"Big change" coming at Collingwood amid Hill speculation

Bobby Hill’s leave of absence from Collingwood has magnified issues the club will encounter in 2026 amid speculation the Norm Smith medallist will depart the club and a wealth of ageing players will call time on their careers.

Last week Hill was not at Pies' training with the club confirming he was taking time to deal with a “personal situation”.

It follows an interrupted 2025 season which saw the forward play just 14 games owing to off-field matters.

Collingwood analysis and discussion last year was dominated by the topic of their average age. Entering 2026 the list is around 25.6 years-old, slightly down from 26.3 in 2025 but still the oldest in the league.

Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom and Jeremy Howe are more than likely to retire at the end of this season while Brody Mihocek left the club in a trade to Melbourne.

The risk of losing Hill in the same year as the aforementioned talent and experience has Cam Mooney worried.

“From the outside looking in and off the cuff, you would think he is heading back over there at some stage,” Mooney said on SEN Breakfast. “Whether that’s end of this year or not, we just say hopefully his family and him are all good.

“From a Collingwood point of view where does this leave them as a team?

Look at their forward line; Elliot kicked 60 goals but he is early 30s, Mihocek left, I think he was the glue of that forward line and he’s off to Melbourne.

“Membrey and McStay, the former had a good year, McStay hasn’t quite been able to put it together for them. You’re relying on them to take that Mihocek role. Questions marks there and Bobby Hill is a question mark.

“Their forward line is going to be interesting, who is going to kick their goals, who is their “big man”.

“Bobby is a 40+ goals a season when he is at his peak and probably another 20 assists, he will be greatly missed if he misses a chunk of this season.

"They have an aging list and we will keep talking about this. They are superstars but the fact is at mid 30s you start taking hits and your body does start to get really hurt.

“Those things will start to happen and how much can you look after these players through the year to make sure they’re there at the end?”

Despite the age of their list being such a focal point at the start of 2025, Collingwood surprised the doubters winning 15 games in the first 17 of the season.

While many changed their views of the club and had them down for another premiership, things came undone with the club losing five of their final seven games.

Their season finished with a 29-point defeat to the Lions in the preliminary finals.

“The way the club finished last season was signs of what was to come,” Mooney continued.

“Put Pendles anywhere, he is a genuine superstar, we won’t see many like him. It’s more than likely his last year, he and Sidebottom, pencil that in. Also Howe.

“Collingwood have a big change coming. If it’s not now, when is their next premiership going to come because they are going to lose so much ageing talent and experience in the next 12 months.

“They have to work out what happened to the second half of their year. The then came out and smacked Adelaide in the first final.

“How do you start bringing in youth when you know it’s the last 12 months of your big names, it’s a tough balancing act.”