Premier Cricket: Camberwell’s Simon Hill announces retirement

The curtain is set to fall on the career of one of Premier Cricket’s greats this week – but there could be one more milestone to come.

What a career: Camberwell Magpies’ Simon Hill announces retirement. Picture: Hamish Blair

The curtain is set to fall on one of the great careers of Premier Cricket, with legendary Camberwell Magpie Simon Hill calling it a day.

The star batsman has announced this weekend’s final-round clash against Casey-South Melbourne will be his last at the top level, after celebrating his 300th First XI match this season to go with 350 club games.

He arrived at the Magpies as a fresh-faced teenager from Wangaratta for the 1999-2000 season, debuting in the Fourth XI before going on to forge one of the club’s most decorated careers.

To date he’s knocked 16 centuries, claimed nine Keith Stackpole medals as the First XI’s club champion, five John Birch trophies as the overall club champion, and has topped the runs at the Magpies on seven occasions.

Simon Hill is closing in on 11,000 runs. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Camberwell Magpies coach Ian Stanger said the decision had been playing on Hill’s mind over the course of the season and believes a strong run of form had made it a more comfortable one for him to make.

Hill currently sits first for the ‘Pies in the one-day format for runs this season on 398, including a vintage knock of 109 not-out against Kingston Hawthorn in Round 14, a week after his 300th.

“I think he’s been clear in his mind that since that 300th mark that was a big game for him, and he got to that in pretty good form, and that’s given him some satisfaction that he’s going out at the top,” Stanger said

“He’s certainly shown in the last month that he can certainly play those big innings for the team.”

But Stanger believes the end of Hill’s top-grade career to be in stark contrast to many others.

“He’s been great this year in terms of how conscientious he’s been with his training and preparation, but time catches up with us all,” Stanger said.

“Usually when you retire, you know as the training becomes something you don’t enjoy, but with Simon, I can’t point to him and say he hasn’t been fitting in the training.”

There could yet be another milestone to add to an illustrious CV this weekend, with Hill within reach of a mammoth 11,000 career runs, currently sitting on 10,980.

Stanger is hopeful the rain holds off to allow the champion one last stand this Saturday, as his club, which currently sits 14th, chases its fourth victory of the season against the side sitting directly above it on the ladder.

“I haven’t met an opening batsman yet that isn’t motivated by numbers … don’t you worry, he’ll have that (11,000 run milestone) in his mind,” Stanger laughed.

“I’m sure if Casey become aware of it there’ll be no freebies and he wouldn’t want it any other way.”