Bobby Hill returns to training, Collingwood Magpies stars push for recall
Premier league forward Bobby Hill has been embraced by his Collingwood team-mates after returning to official training on Monday and beginning preparations to receive a senior call-up later in the year.
Hill, 26, had been away from the Magpies for several months due to personal issues before making an unexpected return last Friday.
It was feared the 2023 Norm Smith medalist would miss the entire season and the Magpies missed out on his 50-yard scrum brilliance.
Hill, with his blond hairdo, was warmly welcomed by teammates and staff when he took the field on Monday. The whole team had a nice chat with Jamie Elliott before they start their preparations for Friday night’s game against Greater Western Sydney at Marvel Stadium.
Hill, who signed a four-year contract extension last year, has recently been training with a coach at suburban fields and his fitness has increased significantly during this period.
The way he trains and the way he works with his teammates shows that he is in a better place mentally than when he took leave from the club.
While there has been a big focus on Hill, the Magpies have also kept a close eye on captain Darcy Moore and experienced defender Jeremy Howe. Each missed the round 1 loss against the Adelaide Crows Howe due to an ongoing calf problem; Moore, meanwhile, was trying to recover from a calf problem before straining his hamstring on the eve of the Crows’ clash.
Moore and Howe participated in drills at the beginning of practice and are pushing to face the Giants.
More to come
Jon Pierik is a sports reporter for The Age. He covers the AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect with: X or email.
