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Perth Now
11 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Magpies make Hill concession, Howe concussion call
Jeremy Howe will return for Collingwood's high-stakes clash with Melbourne, but coach Craig McRae concedes time is running out for Bobby Hill to feature in his side's AFL premiership push. Hill, the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner, has made just one senior appearance in the past two months as he deals with personal issues. The 25-year-old has been absent from training this week and won't play against the Demons at the MCG on Friday night, when the Magpies can lock in a top-four berth. On Wednesday, McRae said he had dinner with Hill the previous night as he keeps tabs on the small forward's welfare. Hill asked his coach to leave the door ajar for a possible return to action in September, but appears an unlikely finals participant. "There's high performance and there's love and care, and I've just sort of left the high performance for now and I'm just making sure the young lad's OK," McRae said. "Time's running out in the season and maybe the high performance might be a bit far at the moment, but we'll just take that off the table for now. "Hopefully he can get back in the club and be happy, and then we'll see where we go from there." McRae specifically asked Hill how he should answer inevitable questions about whether he will play again at AFL level this season. "He goes, 'Please just leave a little bit of hope there for me'," McRae said. "But he's well aware that time's running out for getting enough load and then to be available. "I stepped straight back into love and care and said, 'Nah, let's just get him right day by day'." Howe has been given the green light to return from concussion, in a significant boost to Collingwood's defensive stocks. The 35-year-old was knocked out in a sickening collision with Hawthorn's Jai Newcombe in round 22 and is back after missing last week's three-point loss to ladder leaders Adelaide. "Howey will come back and his experience is important to us. I think he'll play our system really well," McRae said. Collingwood's forward-line connection wasn't up to scratch against the Crows, when the Magpies dominated the inside-50 tally (71-37) but couldn't make it count. McRae will consider recalling ruck-forward Mason Cox, with Daniel McStay potentially making way after some quiet performances. "We're working hard with Dan to get him moving and be part of our best team," McRae said. "There's a lot of work behind the scenes to work on his craft, jump at the ball well and fit into our patterns."
ABC News
41 minutes ago
- ABC News
Adelaide Crows delay press conference as AFL considers Izak Rankine suspension
Adelaide and its forward Izak Rankine remain in discussions with the AFL over his pending ban for a homophobic slur, as Crows coach Matthew Nicks had a scheduled press conference delayed until Friday. The Crows remain uncertain when they will learn the fate of Rankine, set to be the sixth AFL-listed player suspended for a homophobic remark to an opponent in the past 16 months. Talks between Adelaide hierarchy and the AFL have stretched into a fourth day. "We are having ongoing discussions with the AFL as part of the due process," a Crows spokesman said on Wednesday. Rankine is facing a suspension of between three and five games after admitting making a homophobic slur to a Collingwood opponent in Adelaide's three-point win last Saturday night. The 25-year-old apologised to the unnamed Magpie player on Sunday as the AFL's integrity unit launched an investigation. Rankine risks being suspended for the entire finals campaign of ladder-leading Adelaide, who are returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. The Crows have one home-and-away game remaining and are then assured of hosting two finals. Adelaide is lobbying for a three-game ban for Rankine, which would offer the playmaker a finals lifeline. But there is widespread belief the AFL is pushing for a five-game suspension, which would end Rankine's season. Rankine will not train with his Crows teammates on Wednesday. A scheduled Wednesday media conference with Adelaide coach Matthew Nicks has been postponed until Friday. Last month, West Coast's Jack Graham was banned for four games for making a homophobic remark to a GWS player. In April last year, Port Adelaide's Jeremy Finlayson was banned for three games, and the next month, Gold Coast's Wil Powell was suspended for five matches, both for homophobic slurs. Two VFL players have also been banned for the same offence. Last month, Sydney defender Riak Andrew was suspended for five matches for an anti-gay slur while playing for the Swans' reserves team against North Melbourne. In July last year, St Kilda's Lance Collard was banned six games for homophobic comments while playing in the VFL for Sandringham against Williamstown. AAP
Perth Now
41 minutes ago
- Perth Now
