After months away from the football club as he traversed personal challenges, 2023 Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill has made his long-awaited return to Collingwood's program on Monday morning.
Sporting a bleach-blonde buzz cut, the mercurial Hill was seen dapping up teammates and kicking customarily impressive snaps in front of goal. It is the premiership hero's first time partaking in training since December, after he made a surprise appearance at the KGM Centre on Thursday, kickstarting rumours of this imminent return.
Craig McRae has gone on record many times in recent months, as Hill's off-field circumstances dominated headlines, stating his unwavering support for Hill as a person, before as a player.
"I'll continue to love and support him," McRae said, in the pre-season.
While he is undoubtedly months away from AFL action, given a lack of conditioning, a potential return for the fan favourite promises to help address Craig McRae's side's biggest deficiency in season 2026 - scoring.
The Pies have registered meagre returns in front of goal in their first two outings of the year, yet to score more than 80 points in a game while legitimate contenders regularly post scores in excess of 120.
Hill was scarcely sighted in Collingwood's run to preliminary final weekend last season, managing just one appearance, as the sub, in the side's Round 21 loss to the Brisbane Lions.
With match-winning performances littering the West Australian's career, he could be the x-factor the Pies need to overhaul their offence, fuelling another tilt at a premiership.
