After a stellar and lengthy career as one of South Australia’s greatest women basketballers, Jo Hill switched to playing football in 2018 at the tender age of 44. It was a new challenge for her after so many achievements in basketball, including representing Australia at Olympic and World Championship level and winning a plethora of medals and titles in a career that spanned three decades. 

Hill joined Norwood as a tall forward and played at community club level for Division One powerhouse, Adelaide University. Both clubs had won their respective premierships the previous season. 

On the field, Hill enjoyed the physicality of football and was a fierce competitor who provided influence and leadership. Off the field, she was an important mentor for the playing group. Deeply kind and caring in her approach to her teammates, Hill always took the time to share her knowledge of what it takes to perform at the highest level. Hill was highly regarded as being a very generous, loyal, humble and gentle person. 

Hill was the club’s leading goalkicker in both 2019 and again in 2020 (with Alison Ferrall). 

In 2019, Hill became a premiership player with Adelaide University’s Division One women’s team. Playing alongside Norwood team mates Matilda Zander, Matilda Van Riel, Cassie Tsoumbris, Georgia Taylor and Jessica Macolino, ‘the Blacks’ had a two point win over SMOSH West Lakes after being 9 points down at half time. 

Hill retired from Norwood in 2020 - not long before she turned 47 years of age – and is a highly respected person who is also recognised as a remarkable athlete. 

Chris Brown, October 2024