Player Watch Bobby “Norm” Hill

[Dtennent94]

But he was already contracted for the following two years... Cameron and Long were due to expire at the end of the year, and so needed to be contracted. Bobby didn't for 18 months at least.

He was possibly threatening to request a trade because he was unhappy with being underpaid, or the club suspected it could escalate to something like that based on comments from his manager, etc so they did a favour to a recent Norm Smith winner, also possibly getting him for a little bit of a discount (presuming he actually played during that time…)

 

[Apex36]

Has this been fact checked?
If correct, I hope we use the spot on De Bolfo

Assuming that mental health issues falls under the banner of illness, if the player and club agree its season ending I see no reason why it couldn’t be done.

 

[pablo disco bar]

Just want him gone from the club and off the books now

 

[901023]

Some people in here that are hoping he comes back this year need to move on from Bobby. He isn't playing this year.

Agree.... forget about Bobby. Since he signed that contract, it's been all downhill for him.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Think there is alot true in this statement. I'm hoping that he does come back to train. As you say, it would do him good.

He won't play another game for the Pies....

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

He won’t return from what I’ve heard

Has there been a falling out with some people at the club, and he doesn't want to play for Collingwood again?

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

He signed a $750,000 per-year contract in April last year which runs out at the end of the 2030 season. If Hill doesnt return or get traded where does our club sit in regards to terminating contract?.

We get stuck with it unless he agrees to break it go back to WA or something like that

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

Has there been a falling out with some people at the club, and he doesn't want to play for Collingwood again?

I think whats happened is Bobby was given a lot of support when he first had the family issues and they let him take leave and last year they tried to get him right for finals and the club supported him big time. I think he was missing meetings and not responding to coaches during the off-season and they are just as much happy to sit him as he is to not play.

 

[DaicosDisciple35]

It was just madness that we extended his contract while he still had 2 years remaining on his existing contract. That was a serious error by the club no matter how we look at it.

It was a calculated risk. Bobby at peak form is worth way more than what we agreed to pay him, he still might come good again and is pretty young. Situation seems to have deteriorated rapidly though making the contract a potential barrier for us to get someone like Zac Butters.

 

[Anzacday]

View attachment 2524769
Assuming that mental health issues falls under the banner of illness, if the player and club agree its season ending I see no reason why it couldn’t be done.

Thank you.
I know you mentioned assuming; the devil will be in the detail, so I did some checking.
The rule change came into effect in 2024, (for the 2025 season).
Similarities between JUH and Bobby have been mentioned, (yet to be proven one way or the other I know).
Personally, I’m not counting on a list spot being made available for him, (I’d love to be wrong).

 

[Cousin of Daicos]

It was a calculated risk. Bobby at peak form is worth way more than what we agreed to pay him, he still might come good again and is pretty young. Situation seems to have deteriorated rapidly though making the contract a potential barrier for us to get someone like Zac Butters.

I'm not too sure we'll be seeing Bobby play football again, let alone for the Collingwood Football Club

Which would be a real shame if that's the case

 

[Dtennent94]

I’d be surprised if a; Collingwood applied for it, and b; whether the AFL would grant it. Unlike an ACL injury, which normally has a specific timeline, a mental health condition can change suddenly, therefore allowing him to become immediately available, despite his fitness level, which would be a matter for the club.

Yep, I think it’d be hard to find a doctor who would declare that he will definitely be mentally ill and incapable of training for the required time to be treated as an LTI.

 

[manicpie]

I’d be surprised if a; Collingwood applied for it, and b; whether the AFL would grant it. Unlike an ACL injury, which normally has a specific timeline, a mental health condition can change suddenly, therefore allowing him to become immediately available, despite his fitness level, which would be a matter for the club.

What if a player tells the club that he won't be playing football this year? I wonder if the AFL would allow it.

 

[Mostfamousclub_Pies]

What if a player tells the club that he won't be playing football this year? I wonder if the AFL would allow it.

Maybe then.

 

[Matrix10]

What if a player tells the club that he won't be playing football this year? I wonder if the AFL would allow it.

That's the headache and conundrum for the Collingwood Football club , as it's not the player here that has said he wants out , it's the Club that has told him he's not wanted back ... what we get at the end of the year for him is not going to be anywhere near his true value, as the football industry knows what is going on and what has happened.

 

[De Glueie]

Why is it that when players arent paid heaps they perform as soon as a big contracts comes their way they lose it.
I understand personnal issues but we all have our personnal issues.
This is what happens when you cannot control life when you have money, especially since Bobby is still young

But there is more than meets the eye here.The club and players have been right behind Bobby even his cousin Brad hill and Eddie betts offered support but he refused the help. Sometimes in our darkest moments we find ourselves
But this will take time and the club knows this

There is something not right here,Bobby is a star we cannot replace his movements are cat like i cant think of another player that plays like him. He would be a huge loss if he didnt return to the pies. He is a game changer an integral part to our forward structure

Bobby you belong at the Pies, come on brother get well and come back to your future is at the Pies the club has backed you by investing in you which they have shown . Its not how nmany times you fall its what you do when you bounce back from hardships and adversity in personnal problems its makes you a stronger person mentally bro

