- Magpies star has been on an extended hiatus from the AFL
Collingwood livewire Bobby Hill is reportedly facing division on two fronts after a family member’s attempt to help him through the split with his partner backfired badly.
Hill’s recent hiatus from AFL was prompted by personal upheaval after he and long-time partner Georgia Devlin split.
The pair have unfollowed each other on social media and removed most of the photos picturing them together, while Devlin and their two young sons are believed to have returned to Western Australia, leaving Hill in Melbourne.
Hill marked his absence by sharing a touching throwback photo of him with his sons abroad alongside the emotional caption, ‘Gonna miss you guys. Dad loves yous.’
The 25-year-old returned in Round 21 after five weeks out but missed the following game, officially ruled out through illness.
While coach Craig McRae dismissed talk that Hill intended to travel to Adelaide for Saturday night’s match against the Crows, it later emerged he had planned to join the trip, raising fresh concerns about the forward’s wellbeing.
Collingwood star Bobby Hill has split from the mother of his children, Georgia Devlin (pictured together)
Hill (pictured with Devlin) had an extended hiatus from the AFL but returned recently against the Brisbane Lions, before he sat out the following week
‘I think Bobby Hill was planning to go to Adelaide, I can’t tell you exactly what happened that stopped him from going to Adelaide,’ veteran footy journalist Caroline Wilson told The Agenda Setters on Channel Seven.
‘I do know that his family is really worried about him, his friends are really worried about him.
‘Now, we know he had a marriage issue. And then it became about his fitness.’
St Kilda star Bradley Hill is Bobby’s cousin and Wilson said he had reached out to try and help, which had created a division in the family ranks.
‘One person he’s always been really close to is his cousin, Brad Hill; I understand there’s been a falling out there between the two families,’ Wilson said.
‘Partly, I think, because Brad Hill attempted to perform some form of intervention, and actually reached out to the Collingwood Football Club, he was so worried about his cousin,’ she said.
‘I don’t think that went down too well with Bobby Hill.
‘And I think that there’s been days where he’s just been uncontactable by anyone. Days leading to even a week at some point.
At his best, Hill would be a weapon for Collingwood in the finals, but the Pies are staring down the barrel of playing without him
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has played down Hill’s absence and said he is a work in progress
Hill’s cousin Bradley Hill (pictured right with Hill, centre, during a Collingwood vs St Kilda match) reportedly tried to intervene and help
‘I mean, talk about fitness, talk about family and the personal issues, but I think it’s getting a bit more serious than that, and I think people are really worried about Bobby Hill’s welfare.
‘Taking the football aside, because Collingwood badly need him and they need him playing well, this is far more serious than that now and I hope the right people are intervening.
‘I’m not blaming Collingwood for this but it’s a bit of a disaster, both football and personal-wise.’
McRae continues to play down Hill’s absence and said he is a ‘work in progress’.
‘Bobby’s getting better every day,’ McRae said after Collingwood lost to Adelaide.
‘Not sure if he’s available next week but it’s pleasing to have him back this week training hard for us.’
Collingwood has reiterated that he is under contract through to 2030, quelling any trade rumours or speculation over his future.
