Collingwood coach Craig McRae acknowledges that significant roster decisions are on the horizon as the Magpies fight to keep their premiership defense alive.
After four consecutive losses, Collingwood‘s season hangs in the balance with them sitting 13th on the ladder, heading into a matchup against the last-placed Richmond at the MCG on Sunday.
The Magpies, who fielded the oldest team in the league in their recent defeat to Hawthorn, are facing tough end-of-season decisions regarding their veteran players. If no changes are made, Collingwood will have 11 players aged 30 or older on their roster in 2025.
Veteran stars Scott Pendlebury (turning 37 in January) and Steele Sidebottom (turning 34 in January) are among those whose futures will be reconsidered.
McRae mentioned on Friday that he is in regular discussions with both Pendlebury and Sidebottom about their current and future roles.
“We’re not there yet … we want to honor our greats, particularly these two,” McRae said. “When you have a premiership list, it seems invincible, but when things aren’t going well, issues become apparent. We’re looking ahead and will ensure we make the right decisions for the club.”
Despite the challenges, McRae is holding out hope for the season and emphasizes focusing on improving the team’s performance rather than discussing finals.
“We talk about winning a lot but focus on the behaviors needed to succeed, not just the final outcome,” he explained.
Josh Daicos and Jordan De Goey continue to play despite minor injuries, and Mason Cox returns from a knee injury after two months. Forward Lachie Schultz also returns from a concussion, with Harvey Harrison, Jack Bytel, and Wil Parker rejoining the team. Nathan Kreuger is out with a concussion, and Oleg Markov is unavailable for personal reasons. Reef McInnes, Lachlan Sullivan, and Joe Richards have been dropped.
Richmond welcomes back Nick Vlastuin and Tim Taranto, but Dustin Martin is still sidelined with a back issue, and Toby Nankervis is out due to a concussion.