Regularly attending Flemington with a tape recorder and pair of binoculars, Hill practised the skill during his teenage years and began to make himself known to people within the industry.
[5] During his tenure in NSW, he filled in for five Melbourne metro meets in 2003, getting the opportunity to call races at Flemington for the first time while Greg Miles, who Hill has repeatedly said that he models himself off, was on leave.
[4][5] While commentating the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the first time for radio station 2GB, Hill had a serious health scare, contracting melioidosis resulting in severe pneumonia which required he be put into an induced coma for 4 days.
[4] After being medevaced by air to Hong Kong to receive treatment, he spent another 5 weeks in hospital before making a full recovery.
[11] In 2024, Hill became a semi-regular commentator on Fox Footy,[12] before being elevated to a role calling Thursday nights alongside Mark Howard from 2025.