The career of Collingwood star Bobby Hill is at the crossroads again after he failed to show up to training on Monday.
Hill had been in Western Australia for the past three weeks for the birth of his third child, but was expected to be at the club this week.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Bobby Hill’s Collingwood future in serious doubt
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However, 7NEWS reporter Xander McGuire revealed he was an “unexplained” absentee as he continues to navigate complex personal issues.
Hill hasn’t played at senior level at all this year after taking personal leave in the off-season.
He had appeared on track for a return after impressing in the VFL, but this latest setback puts fresh doubts on whether he will ever return to the top level.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat this. This is a setback for where Bobby Hill has been,” McGuire reported on The Agenda Setters.
“And this weekend, this Sunday, in fact, actually marks one calendar year to the last time that Bobby Hill completed one full AFL game.
“So Collingwood’s aware that his return won’t be linear as he navigates complex personal issues in his own life.
“But at the same time, time is really running out for Bobby Hill to make an impact and to remain in the, I guess, the standing that he is in the AFL right now.
“And the heat has been building over the last six months, but particularly in the last four weeks.”
Channel 7’s Tom Morris added that people at the club are starting to think Hill will never return play for Collingwood again..
“There are people at Collingwood and around Bobby Hill that are seriously questioning whether he’ll ever play for Collingwood again,” he reported.
“And that is remarkable, given he’s contracted to the end of 2030. He’s on $750,000 a year.
“And at some point, Collingwood is going to start looking for a way out, a way to break a contract and support him on the way through.”
Hill managed just one senior appearance, as the substitute, after Round 15 last year due to personal issues and a lack of conditioning.
The 2023 Norm Smith medallist came on as the substitute in Round 21, but was overlooked for the Magpies’ two finals.
McGuire added that Collingwood have been very “understanding” of the situation.
“They’re willing to go with the two steps forward, one step back,” he said.
