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Live sport on SN this weekendWhy Cornes is seriously concerned about the “Collingwood retirement home” in 2025
Lachlan Geleit • February 14th, 2025 12:57 pm
Kane Cornes is intrigued with how Collingwood perform in 2025 after going “all-in” last trade period.
While the Magpies picked up who many consider the best player in the trade period in Dan Houston as well as free agent duo Harry Perryman and Tim Membrey, they again gave up a future first-round pick to get the Houston deal done.
While Collingwood is clearly trying to win two premierships in three years, they do so armed with the oldest recorded AFL list at an average of 26.4 heading into the 2025 season.
With such a ‘win-now’ mentality, Cornes thinks that things could go one of two ways in 2025. A huge success or a huge failure.
“My second biggest story is the Collingwood retirement home and how this is going to play out,” Cornes said on SEN Breakfast.
“It can either go one of two ways, and I’ve got no idea which way it’s going to go.
“We could be sitting here going, ‘Well done, you went all-in, it was amazing to take the risk and do what you've done to give yourself another opportunity to win a flag’.
“Two in three years would be amazing. But if it goes poorly, this is Richmond Mark II and you have to cut it, rip it off and start again.
“If you go through the drafts since 2014, there's not many players have been drafted since then in this lineup.
“They've sold everything for this year. So, I think it's a good storyline to watch. If it pays off, well done, then you are Richmond, you win a couple of flags, and then you're more than happy to start again, but I think it's worth watching.”
While Cornes is concerned about Collingwood’s list strategy, his co-host David King thinks that the Magpies should be commended for going chips in when there’s a potential flag available for the taking.
“Well, what’s the other option? Get one more draft pick in?” King asked.
“What does pick six do for you in the next three years? What does pick 10 do for you in the next three years?
“You’ve got to do this when you’re at this stage.”
Collingwood begin their season with an Opening Round clash against GWS at ENGIE Stadium on March 9.
