The great Kane Cornes of Port Adelaide claims that since Collingwood announced new contracts for Pies mainstays Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe, Scott Pendlebury, and Will Hoskin-Elliott, they have put themselves in a difficult situation with their list management.
In June, Pendlebury declared that he would be participating in the 2025 AFL season, which will be his 20th overall. Additionally, it was revealed on Thursday that Hoskin-Elliott, Sidebottom, Howe, and he had all been awarded new contracts for the upcoming season.
According to Justin Leppitsch, list manager at Collingwood, “all four are highly valued and play integral roles for our program both on and off the field.” “Their leadership and experience are invaluable to our environment and each of them plays a key role in educating and guiding our next generation of young talent.”
But the brutal fact Collingwood must come to terms with is that they have a seriously ageing squad and the re-signing of the experienced quartet doesn’t address the issue. The Pies have one of the oldest squads in the competition, with 11 players on their list aged over the age of 30 next season. That includes champion trio Pendlebury (37), Howe (35) and Steele Sidebottom (34), Cox (34), Jamie Elliott (33), Brody Mihocek, Tom Mitchell, Will Hoskin-Elliott, Jack Crisp, (all 32), Dan McStay and Darcy Cameron (both 30) next year.
However, Collingwood firmly believes the AFL premiership window remains wide open for them, with recommitting all four of its remaining out-of-contract veterans for 2025 only boosting their chances. However, Cornes is of the belief that they will suffer a mass exodus likely at the end of next season, and will have some tough times ahead due to their limited draft picks and long-term planning.
“They may not have had another option (but to re-sign their ageing stars). They’re not blessed with a number of draft picks. They’re going to struggle to replenish the list this year,” Cornes said on SEN’s Sportsday on Friday. “So they’d probably go ‘okay, Sidebottom played some good footy at the end of the year’, they’d take some confidence out of that. What a consistent star he has been.
“I’m not certain on Mason Cox, I think they probably need to move past him from what I saw this year. I’m not sure about Tom Mitchell and whether he can get back and be a part of this midfield. But everyone else is in reasonable form. Jeremy Howe finished the season in reasonable form. They’re just going to have to try and stagger the retirements so you don’t lose nine at once.”
Collingwood told they must start planning for the future
As of right now, Collingwood owns picks 32, 48, and 50 in the current draft, having surrendered their first-round selection to Fremantle in exchange for Lachie Schultz the previous year. Magpies president Jeff Browne told the Herald Sun earlier this year that the team would keep trying to topple opponents at the trade table in an effort to maintain their flag supremacy. They were successful in doing so before adding McStay, Mitchell, Bobby Hill, and Billy Frampton to their 2023 flag run.
However, St Kilda legend Leigh Montagna has cautioned them that they must begin considering the wider picture as soon as possible, given that their 2024 season was a huge letdown and that difficult times are ahead. Montagna stated on Fox Footy’s The First Crack last month, “The conversation now is about the bigger picture and if age is starting to catch up to them.”
Last year, it was praised for being among the oldest Premiership teams ever. The football team needs to make some important decisions because the situation is starting to get concerning. With which eleven players can they continue? How many until they begin to move past? Is it removing them from the roster or not using them in the senior squad? And attempt to draw in additional young people.
“Yeah, a lot has gone wrong for them this year, but they are keeping the larger picture in mind. They have stated publicly that they will keep adding and trading players for the time being, but they’re not necessarily wanting to rebuild.”
Collingwood’s youth ranks called into question
In addition to having an elderly roster, Montagna feels that the Pies lack new talent outside of standout rookie Nick Daicos. With just Isaac Quaynor, Hill (both 25), Beau McCreery, Charlie Dean (both 24), Reef McInnes, Fin Macrae (both 23), Daicos, Ned Long (22), and Harvey Harrison (both 22) exposed at the highest level, the Pies have an unusually inexperienced group at the club who are all under 25 years old.
“We’re really clutching, there’s a handful of players 25 and under, but this is all they really have that we’ve seen, so there’s not a lot there,” Montagna continued. They genuinely depend on these guys, who are in their late twenties to early thirtys. To what extent can they carry them, is the question. Must they keep adding to their roster in an attempt to win one or two more premierships? They can rejoice since they have won their flag.
“However, I believe that at some point they will need to start getting some draughting in because there isn’t much ability under the age of 25. They will be in a hole for a very long time, even if they manage to win one more premiership.”
AFL week one finals schedule:
- Second qualifying final: Port Adelaide v Geelong – Thursday September 5, Adelaide Oval, 7.40pm
- Second elimination final: Western Bulldogs v Hawthorn – Friday September 6, MCG, 7.40pm
- First qualifying final: Sydney v GWS – Saturday September 7, SCG, 3.20pm
- First elimination final: Brisbane Lions v Carlton – Saturday September 7, Gabba, 7.30pm
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