Collingwood president Craig Kelly has said the club has nearly completed its exit settlement for Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill.
The Pies and Hill are working towards a split, with the latter struggling for more than 12 months with personal issues off the field, which have limited his training and matches to a minimum.
He hasn't played AFL since Round 21 last year.
SEE MORE: Craig McRae's emotional message to Bobby Hill
“We continue to work through the last bits of that … we think we have done the right thing by him,” Kelly said to the Herald Sun.
“All I would say is that the amount of energy and work that (footy boss) Charlie Gardiner, (key executive) Susan Harper, our doctors, our psych and our people have worked through to support and coach (Hill) has been outstanding.
“I hope he plays somewhere else at some point. We hope in time that he wants to come back (to Collingwood) and be a part of a premiership reunion.”
Hill's departure, coupled with shrewd list management decisions, has Collingwood poised to make an all-out assault in the upcoming trade and free agency period.
The Pies are set to land dual Brisbane premiership player Lachie Neale via free agency, and were interested in luring the services of key forwards Ben King and Mitch Lewis, who are both keen on wearing the brown and gold.
GWS Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan is one to watch, while Gold Coast's Jake Rogers is another prospect the Pies are looking into.
“What I would say to everyone out there is that if you are a free agent or you are coming up to that period of time, you would be crazy not to come and talk to us,” Kelly said.
“We can offer things that are pretty cool. It is a great club, and it is a great location.
“You have got to want to play in front of an average crowd of 74,500 people, so if you don't like big crowds, don't come.
“If you want to go and live on a farm or live (near) a beach, you are probably going to go to Geelong. But if you want to be in the city, let's go. It (the sign) says ‘Open for business'.”
