FREMANTLE milestone man Stephen Hill hopes younger brother Bradley did enough in his WAFL comeback to earn a recall against Melbourne in Darwin on Saturday night.
Hill will become just the 10th Docker to reach the 200-game landmark, a decade after the unassuming utility was drafted via pick three.
The 28-year-old has family members travelling to the Northern Territory for the match, and it is expected Bradley will be selected to replace Nat Fyfe (hamstring) after impressing for Peel last Saturday.
The reigning Doig medallist was forced to return via the WAFL after a club-imposed suspension and racked up 25 touches in his first game since nearly rupturing his ACL in round two.
"It would be good to have him in the side," Stephen said.
"He had a strong performance on the weekend, so he'll give himself a chance. He pulled up fine, so he's happy to be playing football again and we'll see what happens.
"It's always good playing with my brother out on the footy field. But whoever it is out in the team, all my teammates, we've got a close group here.
"Hopefully we can just put up a good fight."
The Dockers, who were embarrassed in a 55-point home loss to Brisbane last round, would welcome back Bradley's run.
It is set to be the former Hawks wingman's first game since he was dumped from Freo's leadership group after an incident at a Scarborough nightspot in May.
HILL'S REMORSE 'I did a silly thing'
"I didn't say too much (to him about it). He had a few people talking to him around the club," Stephen said.
"He knew it wasn't the right thing.
"He's moved on from that and he's just looking to get back playing, which he did on the weekend, and helping the team going forward."
Developing ruckman Sean Darcy is also a strong chance to play his first senior game in 2018, with Freo likely to need a second ruckman to combat Demons giant Max Gawn.
The Dockers will be without veteran Aaron Sandilands (calf) for three weeks, but Hill believed there was a silver lining to losing the influential big man and superstar Fyfe.
"It gives guys (the chance) to grow and improve, and (show) that on-field leadership as well," Hill said.
"They're obviously key players to our list and leaders of our club, so it gives our younger blokes an opportunity to improve in that leadership aspect.
"We're going to have to work hard without them."
Hill battled calf and quad trouble in a frustrating first half of the season, but after two games back he is confident in his body again.
While he is yet to reflect on his career, Hill felt his best years so far were during 2015 and '16 when he finished on the Doig Medal podium – after also taking out third spot in 2014.
"Playing 200 games, not a lot of players get to do that, so I'm pretty lucky and to be able to do it for a great club, I'm super-honoured," he said.
Hill also spoke glowingly about Hawthorn superstar Cyril Rioli, who announced his shock retirement on Wednesday after playing in four premierships.
"He's a special player. He was probably one of my favourite players to watch. Just the things he could do was so special," Hill said.
"He's going to be missed, but he's had such a great career and achieved so much."
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