Bobby Hill wins the Norm Smith Medal after being judged the best player in the 2023 Grand Final.
It was the 23-year-old's career-best four goals – all in the first half – and game-high nine score involvements that gave him the edge as the best player on the ground, receiving his Norm Smith Medal from 2005 winner Chris Judd after being swamped by teammates.
"I picked the right spot, and full credit to 'Fly', Wrighty and the rest of the footy club to make me and my family feel welcome. It just shows coming out to play my best footy. I've never been happier," Hill said.
"I only had one meeting, and it just clicked. I just knew this was the right spot. I'd seen a lot of media that it was a family club and it's changing and that's something I wanted to be a part of. I'm a part of it, so I'm happy."
Bobby Hill says fellow cancer survivors Sam Docherty and Ben Cunnington reached out to him after he was diagnosed with testicular cancer at just 22 in May of 2022.
"It is a big thing to go through. It is a very serious thing. Looking back at it now, I had great support from my family and others," Hill said.
"I had Docherty and Cunnington reach out to me. They got in contact and helped me out. Full credit to them. They messaged me on their own and were a big help for me. I needed that. I won't forget that."
Giant Bobby Hill will join Collingwood after the two clubs agreed to a trade deal where the Giants trade Hill and its round-three selection (pick No.40) to Collingwood for its round-three selection (43) and its future second-round selection.
"Across this season we've worked closely with Bobby to ensure he was supported and comfortable as he faced some significant health challenges. Following the season, he again expressed a desire to relocate to Melbourne," Giants football manager Jason McCartney said.
"We’re pleased to add to our 2023 draft hand with a second-round pick and wish Bobby and his family all the best for the future."
Bobby Hill undergoes surgery after being diagnosed with testicular cancer.
"The players have gotten right around him and spoken to him several times, as have I. He's in good spirits which is great. He'll take his time to recover at home with his young family and when he feels like he's ready to go, he'll come into the club at some stage," Giants interim coach Mark McVeigh said.
Bobby Hill will remain a Giant in 2022 after GWS fails to grant him his wish to be traded to a Victorian club.
"Obviously, he's pretty upset because he did a lot of work himself, talking to relatives and the Indigenous community in Melbourne," Hill's manager Colin Young said.
"He was talking to Brad Hill this morning about it and even Brad agreed that it was the right thing to get him down to Melbourne."
GWS list manager Jason McCartney said the club had no intention of trading Hill.
"We rate him really highly and we don't have many small forwards on our list. Toby Greene will miss the first give games so we need Bobby Hill at his best," McCartney said.
GWS football boss Jason McCartney says it is looking unlikely that Bobby Hill's request to be traded to a Victorian club can, or will, be met.
"Bobby and I have spoken and I've said it's highly unlikely to happen and he'd be welcome back at the club with no issues or concerns," McCartney said.
Bobby Hill officially requests a trade to Essendon despite one year remaining on his contract with Essendon.
Hill's cousin, Courtney Ugle, plays with the Bombers' VFLW side, while he would like to live with his cousin, St Kilda's Bradley Hill, as he prepares to start a family with his pregnant partner.
Bobby Hill makes the decision to fly home to locked-down Sydney to be with his pregnant partner.
GWS and Sydney were forced to flee to Melbourne on June 22 after the COVID-19 outbreak in NSW. The teams have since moved to Queensland after Victoria's own coronavirus outbreak, and they are almost certain to spend the rest of the home and away season on the road.
"Bobby returned home to Sydney with our full support," GWS general manager of football Jason McCartney said.
"Family comes first so Bobby will return home now with our full support and if the option becomes available for him to re-join the group then we'll welcome him back as soon as we can."
Ian Hill, already contracted for 2020, signs a two-year contract extension with GWS to remain at the club until the end of 2022.
Growing up in Northam, a country town east of Perth in Western Australia, Hill grew up a GWS fan after his cousin Gerald Ugle was part of the club's first-ever squad and played a total of three games in 2012 and 2013.
"I was the only kid in Northam walking around with a Giants kit on," Hill said with a laugh.
"To play for them is a dream come true and to be building a culture here, you build it really, really quick with guys like Toby Greene, Jeremy Cameron and Zac Williams around.
