News Collingwood News & Media

[JuniorB]

Murphy is set to return to the club in an off-field development role to begin with, including a focus on welfare.
Collingwood is expected to make changes to its football department across the off-season after failing to qualify for September.


Justin Leppitsch stepped up as head of strategy, innovation and list management when Graham Wright went on sabbatical and is now set to become permanent list boss ahead of the trade period.


Former Adelaide defender Andy Otten will coach the VFL side in 2025, stepping up to replace Josh Fraser in the role.


Fraser is expected to continue as the Collingwood’s head of development.


Otten joined the Magpies as defensive development coach at the end of 2022 and has worked closely with the younger players across his first two seasons at the club.


Murphy is set to spend time helping the next generation of defenders at the club.

It's great he won't be lost to the club - such a quality person.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Well JFN has the next best thing in a twin

Hopefully Murphy's number one job is to develop someone to be just like him with less propensity for head knocks

 

[Kirby]

Think that seems like a pretty quick timeline. Kirby ?

Very quick!

 

[JuniorB]

It's Peter McKenna's birthday today!
One of my favourites.
I spoke to him at a high school reunion one year - he is a perfect gentleman.

Peter McKenna

In the early 1970s, Peter McKenna was the biggest name in football – and probably the most popular the game had ever seen. This was true pop-star hysteria hitting the Victorian Football League. Young girls would run onto the ground to kiss him before the start of matches. The club was so heavily...

forever.collingwoodfc.com.au

 

[Fat Jesus]

It's Peter McKenna's birthday today!
One of my favourites.
I spoke to him at a high school reunion one year - he is a perfect gentleman.

Peter McKenna

In the early 1970s, Peter McKenna was the biggest name in football – and probably the most popular the game had ever seen. This was true pop-star hysteria hitting the Victorian Football League. Young girls would run onto the ground to kiss him before the start of matches. The club was so heavily...

forever.collingwoodfc.com.au

Yep. Best bloke ever to chat with.
Genuine human being.

Happy birthday Peter

 

[Fat Jesus]

Greg Swann once rang me to tell me that I was the best Collingwood supporter ever.

I would have replied earlier. I was in the kitchen making the cake for Peter McKennas birthday.
Ran out of candles at about seventy. Sent Mrs Fat to 7/11 for some more.

 

[Pistol Night]

I would have replied earlier. I was in the kitchen making the cake for Peter McKennas birthday.
Ran out of candles at about seventy. Sent Mrs Fat to 7/11 for some more.

About 70? I hope you counted correctly. Don’t want to offend a club legend and end up with 152 candles on his cake.

 

[Doc1763]

It's Peter McKenna's birthday today!
One of my favourites.
I spoke to him at a high school reunion one year - he is a perfect gentleman.

Peter McKenna

In the early 1970s, Peter McKenna was the biggest name in football – and probably the most popular the game had ever seen. This was true pop-star hysteria hitting the Victorian Football League. Young girls would run onto the ground to kiss him before the start of matches. The club was so heavily...

forever.collingwoodfc.com.au

He was an absolute superstar. Still the best kick for goal I've seen in a Collingwood jumper.

 

[60 Yards Out]

It's Peter McKenna's birthday today!
One of my favourites.
I spoke to him at a high school reunion one year - he is a perfect gentleman.

Peter McKenna

In the early 1970s, Peter McKenna was the biggest name in football – and probably the most popular the game had ever seen. This was true pop-star hysteria hitting the Victorian Football League. Young girls would run onto the ground to kiss him before the start of matches. The club was so heavily...

forever.collingwoodfc.com.au

Incredible player and good, humble person. A true role model.

 

[NMBB]

Incredible player and good, humble person. A true role model.

Thoroughly deserved a flag.......

 

[sr36]

Incredible player and good, humble person. A true role model.

I had a suspicion you liked him

 

[Jen2310]

Collingwood president Jeff Browne has told the club board of his intention to step down from his position at an unspecified time, as the Magpies begin the task of identifying a successor.

But Browne does not intend to give up the Collingwood presidency until he is satisfied the club is in good shape for his successor, which could be within the next 12 months or earlier, depending on how he views the club’s position, according to three Collingwood sources familiar with the board manoeuvres, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Browne has indicated he will step down if and when he feels the Magpies are in good shape “with things in order,” according to a club source.
Current board member and wealthy funds manager Barry Carp is viewed by the board as the most likely successor internally, if he decides to pursue the presidency once Browne, the former Nine boss and AFL head lawyer, departs.

The timing of Browne’s exit is unclear, the sources confirmed, but the internal expectation is that he will leave within 12 months. He is up for re-election at the end of this year, when his election would be assured given Collingwood’s storied 2023 premiership and the club’s rise under senior coach Craig McRae

Craig Mcrae

Age

51

Ht

176cm

Wt

73kg

Pos.

Fwd

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.9

3star

K

9.0

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

2.4

3star

T

1.9

4star

G

1.2

4star

No current season stats available

D

16.2

4star

K

10.6

4star

HB

5.6

4star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.2

3star

G

1.4

5star

.
The succession of the presidency was discussed at a recent board meeting. While former 1980s and ’90s player Paul Tuddenham signalled an interest in taking the presidency, sources say Tuddenham – the son of former Collingwood great Des Tuddenham – is now unlikely to be candidate. Collingwood’s members elect the board for three-year terms, with the board electing the president.

