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Live sport on SN this weekendHas Collingwood waited too long to change its list approach?
SEN • May 3rd, 2026 9:01 pm
Kane Cornes and David King have debated whether Collingwood's shift in list strategy has taken place far too late amid Tassie's impending entry into the AFL.
Following a surprise preliminary final appearance in his first season in charge back in 2022, Craig McRae and Collingwood adopted a win-now approach, with the premiership coach later saying that he needs players, not picks.
With this notion, it saw the club win its 16th V/AFL Premiership in 2023.
But on the flip side, it has meant the club has lacked young talent outside of Nick Daicos, raising concerns about their ability to reload and compete in future years.
That concern would be acknowledged by Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly on Thursday, who believed they had undervalued their first-round draft picks in previous years.
“Our plan is to continue to go to the draft and get two draft picks every year,” Kelly said on SEN’s Locked In with Kane Cornes.
“We've been struggling, because in previous years, before the current (list management) group were there, we gave up our first round draft picks a little bit too easily, and we wanted to keep those.
“We want to get to the draft this year, but we also want to trade in and bring in quality individual players.
“I think we've done a pretty good job with (Dan) Houston and also Perryman, Dan McStay, those guys, that gives us the ability to bring in a free agent.
“We are a destination club.”
Reflecting on the interview with his former manager, the 300-game player for Port Adelaide was glad by the change in thinking.
“I like that,” Cornes explained on SEN’s Fireball.
“That's exactly what you should be doing.
“I'm glad that there has been a bit of a shift to actually prioritise the draft, which hasn't been a priority of theirs (previously).
“(But) under this list management crew, bring in players from other clubs, no doubt about it, you are a destination club.
“But to still go to the draft, I think, is smart.”
While King believes that the shift towards the draft is an odd decision given the likely compromised nature with the Devils due to enter in 2028.
“I think it heaps a bit of pressure on those guys that they have got in the top 30 over the last (few years from the draft),” King added.
“I mean, they haven't got many (but) if you look since 2022, Ed Allan, jury's out on him, Jakob Ryan, (Harry) DeMattea, where's he at the moment?
“It's very thin, and obviously they haven't had any (draftees in) the last two years inside the top 30.
“It's a strange time to shift because you've got Tassie being a major impact on the draft as early as next season.
‘So, it is a difficult time to make this shift when everyone else is having the same volume of draft picks.
“They would have to get a big-name free agent at the end of this year, otherwise they are in free fall.”
The Magpies play Geelong for their Round 9 clash at the MCG on Saturday night.
