A couple of years ago, this conversation would have sounded absolutely insane.
Trade Bobby Hill?
The same Bobby Hill who exploded across the 2023 finals series like a human highlight reel. The same Bobby Hill who tore apart Brisbane in the Grand Final, won the Norm Smith Medal, and became one of the faces of Collingwood’s premiership run. The same Bobby Hill who could turn a half chance into a goal before defenders even realised what had happened.
Back then, he wasn’t just important to Collingwood. He felt untouchable.
But football changes quickly. Brutally so.
And now, whether supporters like it or not, the question deserves to be asked.
Is it time for Collingwood to seriously think about trading Bobby Hill?
Not because he lacks talent. Not because he’s suddenly a bad footballer. But because AFL clubs eventually reach a point where emotion has to be separated from reality. Every premiership team ages. Every list eventually changes. And every club has to decide when to hold on and when to move players before the decline hits too hard.
Right now, Collingwood are standing at that crossroads.
The Magpies are still competitive. They still have stars. They still have enough quality to trouble good sides. But this no longer feels like the dominant Collingwood machine that steamrolled the AFL in 2023.
The list is ageing rapidly.
Scott Pendlebury is still defying time, but he’s in the final chapter of an unbelievable career. Steele Sidebottom is nearing the end. Jeremy Howe has battled injuries. Jamie Elliott’s body was being managed carefully prior to his heartbreaking knee injury. Even players still performing at a high level are no longer young.
That creates a difficult balancing act for the club.
Do you keep pushing for one more crack at a flag with the current core? Or do you start making aggressive list decisions before the inevitable fall arrives?
That’s where Bobby Hill becomes a fascinating case study.
At his absolute best, Hill remains one of the most dangerous small forwards in football. His speed is elite. His pressure is elite. His ability to create goals from nothing is elite. There are not many players in the competition who can completely shift momentum with one touch the way Bobby Hill can.
When he’s switched on and confident, Collingwood look faster and more unpredictable.
But the problem is that Collingwood haven’t consistently had that version of Bobby Hill lately.
His last couple of seasons have been interrupted by injuries, personal matters and periods away from football. Some of those circumstances are far bigger than the game itself, and credit should go to Collingwood for the support they’ve shown him throughout difficult moments.
This is not about questioning Bobby Hill as a person.
Life matters more than football. Always.
But AFL clubs are ruthless environments. Eventually, list management decisions are made based on one thing above all else.
Can a player consistently contribute to winning?
That’s the question Collingwood need to answer honestly.
Because while Bobby Hill’s talent remains undeniable, the Magpies also need to look at the bigger picture. They need to ask themselves whether he can consistently be available, healthy, and fully invested for the next phase of the club’s future.
And if there’s doubt internally, then the smart football move may actually be to trade him while he retains some value.
That’s the part supporters never like hearing.
Fans become emotionally attached to players. Especially premiership heroes. Especially players who create iconic moments. Bobby Hill gave Collingwood supporters memories they’ll never forget. His Grand Final performance is already part of club folklore.
But AFL history is filled with clubs that held onto stars for too long because of sentiment.
Eventually, the value drops.
Eventually, injuries pile up.
Eventually, the market disappears.
The best list management teams are often the ones willing to make unpopular calls before everyone else sees the decline coming.
Look around the competition and you’ll see it constantly. Clubs move players not because they hate them, but because timing matters.
And timing might matter right now for Collingwood.
Hill is reportedly contracted long term, which actually strengthens Collingwood’s position if trade interest emerges. A contracted player with proven finals pedigree and elite pace would attract serious attention around the league.
Particularly from Western Australian clubs.
It’s impossible to ignore the possibility that a move back west could eventually appeal to Hill. Whether it’s Fremantle or West Coast, both clubs would likely jump at the chance to bring in a player with his ability and star power.
And if a massive trade offer landed on Collingwood’s table, would it really be crazy to consider it?
Imagine receiving a first round draft pick plus another asset for a player whose future availability still carries uncertainty. That kind of deal could help Collingwood refresh their list without bottoming out entirely.
Because that’s the real challenge facing the Magpies now.
How do they stay competitive while transitioning into the next era?
You can already see the club trying to inject younger players into the side. There’s an awareness internally that the premiership window from 2023 cannot stay open forever. At some point, fresh talent has to take over.
Trading a high value player can sometimes speed that process up dramatically.
And the uncomfortable truth is Collingwood may already be proving they can survive without Bobby Hill as the centrepiece of their forward line.
The system has evolved. Other players have stepped up. The pressure game no longer relies entirely on one small forward creating chaos every week. While Hill at his best absolutely improves the side, Collingwood no longer look completely dependent on him the way they once did.
That changes the equation.
Now, none of this means Collingwood should force Bobby Hill out the door tomorrow morning.
That would be ridiculous.
If Hill gets continuity back into his football, stays healthy, and fully settles into consistent form again, he still has the ability to become one of the most damaging small forwards in the AFL. Players with his explosiveness and finals experience are rare. You don’t casually throw that away.
There’s also a genuine argument that Collingwood need match winners more than draft picks if they want another flag in the short term. Trading elite talent can backfire badly if the replacements never reach the same level.
That’s the gamble.
But this conversation is no longer impossible to have.
In fact, it’s probably one Collingwood’s list management team would be irresponsible not to at least discuss internally.
Because the reality of AFL football is harsh.
Premiership teams eventually age.
Windows eventually close.
And difficult decisions eventually arrive. The Pies have this decision on the doorstep right now.
Bobby Hill remains a brilliant footballer. On talent alone, Collingwood should absolutely keep him. But modern list management isn’t based purely on talent anymore. It’s about durability, availability, timing and projecting where your club will be three or four years from now.
That’s why the Bobby Hill discussion has become so interesting.
Not because Collingwood want to lose him.
But because they may eventually have to decide whether keeping him is the best move for the future of the football club, and the best for Bobby.
And sometimes in football, the smartest decisions are the ones supporters least want to hear.