Carp and finance industry executive Renee Roberts are due for re-election this December, alongside Browne, the trio having joined the board at the end of 2021 in a board shake-up.

Browne is also one of the most influential of the 18 club presidents, who have asserted more say in the competition in the past few years and sought to shift the power balance from a dominant AFL administration towards the clubs. He is a close ally of Sydney president Andrew Pridham and has been a driver, with Essendon president David Barham, of the AFL’s concussion indemnity plan.

Browne has become more heavily involved in the workings of Collingwood’s football department recently, having stepped in an attempt to smooth over significant tensions between now-departed football boss Graham Wright and chief executive Craig Kelly. Wright opted to leave the club – for which he played in a premiership alongside Kelly – following a club-paid sabbatical that lasted the duration of the 2024 season.

Browne and the board’s football director, Paul Licuria

Paul Licuria

Age

46

Ht

179cm

Wt

81kg

Pos.

Mid

Career

Season

Last 5

D

21.1

5star

K

11.9

4star

HB

9.2

5star

M

4.9

5star

T

2.6

4star

No current season stats available

D

10.4

3star

K

6.6

3star

HB

3.8

3star

M

1.8

2star

T

1.2

3star

, will also have a say in the appointment of Wright’s replacement as general manager of football operations.

Browne and Kelly opted to let Wright take leave and re-organised the football department during the season in Wright’s absence, with senior assistant coaches Justin Leppitsch

Justin Leppitsch

Age

49

Ht

191cm

Wt

97kg

Pos.

Def

Career

Season

Last 5

D

12.2

3star

K

8.3

3star

HB

3.9

3star

M

4.5

4star

T

1.2

3star

No current season stats available

D

8.2

2star

K

5.8

3star

HB

2.4

3star

M

0.6

1star

T

1.0

3star

(list management) and Brendon Bolton (football operations) taking over Wrights’ duties, backed up by Kelly, the influential former player agent and events management company boss who took over as CEO early in 2023.

The absence of an experienced football general manager – which saw the coaches re-organised, as Leppitsch and Bolton changed roles – caused some unease and friction within Collingwood’s football department this season, as the Magpies failed to make the finals, finishing ninth. Leppitsch has since been appointed as head of list management and strategy. Bolton will not be a candidate for the football GM role.

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

Probably not surprised with the health issues he's had.

As long as it's not fkng Eddie.

 

[danielnajdek]

Geez everyone is leaving.

 

[stormskye]

Geez everyone is leaving.

He’s got cancer mate. A horrible one to

 

[Scodog10]

Um excuse me? Browne can **** right off immediately if he did anything other than manage relationships!

WTF is with our club’s administrators thinking their Stephen Wells? Surely we learnt our lesson post Ed and the Beams debacle. Surely? Licuria and Kelly are the only board members that should have a presence in the football department.

“Browne has become more heavily involved in the workings of Collingwood’s football department recently, having stepped in an attempt to smooth over significant tensions between now-departed football boss Graham Wrigh and chief executive Craig Kelly. Wright opted to leave the club – for which he played in a premiership alongside Kelly – following a club-paid sabbatical that lasted the duration of the 2024 season.”

 

[Kirby]

Um excuse me? Browne can **** right off immediately if he did anything other than manage relationships!

WTF is with our club’s administrators thinking their Stephen Wells? Surely we learnt our lesson post Ed and the Beams debacle. Surely? Licuria and Kelly are the only board members that should have a presence in the football department.

I think you are misinterpreting what is being said.

I think it just means that he helped smooth over some relationship issues, not that he played an active part in any football related decisions.

 

[Scodog10]

I think you are misinterpreting what is being said.

I think it just means that he helped smooth over some relationship issues, not that he played an active part in any football related decisions.

That would definitely prevent me ranting!

 

[Vicky Park]

Jeez Pies, Wright gone, Browne going (understandably with his health), and a court case coming up over Kelly (which may not get far but it’s still in front of us).

Can’t we have some stability? We managed two years of it and snagged a flag. How about five years? Four? Any at all?

 

[ElliottsMaggies]

 

[gerryg400]

If not for that draw one of the Pies or Freo would have pushed out the Blues.

 

[NMBB]

Jeez Pies, Wright gone, Browne going (understandably with his health), and a court case coming up over Kelly (which may not get far but it’s still in front of us).

Can’t we have some stability? We managed two years of it and snagged a flag. How about five years? Four? Any at all?

One day at time sweet Jesus....

 

[barrackers]

Here’s hoping the next president has moved past the dinosaur age of captain’s picks.

 

[magpie_marty]

He was an absolute superstar. Still the best kick for goal I've seen in a Collingwood jumper.

My mum got me number 6 to have on my collingwood jumper and sewed it upside down I ended up with number 9.
Barry Price?

 

[jmac70]

Jeez Pies, Wright gone, Browne going (understandably with his health), and a court case coming up over Kelly (which may not get far but it’s still in front of us).

Can’t we have some stability? We managed two years of it and snagged a flag. How about five years? Four? Any at all?

How long was Ed President?