‘It’s been a real challenge for Bobby:’ Pies part ways with flag hero in sad circumstances

Bobby Hill was nowhere to be seen as the Magpies respectfully rubber-stamped the end of his short but decorated Collingwood career on a crisp Melbourne morning outside the club’s training centre.

Collingwood executive general manager Charlie Gardiner fronted a small media contingent to explain a mutual parting of the ways of club and player, his voice barely audible above the hum of nearby CityLink traffic.

This was an announcement of little fanfare, but considerable heartache.

The club made a point of standing Gardiner away from the club’s advertising hoardings. There were no players at the club, and no coaching staff.

The setting was a far cry from the outpouring of adulation and joy as Hill stood on the MCG premiership dais in 2023 alongside his ecstatic teammates, a Norm Smith Medal dangling around his neck.

The dynamic Indigenous forward will never be seen in the black and white jumper again.

“It’s been a mutual position that we’ve arrived at, which we think is in the best interest of Bobby and the club,” Gardiner explained.

“He’s going to take some time to step away from football and focus on his family and himself.”

Hill’s absence on Friday was telling. It has been an ongoing problem. Over the course of the past year, he has drifted from the club.

“What we’ve seen, especially in the recent months, has just been, it’s been a real challenge for Bobby to consistently rock up and train and prepare to play AFL, and be a professional athlete,” Gardiner said.

“I think we’ve all just got to the point where we’ve realised that right now that’s not the priority for Bobby. His family and himself is where his energies need to focus.”

The footnote on his Collingwood career took place within sight of the MCG, the venue at which the undermanned Magpies had fallen to Geelong by 25 points on Thursday night. 

As much as they have missed his match-winning abilities this year, Gardiner was not prepared to go into the breadth and depth of Hill’s concerns.

The 26-year-old small forward’s personal issues will remain largely unknown unless he chooses to speak “in the fullness of time”.

He has not played an AFL game this season, following 14 last year. The decision brings to an end a $750,000-a-year contract that was to take him until 2030.

“The arrangement we’ve reached with Bobby is confidential,” Gardiner said. “I won’t go into the details of that, other than to say that supporting Bobby through his transition has been front of mind for us, and we’ll do that and make sure we do it well.

“I’m not going to go into detail as to you know the ins and outs and all the conversations and all the support structures that we’ve put in place and the work we’ve done together with Bobby, but, you know, we’re disappointed that it’s got to this, but we are firm and confident that we think this is the right decision for everyone.

“We’ll commit to Bobby to make sure that we facilitate him re-igniting his career if that’s what he chooses to do. I understand that that may be an aspiration of his down the track, but the focus right now is just on him and his family.”

Hill will likely become a delisted free agent, opening up possibilities should he ever rediscover the passion to play AFL again.

It will also open up space in Collingwood’s player payment space.

“Respectfully, it’s [salary cap space] had nothing to do with the decision or the position that we’ve arrived at together,” Gardiner said.

“We’ll deal with that down the track and separately. But this has been a decision we’ve arrived at together in the best interest of Bobby and the club.”

From an age perspective, Hill still has much to give.

He has played 102 matches in total since being drafted from WA at pick 24 in 2018 and making his debut for Greater Western Sydney the following year.

He was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2022 and after having surgery crossed to Collingwood in 2023, their premiership year.

In a statement released through the club on Friday, Hill said: “I’ll always be proud to have been part of this club and thankful for the opportunity to represent Collingwood – I leave with memories I’ll cherish forever.

“I’m going to take a break from football to keep working on myself and regain my passion for the game.”

Sadly, the decision was confirmed after Hill received a horrific direct message on Instagram on Thursday night from a fan angry with his output over the past 12 months.

The Age chose to blur out the worst of the language directed at Hill.

“You have disappointed this whole club and it’s [sic] 100 thousand plus fans what you have done the last 18 months,” the account posted. “I hope nothing but the worst for you.”

The racial abuse comes a week after Magpies defender Isaac Quaynor was booed by Adelaide fans despite being the victim of a homophobic slur from Izak Rankine in a game last year.

Coach Craig McRae threw his support Hill after the Pies’ 25-point loss to the Cats, which was compounded by a suspected broken arm to star defender Jeremy Howe.

“It’s a crazy place at times, isn’t it? I don’t do social media, so bear with me, but I did look at a website which had feedback, and the feedback is unbelievable,” McRae said.

“It’s just a cesspool for people just to vent. I find it fascinating that’s actually something that people would be interested in. If Bobby’s listening there, I’m sorry to hear that’s the case. We’ll always love him. It’s sad to hear that.”

Gardiner was asked if the club was confident it had done enough to support the struggling Hill.

“A hell of a lot of work has been done with Bobby, and I just have to reiterate, we’ve arrived at this decision together,” he said.

“I can’t fault the work that everyone’s done over the last 12 months to support Bobby, I think importantly, you know, it hasn’t just been me.

“There’s been a lot of people involved, including some fantastic cultural leaders and First Nation leaders that we’ve got involved in our club.”

Gardiner was also asked if he could see Hill ever returning to the elite level.

“I’m not wanting to rule anything out, but I think the focus for Bobby is just getting himself right,” he said.

“If he could get back to play, that’d be fantastic. I don’t think the rules would allow him to come back here anytime soon. But look, I think everyone involved in Collingwood Football Club would love to see the back playing.”

In a parting statement released by the club, Gardiner said: “Bobby will always be recognised as a premiership player and a Norm Smith medallist at Collingwood and we wish him all the very best.”

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