Hill publicly expressed pride in belonging to Collingwood and indicated the need to step back to regain his passion and work on himself.

Across 61 games for Collingwood since late 2022, Hill played the 2023 premiership season but did not appear in any matches during the current year.

There has been no public comment from Hill about his departure yet.

Executive General Manager of Football Charlie Gardiner noted the club provided support structures over the past year and wished Hill well for the future.

Bobby Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist, has been released by Collingwood from his contract, which ran through 2030 and was reportedly worth about $750,000 per season, making him a delisted free agent available to other clubs next season.

Hill will take a break from football to address personal matters and rekindle his passion for the game, expressing gratitude to Collingwood and pride in winning the 2023 premiership with the club.

Collingwood and Hill have mutually parted ways, with Hill stepping back from football after a period where he did not consistently meet his commitments this year, despite the club providing support.

The departure came after Hill publicly shared an abusive racist message he received online, a situation Magpies coach Craig McRae condemned as part of the online abuse “cesspool,” with the club offering support for Hill.

Coach Craig McRae acknowledged Hill’s contributions and emphasized ongoing care for Hill and his family, noting he will be welcomed back by the club in the future.

Collingwood stated they have supported Hill for about 12 months to help him through personal issues, but he struggled to meet commitments this year, leading to the decision that a break is best for him and his family.

At the time of his release, Hill had not played this season and previously appeared for Collingwood after joining at the end of 2022, including the 2023 premiership.

Collingwood was ninth on the AFL ladder at the time of the announcement, contending for a spot in the league’s new wildcard round.