Even with his Norm Smith-winning performance, only Bobby Hill has more uncertainty surrounding his future in the AFL this season. A serious illness struck Hill down, leaving him on the sidelines following his courageous return to the field against Brisbane in Round 21. In fact, he may never play again this season. His condition has caused alarm among his fellow players and coaches. On top of that, his family’s concern is making him anxious, forming a heartbreaking divide in his home.
In a bid to aid Hill’s recovery, Collingwood coach Craig McRae dined with Hill over the weekend to check in on his mental health. McRae emphasized the importance of prioritizing Hill’s health over performance metrics, stating, “There’s high performance and there’s love and care, and I’ve just sort of left the high performance for now and I’m just making sure the young lad’s OK.” As the end of the season approaches, McRae expressed a desire for Hill to find happiness and stability, remarking, “Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we’ll see where we go from there.”
Still, despite all of Hill’s efforts to stay involved with the game, his playing in this year’s finals looks very much in doubt. He missed the Collingwood trip in favor of the showdown with Adelaide. Since Round 15, he’s played just the one game. As time runs out in the season, Hill requested McRae to keep the door open for a potential return in September, saying, “Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me.”
The context has been complicated by deeply personal issues impacting Hill’s life. His recent split with partner Georgia Devlin, though, has allegedly increased those tensions. Devlin with her family on location in Western Australia where they recently relocated. When an ugly, racist attack went after her family and Hill’s ethnicity, she didn’t hesitate to fight back. In her defense, she stated, “Let’s make one thing clear, my kids’ nationality has never and will never be the cause of any issues in anyone’s life,” adding, “How dare someone speak on innocent kids this way. It’s beyond disgusting.”
Hill’s other cousin, Bradley Hill, decided enough was enough. Andrew had approached both Bobby and the Collingwood Football Club because he was very concerned for Bobby’s long-term health. This alternative meant creating a rupture in their families’ lineage that would have dire consequences. Thanks to Caroline Wilson for breaking the news that Bobby was originally going to accompany the team on their trip to Adelaide. Something came up that he didn’t expect that kept him from traveling. She noted, “I do know that his family is really worried about him, his friends are really worried about him.”
As the family’s distress deepens, it becomes evident that Bobby Hill’s struggles extend beyond football-related challenges. Craig Hutchison highlighted this sentiment by stating, “Life is far bigger than footy in these situations.” This mood demonstrates that those around Hill are starting to realize the need for mental and emotional health to take precedence. They know how important all this is at such a stormy time.
These new family structures have significant implications. Chief among them are how they will affect Hill’s recovery and when he’ll be able to return to playing in games. Recently surfaced recordings reveal that problems regarding his fitness might have originated from personal troubles that he faced. Wilson remarked that “now, we know he had a marriage issue. Then it became about his fitness.” The intersection of personal and professional challenges presents a daunting obstacle for the young athlete as he navigates this difficult chapter.
