Bobby Hill wins Norm Smith Medal after matchwinning performance against Brisbane

On Saturday morning when electrifying forward Bobby Hill needed that last hit of inspiration, he put Cyril Rioli on the telly. He then delivered a grand final performance for the ages.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – SEPTEMBER 30: Bobby Hill of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Brisbane Lions at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 30, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Bobby Hill spent Grand Final morning watching Cyril Rioli highlights.

The Collingwood speedster has overcome more than most over the past two seasons, beating testicular cancer mid last year and earlier this month mourning the passing of his aunty, May.

But on Saturday morning when the electrifying forward needed that last hit of inspiration before the thrilling premiership win over Brisbane Lions, he put Rioli on the telly.

And by the time the sun set on the MCG, the former GWS Giant had delivered one of the most scintillating performances we’ve seen from a small forward since Rioli’s 2015 heroics to win Hill the 2023 Norm Smith Medal.

There was the hanger, the brilliant snaps, the selfless pass to champion Scott Pendlebury to set up his late clutch goal, the chase-down tackle on the wing, and the chest-thumping celebrations after each of Hill’s four majors.

The man with “pressure king” written on the inside of his jumper was true to his creed on the biggest day of his life, with nine score involvements from 18 touches.

Collingwood players celebrate with Hill. Picture: Getty Images

Incredible, really, from the man Collingwood stole with a future second-round pick last year after his attempt to get to Essendon the year before fell through.

But he bucked the trade trend, Hill.

When the 23-year-old sought a fresh football start, he didn’t want to go home to Western Australia.

He wanted to come to Melbourne. To play at the MCG. The big stage.

And he not only delivered against the Lions, he danced around them, Collingwood’s Bobby ‘Dazzler’.

And it came 15 months after Hill underwent surgery to remove cancer in early June last year.

It threatened Hill’s career, but he vowed to come out stronger.

And on Saturday, the man with the silken polish and proud Noongar man realised all of his football dreams at the end of his first year in black and white.

And afterwards he paid tribute to his aunty, May.

“In that tough week before we played the Giants it was a tough time for my family and I know that she is up there smiling,” Hill said.

Hill with his premiership medal and Norm Smith. Picture: Getty Images

“She would have been looking down on me and cheering for me today.”

And under the biggest spotlight, the No. 23 was the difference in one most tense and highly-skilled premiership deciders in recent memory as he channelled his uncle ‘Neon’ Leon Davis, and cousins Bradley and Stephen Hill.

Davis, who still works at Collingwood, gave away his 2010 premiership medal after he was dropped for the Grand Final replay win over St Kilda following some quiet performances in the big one.

But imagine how proud Davis would have been of his cousin as he lit up the MCG in hot conditions, taking a screamer over Brandon Starcevich which will live on forever.

As Starcevich put his hand up to his eyes to shield the sun, Hill launched up on to his shoulder and reeled in the screamer to book his third major with another dead-eye set shot.

This was Collingwood. Flamboyant. Direct. Aggressive.

And, in one of the most unforgettable possession chains of the Magpies’ season, Brayden Maynard looked up into the middle and found Jeremy Howe with a high-risk pass into the corridor, which Howe then put in the perfect spot for Hill to fly.

“I thought I was Jeremy Howe for a second,” Hill said laughing.

Hill was everywhere when the Pies needed him most. Picture: Getty Images

“I didn’t actually see the ball until I was coming down but it was a good kick and I just got in the right spot.”

But he got the job done in the air and on the ground, just like Rioli.

“I was watching Cyril Rioli Norm Smith highlights (Saturday morning), so thanks to him,” Hill said.

“To get it (Norm Smith), it’s a good thing for me but to have a premiership medal around my neck with my teammates, it’s unbelievable.”

When Hill baulked around Ryan Lester to snap his fourth late in the second term, he went into half-time with four majors, and could have had five when he missed a set shot early in the fourth.

The career-best four-goal haul lifted Collingwood to the cup and boosted the scoring power of a team desperately needing a trump card to emerge after losing Dan McStay to a knee injury in the preliminary final.

Collingwood’s forward line was the big question coming into the game, and Hill was the answer.

Hill received a perfect three votes from all the judges. Picture: David Caird

And it was a fitting fairytale for a club which confronted some of its mistakes with indigenous players in the past with the Do Better report in 2021.

But here was a proud indigenous man living his dream at the MCG to clinch Collingwood’s 16th premiership.

Former Collingwood star Andrew Krakouer said Hill was outstanding after missing out on the GWS Grand Final team playing eight games in 2019.

“For a boy from Northam, a small town in WA and Noongar man to be able to play well on the big stage (was amazing),” Krakouer said.

“He didn’t get his opportunity in 2019 but this was redemption and he took it with both hands.

“I loved his mark, I had Chris Johnson sitting behind me and I roared for him because it was a beautiful grab and he was able to finish off.

“So proud, and he is a beautiful young man.”

Originally published as Bobby Hill wins Norm Smith Medal after matchwinning performance against Brisbane