Bobby Hill AFL: Why He Left Collingwood & His Personal Issues

Every club has a player whose absence feels bigger than the stat sheet, and for Collingwood fans in 2026, that player is Bobby Hill — granted a leave of absence in January, barely trained after that, and by July had parted ways by mutual decision. ESPN Australia reported the leave; the AFL’s official newsroom confirmed the delisted free-agent exit; and The Age’s sports desk described the split as mutual and sad.

Bottom line: Bobby Hill is not on an AFL field because a personal situation took him away from Collingwood in January, and by July the club and the player had agreed to part. The league’s reporting confirms the mechanics — a delisted free-agent exit — but not the private reason behind it.

Status: Delisted free agent · Last AFL club: Collingwood · Leave of absence: January 2026 · Departure: July 2026

Key Facts: Bobby Hill

Hill’s height, weight and debut year have stayed consistent in every public profile, which makes the abrupt change in his playing status the real story in 2026.

Full name	Ian “Bobby” Hill
Date of birth	9 February 2000
Height	175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	66 kg
AFL debut	2019
Clubs played	Greater Western Sydney, Collingwood
Current status	Free agent (mutual parting, July 2026)

How is Bobby Hill only 21 years old?

The question stems from confusion with the fictional character Bobby Hill from the animated series King of the Hill, who is perpetually a child. The AFL footballer Bobby Hill was born on 9 February 2000, making him 26 years old in 2026 — not 21.

Did Bobby Hill grow up?

His height (175 cm) and weight (66 kg) have remained unchanged since his AFL debut in 2019, but his career progressed from Greater Western Sydney to a premiership with Collingwood. No public details exist about his upbringing or physical development beyond standard athletic profiles.

Snapshot

The Leave

Formal leave of absence granted January 2026 with no return date set. (ESPN)

The Gap

Barely trained with Collingwood’s program during 2026. (AFL.com.au)

The Parting

Mutual decision announced in July 2026. (The Age)

The Status

Departed as a delisted player and became a delisted free agent. (AFL)

Contract note: Hill had four years remaining on a deal worth about A$750,000 per season when the mutual exit was agreed. (AFL)

The takeaway: The public profile is stable; the playing status is not. That gap is why so many fans are still asking what happened.

Why is Bobby Hill not playing AFL?

Collingwood and Hill have pointed to a personal situation, not a football one. The key reporting is consistent:

ESPN Australia reported that Hill was granted a leave of absence in January 2026 with no return timeframe.
AFL.com.au later reported that Hill had barely trained with the program during the season.
The Age described the outcome as a mutual parting in “sad circumstances.”

The upshot: This is not a case of a player being dropped for form or fit. Every confirmed detail points back to personal circumstances, not performance.

What are Bobby Hill’s personal issues?

No official source has disclosed specifics. Collingwood’s football boss Charlie Gardiner told ESPN that Hill’s health and wellbeing were the priority. Unconfirmed online discussion has mentioned a relationship breakdown, but those reports remain unverified.

Is Bobby Hill still with his wife?

Public records do not confirm a marriage. A Reddit post widely cited in fan forums claims Hill and his partner split in early to mid-2025, but no official source has backed this. The club’s statement avoided any mention of relationship status.

Why did he leave Collingwood?

Publicly, no detailed reason has been given. Collingwood football boss Charlie Gardiner told ESPN Australia that Hill’s health and wellbeing were the priority. The Age described the decision as mutual and connected to Hill’s personal circumstances.

What the record does not contain is just as important: no medical detail, no family explanation and no specific incident that prompted the leave.

The catch: The absence of a public reason is itself the finding. This was a private matter handled with respect from both sides.

Timeline: From Leave of Absence to Parting

January 2026: ESPN Australia reports Hill has been granted a leave of absence, with no date set for a return. (ESPN)
During 2026: AFL.com.au reports Hill has barely trained with Collingwood’s program. (AFL.com.au)
July 2026: Collingwood confirms Hill will leave as a delisted player, making him a delisted free agent. The Age describes the split as mutual and sad. (The Age)

Why it matters: The months between the leave and the parting are the least documented part of the story. Public reporting confirms the events around the edges, not the private events in between.

What’s Confirmed vs. What Isn’t

Confirmed

Hill was granted an indefinite leave of absence in January 2026. (ESPN)
He barely trained with Collingwood during the 2026 season. (AFL.com.au)
He departed as a delisted player and therefore qualifies as a delisted free agent. (AFL)
Collingwood’s football boss described Hill’s health and wellbeing as the priority. (ESPN)
The parting was mutual. (The Age)

Still unconfirmed

The specific reason for the leave.
Whether the situation involved health, family or another personal matter.
Any timeline for when — or whether — Hill might play again.

The plain reading: The public record confirms the outcome but protects the private reason. That appears to be the way Hill and Collingwood want it.

Warning: Unverified speculation about Hill’s personal life circulates on social media. The only confirmed statements come from Collingwood’s official channels and reputable news outlets linked above.

What the Club and Hill Have Said

“We love this guy for the rest of our lives.”

— Craig McRae, Collingwood senior coach, via AFL.com.au

Hill’s health and wellbeing are the priority.

— Charlie Gardiner, Collingwood football boss, via ESPN Australia

Keep working on myself.

— Bobby Hill, as reported by The Age

The pattern: The people closest to Hill used consistent language — love, health, wellbeing, sadness. That consistency suggests a respectful and mutual decision, not a falling out.

What to Watch

Because Hill left as a delisted free agent, another AFL club can sign him without a trade. The mechanism is confirmed; the possibility is not. Whether he plays again still depends entirely on the private situation that neither Hill nor Collingwood has explained in detail.

The bigger picture: Football can wait. The defining question is simpler, and it belongs to Bobby Hill, not the fixture ladder: what is best for his health and wellbeing?

Additional sources

afl.com.au, sen.com.au, collingwoodfc.com.au, heraldsun.com.au, zerohanger.com, en.wikipedia.org, theage.com.au, heraldsun.com.au

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Bobby Hill still on Collingwood’s 2026 list?

No. In July 2026, Collingwood confirmed Hill would depart as a delisted player. That makes him a delisted free agent rather than a current Magpies listed player.

Has Bobby Hill retired from football?

No retirement announcement appears in the AFL or Collingwood reporting. The available coverage describes a delisted free-agent exit, not a retirement.

Why did Bobby Hill take a leave of absence?

ESPN Australia reported that Hill was granted a leave of absence in January 2026 with no return date set. Public reporting did not specify the exact personal, medical or family reason.

Did Bobby Hill and Collingwood part on good terms?

Yes, based on the reporting from The Age and the AFL’s own coverage. The departure was described as a mutual decision in sad circumstances, with Hill’s health and wellbeing described as the priority.

Will Bobby Hill play AFL again?

It is mechanically possible. As a delisted free agent, Hill can be signed by another AFL club without a trade. No deal had been reported as of the most recent public coverage.