Former West Coast Eagles, Bulldogs star Josh Hill charged with historical child sex crimes

Former AFL player Josh Hill has been accused of historical child sex offences allegedly committed in the Kimberley and Perth. The ex-West Coast Eagles and Western Bulldogs star appeared in Northbridge Court on Saturday, charged with four counts of sexually penetrating a child over 13 and under 16. It’s alleged three of these offences were committed in Broome between December 21 and 30, 2015. Hill also stands accused of indecently dealing with a child in the same age range in the same town during that period. He has also been charged with sexually penetrating a child over 13 and under 16 in Scarborough between January 20 and 27, 2016. The 36-year-old stood behind a security barrier, flanked by guards. He had his arms folded and looked downcast as the charges were read to him, confirming he understood them. Hill was not required to plead, and details of the alleged offending were not read out. The police prosecutor said he understood Hill intended to return to the eastern States and outlined negotiated bail conditions including not leaving Australia, and not working with children or having unsupervised access to them. But Hill’s Melbourne-based legal counsel Justin Willee, who dialled in and was acting on instructions from solicitor Daniel McDonald, said he hadn’t had the opportunity to discuss bail with the prosecution. Mr Willee complained he had not even been told the name of the prosecutor, nor the magistrate. “This is a busy list . . . I don’t have to state my name to you,” Magistrate Anne Longden shot back. Mr Willee did not object to any of the proposed conditions. “Whatever your honour asks us to do, we can attend to it,” he said. Hill said his passport was in Melbourne and was told it must be surrendered to a Victorian court within 48 hours. He also has to forfeit his working with children card to police. Seeking clarity on the conditions, Hill said he had two children of his own and asked if he could bring them to daycare. He was told he could. A list of about half a dozen people was read out and Hill was prohibited from having any contact with them. The matter was adjourned to April 14, when it will be heard in Broome, where Hill originally hails from. Under his bail, a personal undertaking of $2000 was set and the same amount for his surety. Hill donned a cap and tried to shield his face from The Sunday Times as he left court, declining to answer questions. Hill was axed by the Eagles in 2017 after playing 173 games in the AFL, 66 with the Bulldogs and 107 for West Coast, including its 2015 Grand Final. He kicked 75 goals for the Bulldogs and 151 for the Eagles. He then moved back to Victoria and signed with Carlton’s VFL affiliate side Northern Blues in 2018. Point Cook Football Club, an amateur league club in Victoria, announced they had signed him last month. His surname was listed as Carter in a social media post. “Josh Carter back in the Red, White, and Blue,” they said. “The Point Cook Football Club is thrilled to announce that Josh Carter (formerly Hill) has signed with the club for the 2025 season.” They said he was a “key figure” in the 2015 AFL Grand Final and had a career which was “nothing short of impressive”. Hill attended Trinity College in Perth as teenager and was drafted at age 18 from Claremont to the Bulldogs in 2006 before debuting in 2007 against West Coast. He was traded to the Eagles in 2011 at 22 and made his debut in the 2012 season. Hill was named best on ground in the second western derby of 2015 with a four-goal performance. He finished that season with 40 goals to his name. He was the assistant coach at Melbourne’s St Albans Football Club in 2021, working under ex-Eagles defender and premiership player Sam Butler as the head coach.