Player Watch Bobby “Norm” Hill

[TW Sherrin]

Well at least that puts some extra room the cap. He can't be getting paid full tote odds.

 

[eaglevision]

Tyler Brockman might find himself without another contract at WCE. Did return home for family reasons but is also close with [PLAYERCARD]Liam Ryan[/PLAYERCARD] and will be three years older.

Would come with some of his own issues but a move as far away from Geraldton as possible seems to be in his best interests.

 

[TradeDraft]

With Hill looking like won't be back anytime Soon it Opens up a Opportunities for Harrison/Hayes/Saxena take Hills spot in the AFL Team

 

[sr36]

Neale is an unrestricted free agent, the Lions dont actually have a say.

He'd be resticted wouldn't he? Hasn't done 10 years with them. Unless he's a veteran playing on way unders?

 

[Doc1763]

He'd be resticted wouldn't he? Hasn't done 10 years with them. Unless he's a veteran playing on way unders?

unrestricted according to Fagan the other day

 

[Vicky Park]

I don’t agree with the posts asking for ‘transparency’ about Bobby. Frustrating as it is for us fans, the club is trying to manage what appears to be a difficult and drawn out situation, with sensitivity and respect for privacy.

It’s Bobby’s business. It’s his wife’s business. I don’t need to know the details, and situations like this are messy and can take a long time to resolve. Longer than a footy pre-season.

Love Bobby and wish him and his family all the best. Truly hope he’s not lost to footy, as he is a remarkable talent.

 

[jmac70]

Very average posts. How soon ‘supporters’ forget.

 

[TW Sherrin]

I don’t agree with the posts asking for ‘transparency’ about Bobby. Frustrating as it is for us fans, the club is trying to manage what appears to be a difficult and drawn out situation, with sensitivity and respect for privacy.

It’s Bobby’s business. It’s his wife’s business. I don’t need to know the details, and situations like this are messy and can take a long time to resolve. Longer than a footy pre-season.

Love Bobby and wish him and his family all the best. Truly hope he’s not lost to footy, as he is a remarkable talent.

I've got little interest in his off field issues but he is a professional footballer who isn't playing football. They won't say it but I've got no doubt some of his team mates will be annoyed.

 

[stormskye]

Very average posts. How soon ‘supporters’ forget.

What’s the time frame of return in your view jmac? He’s contacted till 2030. When is time for the hard call? Or if he continues to struggle does the club pay him 900k till 2030?

These are realistic questions given the clubs prior issues with beams.

At some point personal issues are not the responsibility of the employer. He’s a grown man at the end of the day and not the first or last to have family issues.Most of us in normal employment only get so much time off. It’s well within supporters rights to question the contract and his obligations.

I don’t think anyone is attacking him. Most people are being completely reasonable tbh

 

[TradeDraft]

I don’t agree with the posts asking for ‘transparency’ about Bobby. Frustrating as it is for us fans, the club is trying to manage what appears to be a difficult and drawn out situation, with sensitivity and respect for privacy.

It’s Bobby’s business. It’s his wife’s business. I don’t need to know the details, and situations like this are messy and can take a long time to resolve. Longer than a footy pre-season.

Love Bobby and wish him and his family all the best. Truly hope he’s not lost to footy, as he is a remarkable talent.

Sadly when you have a Very Pubic Job like as an AFL Footballer it's lot harder for things to stay Private

I sometimes think they can come out and say what Happened so it would kill all the Rumor Talks

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Neale is an unrestricted free agent, the Lions dont actually have a say.

I know that, it's more they will let him go with their blessing and not fight to keep him....

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

yeah, can't see him playing in that game. Even if he wasn't taking personal leave. He hadn't trained very much to be fit. We can only hope he can sort himself out -- whatever that means for his playing future remains to be seen.

Will we see him in the Black and White again?
I thought that question was an absolute and resounding yes, now it's very much 50/50 for me....

