2023 AFL grand final: Bobby Hill vindicated by move to Collingwood after premiership and Norm Smith Medal win

After a Cyril Rioli-inspired grand final performance, Bobby Hill says he feels vindicated in his move to Collingwood after helping them to a stirring four-point win. The kid from Northam-turned Norm Smith Medal winner and premiership winner was full of praise for his fellow Magpies in the aftermath of their heart-stopping grand final win over Brisbane at the MCG. He is the first WA player to win the medal since Jason Johannisen for the Western Bulldogs in 2016, receiving a maximum 15 points from the judges, completing a remarkable journey. Hill is less than 18 months removed from undergoing surgery from testicular cancer, but brought his debut season in the black and white stripes to a marvellous close. Revelling in the celebrations post-game, Hill said he had watched highlights of Hawthorn great Cyril Rioli’s grand finals performances pre-game - and the Indigenous champion would have proud of the game Hill his fellow small forward produced. Hill’s first-half performance will live long in the memories of the Magpie Army as he booted four goals, capped off by an acrobatic, juggling mark over Brandon Starcevich which preceded his final major of the opening half. He did not add to his goal tally in the second-half, but finished with 18 disposals, nine score involvements, eight marks, five tackles and 259m gained. He also kicked straight when his Magpies teammates misfired in front of goal, which proved pivotal as Collingwood had nine more scoring shots but won by less than a goal. With a flag won in his first season as a Magpie, Hill said it proved well and truly his decision to pick Collingwood as his destination after leaving Greater Western Sydney last year had been worth it. “I’m very happy now. I picked the right spot. Full credit to Fly (coach Craig McRae) and the rest of the footy club to make me and my family feel welcome,” Hill said. “It’s a family club and I’ve never been happier and it just shows. I’m coming out to play my best footy and I’ve never been happier. “I only had one meeting with (Collingwood), when I was in Sydney and it just clicked. I knew this was the right spot. “I’d seen a lot of media, that it’s a family club and it’s changing and that’s something I wanted to be part of.” Hill’s move to Collingwood was stemmed by a desire to be closer to family in Melbourne after partner Georgia gave birth to the couple’s son, Bobby Jnr, in December 2021. He said while the Norm Smith Medal was a nice accomplishment, he was happier with his premiership medallion. “Full credit to my teammates to get me in good spots and I just finished it off. “I just wanted a premiership medal and I got it and the Norm Smith can just go to my teammates. “I’m a premiership player and that’s something I’ve always wanted to do and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates. It’s more about the premiership to me.” Even when it came to talking about his highlight moment of a mark over Starcevich, Hill preferred to credit Jeremy Howe for his kick inside 50. “I didn’t see it, Howey kicked it and I actually thought I was him for a second. But other than that, I couldn’t see it until I brought it down. It was just a good kick by Howey.”