Collingwood Magpies star Bobby Hill has become the target of a disturbing and false AI-generated image that has circulated on social media. The fabricated photo deceptively shows the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner smoking what appears to be a meth pipe.
Malicious Fabrication Spreads Online
The fake picture, which the Daily Mail Australia confirmed it would not publish, was created using a frame from a video featuring prominent Australian businessman Geoff Bainbridge. Some football fans on social media platforms were initially deceived, believing the manipulated image of Hill to be genuine.
This damaging incident comes at an acutely sensitive time for the 25-year-old forward. Last week, Collingwood confirmed that Hill has put his AFL career on hold with the club's full support, with no set timeframe for his return to the game.
A Period of Personal Turmoil for the Star Forward
Hill's leave of absence is the latest chapter in a challenging period off the field. Last July, his split from partner Georgia Devlin became public. Last month, Devlin revealed she is pregnant. Shortly after the relationship ended, Hill stepped away from football for five weeks, a period that coincided with Devlin and their children moving back to Western Australia.
During that initial break, Hill shared an emotional social media post about missing his sons, Bobby Junior and Malakai, offering the first public indication of the family breakdown. His on-field appearances became sporadic; after playing the first 13 games of the 2024 season, he managed just one more AFL appearance in the final three months—as a substitute.
Recent social media activity suggests Hill has travelled to Perth. He posted asking for a barber recommendation in the city, followed by a new picture with his two sons on January 5th.
Club Support and Contract Security
Collingwood's football boss, Graham Wright, issued a statement emphasising the club's priority is Hill's wellbeing. "We care for Bobby and his health and wellbeing remain the priority as he continues to work through his personal situation," Wright said. "While on leave from the AFL program, we will continue to support Bobby."
Despite a brief period of trade speculation, Collingwood's list manager, Justin Leppitsch, firmly shut down any rumours last October. "He's at the club next year. Bobby's staying at the club," Leppitsch stated. The dynamic forward from Western Australia is contracted with the Magpies until the end of 2030.
The club had been optimistic last October that Hill was overcoming his challenges, making last Friday's announcement of an indefinite leave a significant development. The decision was made jointly by Hill, his management, and the club.
