Bobby Hill has fallen victim to a deplorable AI-generated photo that falsely shows him smoking a meth pipe.
The faked image of the Collingwood star has cropped up on social media, with some footy fans being taken in and believing it is genuine.
Daily Mail has chosen not to run the image, which was created using a grab from a video that appears to show high-profile Aussie businessman Geoff Bainbridge smoking a substance through a pipe.
The publication of the fake photo has come at a particularly sensitive time for Hill.
Last week it was revealed that the 25-year-old has put his AFL career on hold with the club’s support, with no time-frame set for his return.
The 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner for best on ground in the grand final is taking a leave of absence from the Magpies as he deals with personal issues.
Collingwood star Bobby Hill has fallen victim to an AI-generated fake photo as he takes another break from the game after his split with partner Georgia Devlin (pictured together)
The fake image of Hill was created using this grab from a video of Australian businessman Geoff Bainbridge smoking a substance through a pipe
Last month, Hill’s partner Georgia Devlin revealed she is pregnant – with the news coming after the couple’s split came to light last July.
Not long after the relationship ended, Hill stepped away from footy, embarking on a five-week hiatus that coincided with Devlin and the children returning to Western Australia.
During that period, Hill shared an emotional post about missing his sons, marking the first public sign of the family breakdown.
He returned briefly for the Magpies in Round 21 against Brisbane, only to be ruled out again the following week with illness.
After featuring in 13 games to start the season, Hill made just one AFL appearance in the final three months of Collingwood’s campaign – as a substitute.
Telltale signs have emerged that Hill travelled to Perth recently.
He put up an Instagram post asking for help finding a barber in the city, then followed that on January 5 with another post featuring a new photo of him with his sons Bobby Junior and Malakai.
Collingwood were initially optimistic Hill had ‘got on top of’ his off-field challenges last October, before confirming his leave of absence last Friday.
The decision was made jointly with Hill and his management.
Telltale signs on social media have pointed to Hill recently travelling to Perth to see his sons, like this new Instagram photo of him with Bobby Junior and Malakai
Hill has taken a leave of absence from Collingwood after Devlin revealed she was pregnant in a startling announcement last month
‘We care for Bobby and his health and wellbeing remain the priority as he continues to work through his personal situation,’ football boss Charlie Gardiner said in a statement.
‘While on leave from the AFL program, we will continue to support Bobby so that he can be in the best possible position to return to the Club in a full-time capacity when appropriate.’
Hill had mounted a late bid to feature in last September’s finals, but was unable to get enough training and VFL minutes to make the team that was eliminated by Brisbane in a preliminary final.
There was a brief run of trade speculation, before Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch reiterated Hill’s commitment to the Magpies during the trade period.
West Australian product Hill, one of the most dynamic forwards in the competition, is contracted until 2030.
‘He’s at the club (next year). Bobby’s staying at the club,’ Leppitsch said in October.
