Pies agree to release grand final medallist from $750k-a-year deal
Updated . First published
Collingwood and Bobby Hill have reached an agreement which will see the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist depart the club as a delisted player.
According to AFL insider Cal Twomey, Hill will qualify for delisted free agency and will be available to play for a third career team.
Uncertain future: Bobby Hill and Collingwood are working towards a split. Getty Images
It is understood that Hill still had four years remaining on his deal at Collingwood until the end of 2030, worth about $750,000 a season, but his exit has been negotiated with the Magpies.
Coach Craig McRae last week opened up on the emotions surrounding Hill’s exit from the club.
Hill has not played for the Magpies since round 21 last season after he announced he would be taking personal leave to work through off-field issues.
The decision to take personal leave came just months after Hill inked a five-year deal to remain at the club that was reportedly worth around $750,000 per season. He later extended that leave into the start of the 2026 season.
Hill’s exit is expected to be formalised by the end of the season, potentially as soon as the end of the month.
“There is an emotion attached to it. There is, yeah, absolutely,” the Collingwood coach said last week.
“There’s the playing part and the high performance of what he’s capable of doing for our team and for our supporter base. And then there’s the other personal part.
“You know, he’s a father. I’m getting emotional thinking about it. A young man with three kids. You want the best for all our players to come into our environment and be good humans and be a good father and a good husband; those things that we’re trying to instil.
“But environments change and shift, but lots of love and care for Bobby.
“He’s a premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist and he’ll forever be welcomed in our four walls, whatever that looks like and means, for the future. As Brody Mihocek, Mason Cox and these guys that have gone down different paths.”
Hill returned to training with the AFL team in March, making three appearances in the VFL in hopes of getting back into McRae’s starting team.
Bobby Hill of the Magpies and Craig McRae. AFL Photos via Getty Images
But it now appears the small forward has already played his last game for the club as the coach confirmed the small forward hadn’t been at the KGM Centre for some time.
“I haven’t seen Bobby in the building for a while, which is always something as a coach you go: ‘I hope the young lad is going OK’,” McRae said further.
“If you’re out there (listening), Bobby, we’ve got a lot of love and care for you and still do and that will never change or never waver in our love and support for the young man.
“The other part is completely out of my hands - I’m not privy to any conversations around management and other things. I’ll leave others to do those things.
“I’ve spoken here openly before about some things happening in his life. I’ll leave that for where it needs to be. Again, we won’t waver in our love and support for this young man.”
Hill was drafted by the GWS Giants with pick 24 in 2018. Since making his debut, he has played 102 senior games over the course of eight seasons.
Seven reported that Hill was interested in making the move to join the Brisbane Lions or Gold Coast Suns. Port Adelaide was also a potential landing site.
