Collingwood's Bobby Hill Exits Club After Racial Abuse; Geelong's Tyson Stengle Also Departs

Collingwood's Bobby Hill has exited the club amid support from coach Craig McRae after the premiership hero was racially abused on social media.

Meanwhile Geelong has confirmed its own mutually arranged split with 2022 flag forward Tyson Stengle.

The Magpies have formally split with Hill, cutting short the 26-year-old's bumper contract, which was due to expire at the end of 2030.

"I'm going to take a break from football to keep working on myself and regain my passion for the game," Hill said in a statement released by the Magpies today.

Hill was the star of Collingwood's 2023 premiership under coach Craig McRae, winning the Norm Smith Medal for a four-goal grand final showing against Brisbane.

But having taken stretches of personal leave, he hasn't played at AFL level for almost a year — making just three VFL appearances in 2026.

On Thursday, before the Pies lost to Geelong at the MCG, Hill shared on Instagram a vile direct message from a Collingwood supporter that included a racist slur among other insults.

"You have disappointed this whole club and it's (sic) 100 thousand plus fans what you have done the last 18 months," the account also posted.

"… I hope nothing but the worst for you."

Hill posted a screenshot of the message and captioned it "anyone know this tough guy?"

The Magpies have publicly supported Hill throughout his turbulent period, and McRae again expressed his care for the forward's wellbeing — and disgust at those posting abusive comments on social media.

"Bobby, our thoughts are with you," McRae said after the MCG defeat on Thursday night.

"Not just for Bobby — what's going on? It's a crazy place at times, isn't it?

"I don't do social media, so bear with me, but I did look on a website which had feedback, and the feedback is unbelievable.

"It's just a cesspool for people just to vent. I find it fascinating that's actually something that people would be interested in.

"If Bobby's listening there, I'm sorry to hear that's the case. We'll always love him. It's sad to hear that."

This morning, the Pies' football manager Charlie Gardiner confirmed the end of Hill's contract.

"The club has been working with Bobby over the past 12 months to put support structures in place to help him work through some personal matters," Gardiner said in a statement.

"Despite this, Bobby has unfortunately struggled to meet his commitments to the club consistently this year and agreed that taking a break from football is the best decision for him and his family."

Meanwhile, the Magpies are counting the cost of Thursday night's loss with veteran defender Jeremy Howe suffering a fractured arm.

It is the same arm that he broke horrifically after a nasty landing from an aerial contest, also against Geelong, in 2023.

"The likelihood is he'll probably need an operation," McRae said post-game.

Utility Harry Perryman suffered a left hamstring injury — having strained his right hamstring earlier in the season.

And Brownlow medal favourite Nick Daicos has a bruised right foot, but he played out the game.

Stengle agrees Cats departure

Geelong meanwhile formally cut ties with Stengle, who said he has chosen to step away from AFL football and return home to South Australia after a difficult year.

Stengle, 27, still had three years left on a bumper five-year extension signed in 2024.

But the Cats confirmed on Friday they had reached a mutual agreement with Stengle and finalised it with his management and the AFL Players' Association.

The forward played only one VFL game this season amid off-field issues, and last played at the top level in Geelong's 2025 AFL grand final loss.

"Geelong Football Club gave me another chance to play at the highest level and achieve a lot of highs and lows and to win a premiership and All Australian in 2022 will forever be my greatest achievements I would have never thought I would have done," Stengle said in a post on Instagram.

"But after a tough year or so I have made the decision to step away from AFL football and move home and be with family where I feel more comfortable. It was a tough decision but it was the best decision for me mentally.

"I will always be grateful for playing at the top level and playing in the biggest games of them all, it was always fun and exciting.

"Thank you to everyone who has supported along the way."