 

[whiskeytown]

In other news: [PLAYERCARD]Lachie Neale[/PLAYERCARD], despite his recent self induced, high profile marriage breakdown … with the repercussions that his kids are now interstate

…is back at training and putting his head down

Collingwood are mugs if they let this go on with Hill, again and again

 

[Bianconeri]

Happy to commit on social media but hasn’t fronted when it’s time to train. Hopefully it get sorted soon while there still some pre season left.

 

[jmac70]

What’s the time frame of return in your view jmac? He’s contacted till 2030. When is time for the hard call? Or if he continues to struggle does the club pay him 900k till 2030?

These are realistic questions given the clubs prior issues with beams.

At some point personal issues are not the responsibility of the employer. He’s a grown man at the end of the day and not the first or last to have family issues.Most of us in normal employment only get so much time off. It’s well within supporters rights to question the contract and his obligations.

I don’t think anyone is attacking him. Most people are being completely reasonable tbh

Give him the time he needs and back the club to support him.

Bobby’s wellbeing is all that matters.

 

[JoinDate]

View attachment 2507554

This would be gut wrenching for the bloke if he still has feelings for his ex.

 

[jmac70]

In other news: Lachie Neale, despite his recent self induced, high profile marriage breakdown … with the repercussions that his kids are now interstate

…is back at training and putting his head down

Collingwood are mugs if they let this go on with Hill, again and again

What a disgusting post.

 

[soreplums]

Opening up another list spot isn’t going to improve our premiership chances.
Give the opportunity to one of our own listed players- HH, Hayes etc.
If there is a trade at the end of the year so be it. Freeing up 900k for the next 4 years puts us in the market for some quality FA’s.

 

[MoreMoore]

There's human beings involved. He's just supposed to completely switch off having emotions and being affected by being separated from his kids? Get some perspective big fella.

No but he had an opportunity to be traded at year’s end and doubled down that he was all good and committed

 

[Matrix10]

Start by putting a timeframe on the leave of absence, so we don’t have the weekly guessing game over whether he might be available. Reassess at the end of that period.
Of course he should be welcome at the club and get the support required, maintain relationships, train when he wants to, but clearly either in or out of the ‘available for selection’ cohort at any given time.
Better for all concerned. Last year’s circus was destabilising and did nobody any good, including him in view of the weekly media focus.

Grow a pair Bobby, we all have overcomings and breakdown of sorts in relationships , the club gave you space and support for the majority of 2025. What Employer gives such leeway for little return .. I get that you want to be with your kids , family first always , the option would and should have been that you approach the club and request a trade back to WA. the club I'm sure would have done everything possible to get you back there to be with your kids. Your either in or out , make a stand .

 

[rand corp]

Terribly complex and difficult situation for Bobby, the club, the supporters, even team mates. Bobby has to put family first and most specifically you'd think his kid(s). Also concern about his own emotional state, very tough to go through. I hope he has good people around him, and I hope he comes through it with the best possible outcome for the family. And then, finally, I hope he can resume his football career in some way, here or elsewhere, ideally here.

 

[Pragmatic Shill]

No but he had an opportunity to be traded at year’s end and doubled down that he was all good and committed

And who knows what has happened between then and now?

He probably did think he was all good to go three months ago, but none of us are privy to any information outside of guessing and anything could have happened to throw a spanner in the works.

Just because you don't know the details doesn't mean the issue Bobby has to find himself wanting to take personal leave isn't legitimate.

 

[BigVic]

I hope this isn't a huge distraction for us. We have just finished Christmas and New Year

NHH would be a good target in May's MSD

 

[whiteside35]

Finished,i hope i'm wrong

 

[WanderingDude]

Yes, I struggle to see how the club is to blame for his mistakes and unreliability. A fit and switched on Bobby Hill could have made a huge difference to our chances last season. His absence and the media circus had to be a distraction right at the time we needed to be a united force with one objective in mind. To know months have passed and nothing seems to have changed is really disappointing.

If Collingwood cannot handle a media circus then fold the flogs up and merge with Carlton. FFS the club is capable even when supporters have no idea or intelligence. This does my head in. This level of weight to the media circus is just beyond any reasonable balance.