Bobby Hill’s prowess as a leader, further to his outstanding playing ability is a key theme from episode three of The Grind – Collingwood’s pre-season documentary.

Following the 2023 Norm Smith Medallist throughout the first Indigenous All Stars game in a decade, Hill’s leadership in a team full of some of the competition’s brightest stars is on full display.

While finishing with four goals in a scintillating performance was the material outcome of his game, the documentary reveals some intimate moments between teammates and staff that showcase the 25-year-old’s care and mateship.

Running alongside North Melbourne captain Jy Simpkin to the bench following the Kangaroos skipper’s third-quarter goal, Hill consoles the eventual Polly Farmer Medal winner for best on ground, after he had dedicated his major to his late Grandfather.

“Love you brother, you good?,” Hill says to an emotional Simpkin on the bench.

“We got you brother, keep working.”

It offers a brilliant insight into the growth of Hill as he enters his third season in Collingwood colours.

Arriving via the 2022 trade period with just 43 games to his name, the dazzling forward had shown a modicum of his talent at the top level with the GWS GIANTS, however factors outside his control had impacted his continuity.

Battling testicular cancer throughout 2022, the then 22-year-old made an inspirational return to the field that same year, before making the move south to the Pies in October.

And his form has exploded ever since.

His crowning moment of course came via that best on ground performance on the last day in September in 2023, with his four goals that day part 63 in his first 47 games in the black and white.

It’s what made him a no-brainer as one of the first players selected in the All Stars squad – included in the first wave of stars picked back in December alongside the likes of Melbourne’s Kysaiah Pickett, Brisbane’s Charlie Cameron, and cousin and St. Kilda star Brad Hill.

Fast forward to February’s game, and Bobby, a proud Whadjuk-Ballardong Noongar man, is a key member in the team’s ‘war cry’ performance prior to the match, with Brad leading the way.

The Club’s documentary offers exclusive access inside the makings of the war cry, with All Stars staff member Pauly Vandenbergh outlining the importance of the pre-match performance.

“We’ve got to do something, we’ve got to do this war cry,” Vandenbergh, Port Adelaide’s Director of Aboriginal Programs said.

“Some of us are pretty strong in our identity and some of your families might think this is disrespectful, but this is just about being united and being a family. It’s about showing that we are strong, we are 65,000 years old.

“That moment when there’s no else standing up there but you brothers, that’s your moment to show what 65,000 years of culture is all about.

“Your mob are going to be there, and there’s going to be so many Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people in that crowd.

“There’s going to be so many watching who are going to be so proud to see that part.”

Brad, seven years Bobby’s senior, lead the way as the All Stars practiced the war cry in their Perth hotel in the days leading up to the match, with Bobby proudly standing at the front.

The team’s immediate comradery and cohesion is evident, culminating in a powerful performance both before and during the match in front of 37,000 people at Optus Stadium.

Speaking after the game, two of Bobby’s closest family members in Brad and  Georgia, Bobby’s partner, expressed their pride.

“Bob was running a muck out there just doing what he wanted to do. To see the player he’s becoming and how confident he is, he was too deadly tonight,” Brad said.

Georgia echoed the sentiment:

“I know this was something he’s dreamed of for a long time. He mentioned he came to the AFL All Stars in 2015, and he mentioned that he wanted to be in the team one day and 10 years later he’s in the team. He played awesome and I’m so proud of him,” she said.

It’ll be a moment the Pies star will never forget, kickstarting his 2025 campaign in beautiful fashion surrounded by friends and family.

“Ticked that off the bucket-list. It was unbelievable to play here in front of family. I just enjoyed my time playing alongside the brother boys and hopefully many more to come,” Hill said.

“We only had one training session and to bond like that, after 10 years, finally it was over to play this game again and hopefully we don’t have to wait that long for the next one.”

Hill's experience with the Indigenous All Stars is detailed in episode three of The Grind, premiering at 7pm on Monday night.