We all miss you Bobby . I often thought about happiness and without your family its hard i know this is why family is the most important componant to a persons happiness...............above everything else im sure many would agree

Come on bro never too late to ask for help SIDE BY SIDE WE STAND TOGETHER remember

 

[Jen2310]

Why is it that when players arent paid heaps they perform as soon as a big contracts comes their way they lose it.
I understand personnal issues but we all have our personnal issues.
This is what happens when you cannot control life when you have money, especially since Bobby is still young

But there is more than meets the eye here.The club and players have been right behind Bobby even his cousin Brad hill and Eddie betts offered support but he refused the help. Sometimes in our darkest moments we find ourselves
But this will take time and the club knows this

There is something not right here,Bobby is a star we cannot replace his movements are cat like i cant think of another player that plays like him. He would be a huge loss if he didnt return to the pies. He is a game changer an integral part to our forward structure

Bobby you belong at the Pies, come on brother get well and come back to your future is at the Pies the club has backed you by investing in you which they have shown . Its not how nmany times you fall its what you do when you bounce back from hardships and adversity in personnal problems its makes you a stronger person mentally bro

We all miss you Bobby . I often thought about happiness and without your family its hard i know this is why family is the most important componant to a persons happiness...............above everything else im sure many would agree

Come on bro never too late to ask for help SIDE BY SIDE WE STAND TOGETHER remember

You know what they say - You've got to admit you have a problem to get help. He doesn't think he has a problem so wont accept any help.

The club and the afl has done all they can do. Its up to him.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

You know what they say - You've got to admit you have a problem to get help. He doesn't think he has a problem so wont accept any help.

The club and the afl has done all they can do. Its up to him.

Sounds like he is lost to the game at such a young age. How you can be at the top of your craft, playing in a professional sport, getting paid well to p155 it up against the wall.
I really hope the club can pay him out a fair and agreed amount and not continue on with his current contract....

 

[ANewDawn]

Sounds like he is lost to the game at such a young age. How you can be at the top of your craft, playing in a professional sport, getting paid well to p155 it up against the wall.
I really hope the club can pay him out a fair and agreed amount and not continue on with his current contract....

A fair amount would be his salary minus the time he has missed. Anything more would be generosity.

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

A fair amount would be his salary minus the time he has missed. Anything more would be generosity.

I love Bobby and hope he gets what he needs.

This highlights the issue I have with sporting contracts generally. In no other industry do you get to keep 'clipping the ticket' without actually contributing to the effort. I understand if you are injured during training or in a match, but if you injure yourself in your own time, or suffer some other disruptive event unrelated to the club then I don't believe that you should be collecting 'full freight' on your contract. I only hope that contracts are structured heavily toward match payments and minimum triggers and not just 'pay or play' arrangements.

 

[RobJD]

I think it's time that Bobby made a statement about what's going on and what his intentions are. Ideally this would be a joint statement with the club and the AFL so that there was clarity regarding how his situation is to be handled and what the future holds.

Whilst he's a much loved part of the team, he absence was felt during our run into and through last year's finals and will again be felt as we commence our 2026 campaign.

As members and supporters of this game I think that's the least that we should expect.

 

[Travis Shanks]

I think it's time that Bobby made a statement about what's going on and what his intentions are. Ideally this would be a joint statement with the club and the AFL so that there was clarity regarding how his situation is to be handled and what the future holds.

Whilst he's a much loved part of the team, he absence was felt during our run into and through last year's finals and will again be felt as we commence our 2026 campaign.

As members and supporters of this game I think that's the least that we should expect.

I don't think so, Rob. Maybe a public airing of laundry would help his situation, but it's just as likely to lead to more uncomfortable questions which he can't easily answer.

Also, the situation is not his alone. He should be guided by what's best for his family, not what supporters want to hear.

As for his intentions, these might not be clear in his own mind at this point in time.

I share the frustration of most and I'm upset that we seem to have lost one of those rare players who can break a game open. There's just not much to be done about it.

 

[Abdul_The_Bull]

I don't think so, Rob. Maybe a public airing of laundry would help his situation, but it's just as likely to lead to more uncomfortable questions which he can't easily answer.

Also, the situation is not his alone. He should be guided by what's best for his family, not what supporters want to hear.

As for his intentions, these might not be clear in his own mind at this point in time.

I share the frustration of most and I'm upset that we seem to have lost one of those rare players who can break a game open. There's just not much to be done about it.

That's a fair point but while he's still getting paid (for doing very little that contributes to Collingwood FC's development and success) he has an obligation to those that (financially) support the club.
You want privacy, you want time to work out your issues, you don't want to make any commitments just yet... then stop putting your hand out for a paycheck.

 

[Black_White]

Thank Collingwood god that most of the posters on here would never be employed by our great club.
Plenty of flogs that don’t understand how actual humans react to personal things in their lives.
Bobby is having issues and hopefully will return at some stage.
We all should support him. Not stab him.

 

[TradeDraft]

Thank Collingwood god that most of the posters on here would never be employed by our great club.
Plenty of flogs that don’t understand how actual humans react to personal things in their lives.
Bobby is having issues and hopefully will return at some stage.
We all should support him. Not stab him.

Well that is True but I also get some people saying IF this was another Job he would not been allowed so much Away Time for Personal Issues