Bobby Hill's ex breaks silence amid relationship rumours
The ex-partner of Collingwood star Bobby Hill has broken her silence amid concerning reports surrounding the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist. Georgia Devlin, who reportedly split from Hill in June, has slammed internet trolls over 'beyond disgusting' remarks made on social media targeting the pair's relationship and two children. On Tuesday night, Ms Devlin took to Instagram to respond to one particular vile and racist comment that claimed she had only started a family with Hill, an indigenous man, because he is an AFL player. 'Let's make one thing clear, my kids' nationality has never and will never be the cause of any issues in anyone's life,' she posted to her Instagram story. 'How dare someone speak on innocent kids this way. It's beyond disgusting.' Georgia Devlin responds to vile socia media comments. Credit: Georgia Devlin / IG Hill, 25, has been largely absent from Collingwood's side since Round 15, barring a return in Round 21, with personal reasons behind his time away. Hailing from Western Australia, Hill and Ms Devlin had often been seen together after Collingwood games and at training sessions alongside their two children. Ms Devlin travelled across to Sydney with Hill when he was drafted to GWS as a teenager, and had been in his corner as the forward battled testicular cancer in 2022. In the wake of their split, it is believed Ms Devlin has returned home to WA with their kids while Hill has remained in Melbourne. BobbY Hill and Georgia Devlin reportedly split in June. Credit: Georgia Devlin/IG / IG The mother of two also recently enjoyed a holiday with their children in New Zealand. On Channel 7's The Agenda Setters on Monday night, Caroline Wilson suggested Hill's continued absence had sparked growing concerns for his welfare among loved ones. The football columnist and TV presenter said the forward's cousin Brad Hill, a St Kilda veteran, had attempted to offer support. However, it reportedly resulted in a 'falling out' between the families, with Brad even believed to have reached out to the Collingwood Football Club to connect with his absent cousin. 'One person he's always been really close to is his cousin, Brad Hill. I understand there's been a falling out there between the two families,' Wilson said. Bradley Hill of the Saints and Bobby Hill of the Magpies pose during the 2025 Sir Doug Nicholls Round. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos / AFL Photos via Getty Images 'Partly, I think, because Brad Hill attempted to perform some form of intervention, and actually reached out to the Collingwood Football Club, he was so worried about his cousin. 'I don't think that went down too well with Bobby Hill, and I think that there have been days where he's just been uncontactable by anyone. Days leading to even a week at some point.' Wilson added that Hill had become isolated and unreachable for days, only fuelling concerns. 'I mean, talk about fitness, talk about family and the personal issues, but I think it's getting a bit more serious than that, and I think people are really worried about Bobby Hill's welfare,' she continued. 'Taking the football aside, because Collingwood badly needs him and they need him playing well, this is far more serious than that now, and I hope the right people are intervening. 'I'm not blaming Collingwood for this, but it's a bit of a disaster, both football and personal-wise.' Bobby Hill retains the support of his teammates during his absence from the field. Credit: AAP Collingwood vice-captain Brayden Maynard revealed on Monday that his side had hoped to receive the selection boost of Hill in the near future. Adding that Hill had returned to train with teammates, Maynard said the livewire wouldn't be lining up in their Round 24 clash with Melbourne on Friday night. 'It's a day-to-day process with Bob,' Maynard said. 'He knows that he's got our full support, and we believe that he will get the ball rolling with a few things that he's got going on. 'We are a better team with him in it, and he knows that, and we all know that. 'But at the same time, we've got big things on the horizon, and we need to focus on what we can do, with all due respect, without Bob, if he's not turning up. 'But he knows that we're a much better team with him in it. 'So yeah, it'd be good to see him come in as often as he can, because we love him in our team when he's playing (and) up and going.' Lifeline: 13 11 14. If you or someone you know needs help, phone SANE Australia Helpline on 1800 18 SANE (7263). Young people seeking support can phone beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or go to For culturally safe First Nations crisis support, you can give 13YARN a call on 13 92 76. They offer a free, confidential one-on-one yarning opportunity with an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Crisis Supporter, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
