Bobby Hill (Australian footballer)

Ian "Bobby" Hill (born 9 February 2000) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the Collingwood Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He made his AFL debut with Greater Western Sydney in 2019. Hill was awarded the Norm Smith Medal in the 2023 AFL Grand Final.

Early life
Hill is an Indigenous man with Whadjuk-Ballardong Noongar ancestry. Named after his father, Hill prefers to be called Bobby. Born in Northam, Western Australia, Hill attended Northam Senior High School, before completing his high school education in Perth at Wesley College as part of their Indigenous Scholarship Program. He first came to notice when he was selected in the Western Australia under 16s.

Hill is the cousin of Bradley and Stephen Hill. Another of his cousins is Gerald Ugle, one of the inaugural GWS players. Other cousins include former and  Josh Hill, and Leon Davis who played at.

AFL career
Hill was selected by Greater Western Sydney (GWS) at pick #24 in the 2018 national draft. He made his senior debut against Richmond in round 17 of the 2019 season. Hill played 41 games with the club including a winning preliminary final in 2019, and is known for his blistering pace, clean hands and the ability to leap in the air after the football. Hill designed GWS's 2020 Indigenous jumper, which is worn by them as an alternative strip.

During the 2021 trade period Hill put his name forward requesting a trade to, but no deal could be reached. The following year he again requested a trade to Victoria, this time to, and was traded on 3 October. The Giants trade Hill and its round-three selection (pick No.40) to Collingwood for its round-three selection (43) and its future second-round selection.

Hill played a major role in Collingwood's 2023 premiership season, and topped his year off with what was described as an "incredible performance" in the grand final. Facing Brisbane, Hill collected 18 disposals and kicked 4.2 to collect all 15 votes to win the Norm Smith Medal, as Collingwood defeated Brisbane by four points.

Health issues
In May 2022, Hill was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery and spent the rest of the year recovering.

Statistics
Updated to the end of the 2023 season.

! colspan=3 | Career ! 65 !! 67 !! 44 !! 424 !! 192 !! 616 !! 163 !! 161 !! 1.0 !! 0.7 !! 6.5 !! 3.0 !! 9.5 !! 2.5 !! 2.5
 * 2019 || || 37
 * 8 || 7 || 5 || 49 || 29 || 78 || 18 || 22 || 0.9 || 0.6 || 6.1 || 3.6 || 9.8 || 2.3 || 2.8
 * 2020 || || 37
 * 5 || 4 || 5 || 28 || 15 || 43 || 10 || 11 || 0.8 || 1.0 || 5.6 || 3.0 || 8.6 || 2.0 || 2.2
 * 2021 || || 37
 * 17 || 14 || 12 || 113 || 41 || 154 || 33 || 48 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 6.6 || 2.4 || 9.1 || 1.9 || 2.8
 * 2022 || || 37
 * 11 || 9 || 8 || 62 || 32 || 94 || 24 || 24 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 5.6 || 2.9 || 8.5 || 2.2 || 2.2
 * bgcolor=F0E68C | 2023# || || 23
 * 24 || 33 || 14 || 75 || 247 || 78 || 56 || 48 || 1.3 || 0.6 || 6.9 || 3.1 || 10.0 || 3.0 || 2.2
 * - class=sortbottom
 * 11 || 9 || 8 || 62 || 32 || 94 || 24 || 24 || 0.8 || 0.7 || 5.6 || 2.9 || 8.5 || 2.2 || 2.2
 * bgcolor=F0E68C | 2023# || || 23
 * 24 || 33 || 14 || 75 || 247 || 78 || 56 || 48 || 1.3 || 0.6 || 6.9 || 3.1 || 10.0 || 3.0 || 2.2
 * - class=sortbottom
 * - class=sortbottom
 * }

Notes