Bobby Hill (Australian footballer)

Bobby Hill
Personal information
Full name Ian Hill
Date of birth (2000-02-09) 9 February 2000 (age 24)
Place of birth Northam, Western Australia
Original team(s) Perth (WAFL)
Draft No. 24, 2018 AFL draft
Debut 14 July 2019, Greater Western Sydney vs. Richmond, at MCG
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 71 kg (157 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current club Collingwood
Number 23
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2019–2022 Greater Western Sydney 41 (34)
2023– Collingwood 47 (63)
Total 88 (97)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of the 2024 season.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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.[1] Another of his cousins is Gerald Ugle, one of the inaugural GWS players.[2] Other cousins include former Western Bulldogs and West Coast Josh Hill, and Leon Davis who played at Collingwood.

AFL career

Hill was selected by Greater Western Sydney (GWS) at pick #24 in the 2018 national draft.[3] He made his senior debut against Richmond[4][5] 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.[6]

During the 2021 trade period Hill put his name forward requesting a trade to Essendon, but no deal could be reached.[7] The following year he again requested a trade to Victoria, this time to Collingwood, 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.[8]

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.[9] 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.[10]

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2024 season.[11]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
  #  
 Played in that season's 
premiership team
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019 Greater Western Sydney 37 8 7 5 49 29 78 18 22 0.9 0.6 6.1 3.6 9.8 2.3 2.8
2020[a] Greater Western Sydney 37 5 4 5 28 15 43 10 11 0.8 1.0 5.6 3.0 8.6 2.0 2.2
2021 Greater Western Sydney 37 17 14 12 113 41 154 33 48 0.8 0.7 6.6 2.4 9.1 1.9 2.8
2022 Greater Western Sydney 37 11 9 8 62 32 94 24 24 0.8 0.7 5.6 2.9 8.5 2.2 2.2
2023# Collingwood 23 24 33 14 172 75 247 78 56 1.4 0.6 7.2 3.1 10.3 3.3 2.3
2024 Collingwood 23 23 30 28 187 69 256 81 48 1.3 1.2 8.1 3.0 11.1 3.5 2.1
Career 88 97 72 611 261 872 244 209 1.1 0.8 6.9 3.0 9.9 2.8 2.4

Notes

  1. ^ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

  1. ^ Warren, Adrian (10 July 2019), "Ian 'Bobby' Hill, cousin to Fremantle's Hill brothers, to debut for GWS", The West Australian
  2. ^ "Giants re-sign exciting youngster". 12 September 2019.
  3. ^ McArdle, Jordan (23 November 2018), "AFL draft 2018: GWS Giants draft Ian 'Bobby' Hill", The West Australian
  4. ^ Rake, Justin (16 July 2019), "Northam product Ian 'Bobby' Hill shines in stellar debut for GWS Giants", The Avon Valley Advocate
  5. ^ Helmers, Caden (7 August 2019), "Bobby Hill pinching himself during GWS Giants' AFL journey", The Canberra Times
  6. ^ "Young gun designs GWS Indigenous jumper". 19 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Giants forward remains keen to leave in upcoming trade period".
  8. ^ Gabelich, Josh (3 October 2022). "First trade done: GWS livewire becomes a Magpie". AFL Media. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
  9. ^ Khan, Jo (30 September 2023). "Bobby Hill sets AFL grand final alight to win Norm Smith medal". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Giants' Bobby Hill diagnosed with testicular cancer, will undergo surgery". ABC News. 29 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Bobby Hill statistics". AFL Tables. Retrieved 5 September 2024.