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 2018.

Bobby Hill
Personal information
Full name Ian Hill
Date of birth (2000-02-09) 9 February 2000
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 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 66 kg (146 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 09 (12)
Total 50 (46)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 9, 2023.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Hill is an Indigenous man with Whadjuk-Ballardong Noongar ancestry. Named after his father, Hill prefers to be called Bobby. Hill attended Northam Senior High School before completing his high school education 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.

AFL career

He was selected by Greater Western Sydney (GWS) at pick #24 in the 2018 national draft.[1] He made his senior debut against Richmond[2][3] 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.[4]

During the 2021 trade period Hill put his name forward requesting a trade to Essendon, but no deal could be reached.[5] The following year he again requested a trade to Victoria, this time to Collingwood, and was traded on 3 October.[6]

Health issues

In May 2022 Hill was diagnosed with testicular cancer. He had surgery and spent the rest of the year recovering.[7]

Extended family

Hill is the cousin of Bradley and Stephen Hill.[8] Another one of his cousins is Gerald Ugle, one of the inaugural GWS players.[9] Other cousins include former Western Bulldogs and West Coast Josh Hill, and Leon Davis who played at Collingwood.

Statistics

Updated to the end of the 2022 season.[10]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2019Greater Western Sydney37 87549297818220.90.66.13.69.82.32.8
2020[lower-alpha 1]Greater Western Sydney37 54528154310110.81.05.63.08.62.02.2
2021Greater Western Sydney37 1714121134115433480.80.76.62.49.11.92.8
2022Greater Western Sydney37 119862329424240.80.75.62.98.52.22.2
Career 413430252117369851050.80.76.12.99.02.12.6

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