Racing
League
Rugby
Cricket
Golf
Motorsport
Combat Sports
Football
Netball
Basketball
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Five weeks and counting: Magpies star could return through VFL
Andrew Slevison • July 23rd, 2025 9:37 am
Bobby Hill won’t return to Collingwood’s AFL side for the MCG clash with Richmond on Sunday.
Channel 9 journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris is reporting that the Norm Smith Medallist could play in the VFL against Frankston as he continues his pathway back to senior footy.
Hill has not played since Round 15 due to personal reasons and needs to train consistently if he is to be considered by Craig McRae for a senior return.
“He’s been training on and off a little bit. My understanding is he’s still a reasonable chance to play VFL this week but he won’t be playing AFL,” Morris said on Footy Classified.
“The club is working with him to make sure that he can get to training regularly so he can be there and get his fitness up.
“If he does get through training later this week I think there’s a reasonable chance he plays against Frankston in Frankston in the VFL on Saturday.”
How does Hill force his way back in to McRae’s side?
“He needs to train regularly and consistently, and show that he is physically up to the level of AFL football,” Morris added.
“I think if he plays VFL this week and he’s there (at the club) all next week that he’d play AFL the week after.”
As for the specific nature of Hill’s absence, Morris says the club continues to deem it as “personal reasons”.
“They’ve termed it personal reasons so we’ll keep it at that for the moment.”
Just over a week ago it was understood there was a “warm confidence” within the club that Hill would soon return.
The Magpies VFL side meets the Dolphins at Kinetic Stadium in Frankston from 7:10pm AEST on Saturday night.
