The quiet surrounding Bobby Hill’s departure from Collingwood’s AFL lineup in June 2024 for personal reasons was remarkably unusual. Within weeks, rumors of a potential split from longtime partner Georgia Devlin became widely circulated. Fans saw that both parties had unfollowed one another on Instagram and cleared their profiles of any shared memories, even though neither publicly acknowledged the split. Fans and followers dug deeper in an attempt to piece together the emotional terrain underlying the star forward’s absence as a result of this quiet unraveling.
Bobby Hill has not only excelled on the field in recent seasons, but he has also gradually established himself as a loving father, a cancer survivor, and a rising AFL leader. It seemed that his bond with Devlin had kept him steady during the most precarious periods of his life, such as his valiant 2022 recovery from testicular cancer. Hill’s appreciation for Devlin was very evident at the time. Even though uncertainty loomed during treatment, he attributed her presence to helping him maintain emotional strength.
Bobby Hill Biography Table
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ian ‘Bobby’ Hill |
| Date of Birth | 9 February 2000 (age 25) |
| Place of Birth | Northam, Western Australia |
| Height | 175 cm (5 ft 9 in) |
| Weight | 71 kg (157 lb) |
| Position | Forward |
| Current Team | Collingwood Football Club (AFL) |
| AFL Debut | 14 July 2019 – GWS vs Richmond, MCG |
| Original Team | Perth (WAFL) |
| Draft Pick | No. 24, 2018 AFL Draft |
| Major Award | Norm Smith Medal – 2023 AFL Grand Final |
| Health History | Diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2022, now fully recovered |
| Partner (Reported) | Georgia Devlin (alleged split) , Instagram |
| Children | Two sons |
| Reference Link | https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/afl/article-13568581 |
Many automatically made the connection when it was revealed that Hill had missed three straight games after the Pies’ victory over St Kilda in round 15—first for personal reasons, then allegedly due to illness. According to a recent Daily Mail article, Devlin and their two young sons are still in Western Australia. Just that particular detail illuminated a remarkably common issue that athletes who move to pursue top-tier careers encounter: homesickness, familial stress, and the silent personal sacrifices made off the field.
Hill’s relationship had grown to be a potent representation of grounding, resiliency, and support for AFL supporters. After games, his boys were often spotted with him, clambering into his arms during festivities, and their laughter reverberated through the stadium tunnels. Earlier this year, Hill talked openly about how the Collingwood Football Club fostered this relationship. “It feels like a country football game when the kids come to sing the song after a game,” he remarked. “It’s good because the club says I can bring the kids in whenever I can. It has the feel of a large family.
This sense of belonging has been incredibly successful in protecting Hill from the more intrusive elements of professional sport, especially for an Indigenous athlete dealing with both personal health struggles and pressure to perform well in public. However, it is precisely this openness that has increased the visibility of Georgia Devlin’s absence. Her role was more than just private; she regularly supported him during both professional and health setbacks, which influenced how the public saw Hill as a father and an athlete.
Nevertheless, Collingwood has handled the matter in a very professional manner. Coach Craig McRae made it clear that the team would not discuss Hill’s private life but would continue to stand by him no matter what. Despite being handled subtly, this position says a lot about the increasing cultural change in Australian sport. Personal adversity is now accepted as a necessary component of the athlete’s journey rather than being viewed as a sign of weakness.
Collingwood has made the decision to safeguard its star without sacrificing fan interest by exercising strategic patience and communicating thoughtfully. Hill was “unable to train last week due to illness,” according to the club’s update, but he resumed training “over the weekend” with the intention of returning to full fitness. That was a comforting update for fans. The most moving message, however, came from Hill himself—an Instagram picture of himself with his sons and teammates with just an hourglass emoji as a caption. The use of time, healing, and the unavoidable return to the field as symbols was especially potent.
Bobby Hill is one of the best examples of resilience in professional sports. Hill not only recovered from his cancer diagnosis two years ago, but he returned stronger than ever. He won the Norm Smith Medal in 2023 after a dominant Grand Final performance that astounded both fans and commentators with his accuracy and poise. That triumph was about rebirth, not just football. The stakes are now personal once more as you deal with the emotional toll of a possible breakup.
The way that Hill’s story touches on more general AFL themes—player wellbeing, emotional support, and the stress of relocation—makes it especially poignant. Young AFL players are subjected to high expectations, which are frequently made worse by travel obligations and media attention. For Hill, juggling a post-cancer lifestyle, young fatherhood, and now a potential relationship breakup presents a picture of a man overcoming extraordinary obstacles.
However, the way this story is developing has a remarkably hopeful quality. The strength of collective compassion is demonstrated by Hill’s persistent attendance at training, his social media activity, and the steadfast support of his fans. People relate to Bobby Hill as a person and are not just impressed by his skill or goal sense.
By all accounts, his upcoming on-field actions will be more emotionally charged. They will show the anguish of a personal loss as well as the will to get back up. Like his recuperation from his illness, Hill’s return will be more than just a comeback; it will be a confirmation of his identity and values.
