Despite being the Bombers' number one ruckman last season, David Hille finished the season with 20 goals. He was the third top goal scorer behind Coleman medallist Matthew Lloyd and Damian Cupido. With the inclusion of All Australian ruckman Matthew Allan in the team, Hille could find himself spending more time in front of the goals. Bomber coach Kevin Sheedy said at training this morning that Hille will probably play forward this Sunday against Port Adelaide.

""We are trying to make sure he can play in ruck as well as the forwardline. In the end it is great to have that flexibility in your game that you can be dominant in the ruck and in the forwardline,"" Sheedy said. ""Scotty Lucas found out that he could win the best and fairest at centre half back but four years ago, he might never believed that.""

Now in his fifth season at Essendon the club is expecting big things from Hille in 2004. He played every game in 2003 and was awarded the Most Improved player award at the Best and Fairest. ""We are hoping to get the best out of David Hille. He is a fine young leader coming up in our club and he has got that sort of responsibility about the way he believes he wants to be a player. We hope one day he will be one of the best ruckman in the AFL.""