no trace. Might have played with West Adelaide in the SANFL. Essendon surprised by redrafting Paul Hills with 1996 national draft pick 66. There was a sighting in the reserves. He was on the interchange for a couple of matches. Then he melted into thin air again. Abracadabra, he was gone. The guy played 63 games for 11 goals '91 to '96 with a space between. A premiership performer who disappeared all too quickly.