Magpies Senior Coach Craig McRae has publicly extended a heartfelt message of support to absent premiership star Bobby Hill, emphasizing the club's enduring care for the talented forward amidst his prolonged leave and ongoing contract discussions.

"I haven't seen Bobby in the building for a while," McRae stated, conveying a direct message. "If you're out there, Bobby, we've got a lot of love and care for you. We will never waver in our love and support for the young man." Hill, a pivotal figure in the Magpies' triumphant 2023 premiership campaign and a recipient of the prestigious Norm Smith Medal for his stunning four-goal Grand Final performance, has not featured for the team in nearly a year. The 26-year-old small forward has been on extended personal leave, leading to speculation that he may not wear the black and white colours again.

While discussions regarding Hill's contract, which is set to run until the end of the 2030 season, are being handled by his management and the club's administration, McRae reiterated his primary concern lies with Hill's personal wellbeing. "The other part is completely out of my hands, conversations around management and other things, so I'll leave others to do those things," McRae clarified. He affirmed Hill’s lasting legacy, adding, "He's a premiership player, and Norm Smith medallist, and he'll forever be welcome in our four walls."

Shifting focus to the immediate challenge, McRae also shared insights ahead of the Magpies' crucial encounter with Adelaide on Thursday night. The coach anticipates a high-stakes contest, describing the expected atmosphere as "finals-like." Last season, the two teams met in a memorable qualifying final at Adelaide Oval, with the Magpies emerging victorious by 24 points in a hard-fought battle.

"We've got some good memories from that game last year, the final, a big crowd there – it was a highlight of the year for me and the team," McRae reflected. "It was a huge game, and we played the ground well. We anticipate this game to be like a final; big crowd and we're anticipating a big game."

Despite facing a tight five-day turnaround between matches, the team's training intensity has impressed McRae, indicating a strong readiness for the upcoming clash. He suggested that, as a result, he is unlikely to rest any veteran players, including the esteemed Scott Pendlebury. In positive news for supporters, gun midfielder Josh Daicos, who sat out training due to an ankle injury, is expected to be fit and available for selection. Defender Jeremy Howe is also slated to return to the lineup after successfully overcoming a calf issue.

"We trained today, and we played Saturday night, and if you watch training you go, 'No way that group just played three days ago'," McRae noted, highlighting the team's vigour. "There's a huge energy in the building right now… at this stage, I don't think we've got a reason to rest too many players or manage players." The Magpies will be looking to carry this momentum into their challenging away fixture.