"It was a dream come true just getting drafted but once you put the guernsey on it's something different. I'm doing it for myself, my family and the Giants fans out there; I'm loving it."
Ian Hill makes his AFL debut for GWS at the MCG with 15 disposals (10 kicks and 5 handballs), a mark, a tackle and 3 goals in a 27-point loss to Richmond.
Wednesday, 3 July 2019
GWS coach Leon Cameron says it's only a matter of time before Ian Hill makes his AFL debut.
"You've seen him play, he's exciting and has some outstanding traits," Cameron said about Hill.
"Whether it's this week or next week or the week after, if he continues with that form he's going to get his opportunity at AFL level.
"Our boys are excited to have him on our list because he's going to add some enormous value (to the team) going forward.
"We're really pleased with where he's heading and it's going to be excited when we do pick him."
Ian Hill hasn't broken into the Giants' powerful senior line-up so far in his debut season, but found a way to ensure he'll play a big part in the club's celebration of Sir Doug Nicholls Round.
Hill, one of three indigenous players on the Giants list along with Zac Williams and Jeremy Finlayson, used his artistic skills to hand-paint a football for Finlayson to present to Melbourne before last week's clash at the MCG.
On Saturday afternoon at Giants Stadium, after he's finished his NEAFL duties, Hill will meet with a Gold Coast representative before the first bounce to exchange another handmade gift of boomerangs.
"I was happy to do it when (GWS head of development) Brett Hand asked me, it was a real honor," Hill said.
"Aboriginal art is something I really like doing and the storyline came to me pretty quickly. I knew what I wanted to do and I'm really happy with it, and I'm glad everybody else likes it as well."
Ian Hill says he has received some good advice from his brother, Bradley Hill, on what it takes to make it as an AFL footballer.
"He just told me it's all worth it in the end when you get drafted, even if you have to move interstate … just embrace everything, so that’s what I'm doing," Ian said.
"He said, 'If you get a chance to get out there, just show everyone what you can do and why you got drafted'.
"I just have to take it step by step and learn as much as I can and work hard. That will make me a better footy player and a better person."
Greater Western Sydney orchestrate a trade with Adelaide to secure Ian Hill with pick No.24 in the 2018 AFL Draft.
GWS traded pick No.28 and its future second-round pick to Adelaide in return for No.24 and a future fifth-round selection.
"It's hard to find players with that sort of talent, just his speed and X-factor in the front half, we think that's the modern game," Giants recruiting manager Adrian Caruso said of Hill.
"It's something we've never had as a footy club and we thought that given what we picked last night and the mix of players we had coming in through the first round Ian's talent was too good to pass up."
GWS select Ian Hill with pick No.24 in the 2018 National Draft.
“We’ve followed Ian’s journey and given the quality and types of players we brought in last night, we prioritised trading up to get Ian based on where we ranked him in our talent order," GWS recruiting manager Adrian Caruso said.
“It’s rare to find a player with the special qualities Ian possesses, hence why we moved up.”
Top draft prospect Ian Hill's second cousins, Stephen Hill and Bradley Hill, are stars with the Fremantle Dockers.
But it was only recently that Ian had met his famous relatives in person through a dinner was organised through the Hill brothers' manager, a teacher of Ian and some help from the Dockers' recruiting team.
"Our grandfathers are brothers, which makes us second cousins. I was a bit nervous at first when we met, but I got used to seeing them and because Bradley is the loud one he really makes you feel comfortable," Hill said.
"We talk a fair bit of footy and he's told me to play my normal game and go for it. It would be good to make it to the AFL like they have done, and they've achieved a lot through their careers. It would be amazing."
Ian Hill looks set to turn heads at next month's NAB AFL Under-18 Championships, with the Indigenous youngster already impressing despite not being eligible for the draft until 2018.
The West Australian prospect has starred at under-17 level, being one of the NAB AFL Academy's leading players in its win over New Zealand in April when he booted three goals.
With recruiters watching on, Academy head coach Luke Power said Hill's speed and intensity made him a tantalising prospect for clubs.
"He was terrific against New Zealand. He's so evasive and defends when he hasn't got the ball, so it means he's always involved. He's going to be a really popular player because clubs are all looking for that player who can provide forward pressure," Power said.
"He kicked three goals but he also gave four away, and I really like players who are prepared to give it off to teammates."