Collingwood premiership hero Bobby Hill has returned to official training with a smile in a significant step towards a possible AFL call-up later this season.
Hill had been on an extended period leave because of personal issues, and there were fears the 2023 Norm Smith Medal winner might not return this year.
But he made an appearance at the club last Friday and was embraced by teammates and coaches as he joined them for training on Monday.
Magpies football department boss Charlie Gardiner is cautiously optimistic about Hill's return.
"He has expressed a desire to get back in and put his head down and work hard," Gardiner said.
"But, as I said, it (his progression) may not be linear.
"We will continue to support him and hopefully he can continue to keep taking steps forward."
Hill, who has been training at suburban grounds in recent weeks, did skills work for more than an hour on Monday, but did not take part in match simulation.
He impressed teammates as he showed off his trademark speed and kicking skills.
The Magpies expect the 26-year-old will need at least two months of serious training to push for a return to action.
"He has done a bit of training, but he's really just at the start line," Gardiner said.
"He'll have a big block of training ahead of him, but we'll be guided by our medical team and our high-performance team.
"As to timelines (for a senior recall), we don't have any timelines right now. We are all just thrilled he's happy.
"He's got a smile on his face. He's enjoying and has energy for training, which is excellent."
Hill signed a four-year contract extension last April, before taking time out for personal reasons.
He returned for one senior appearance as a substitute in August, but was overlooked for the 2025 finals.
Meanwhile, Gardiner expects captain Darcy Moore (hamstring) and fellow key defender Jeremy Howe (calf) to return from injuries in Collingwood's clash with GWS on Friday night.
The experienced pair were sidelined from the Magpies' 1-1 start to the campaign before their bye last week.
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