“But I think there are two parts to this situation … I want to be a coach, and we want to be an environment where we just love and care for our people, all our people, from players to staff, and then there’s the high-performance part.

“We’re paid to win. You come to the MCG not to love and care. You want to see winners.”

Hill was given personal leave in the second half of last season, but returned to the senior line-up against Brisbane in round 22. He was used as the substitute in that match and had just the four disposals, and did not play in the finals after the Magpies prioritised fitter players over the match-winning abilities of the 2023 Norm Smith medallist.

He is contracted until the end of 2030.

“For most of the year, for Bobby, it was about love and support, and there was very little attention to high performance because we just wanted to care for him,” McRae said.

Loading

“Then there comes a time late in the year when they become about high performance. That’s where it’s sitting at the moment.

“It’s always a delicate balance of those two magnets. They somewhat collide, at times. But we’ll continue to love and support him, and at the right time, get him in the environment to push forward for high performance.

“I’ve been speaking to him regularly, yesterday [Tuesday] even. I’m constantly talking to Bobby. It’s probably a bit too early to say (when he’ll return), but we’re confident that it’s progressing.”

McRae took extended leave over the pre-season because he felt mentally fatigued after a solid year. Geelong’s Chris Scott was also given more time off, raising eyebrows within the football community.

Loading

“It’s been interestingly reported having some time off, but you make a prelim(inary) final, then a couple of weeks later you’re into trade period, and next thing you’re headed overseas with the high-performance team to Scotland,” McRae said.

“Then, before you know, it’s Christmas, and you go: ‘Well, I wouldn’t mind a breath’.

“I think after doing it for four years, you realise where you can actually take a breath … and early in January is the time when the players are just getting to work.

“The grind is on. I came back and set some clear intentions around new themes and introducing new families into our environment with new draftees, and then I just took a bit of extra time.

“My garden has never looked better … I just think it’s important, and I think anyone who has done the job would realise, that’s probably the best time for it.”

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter