Longtime recruiter Derek Hine set to leave Collingwood

Longtime Collingwood recruiter Derek Hine has left the club after more than two decades as part of a list management shake-up.

Derek Hine has left Collingwood.

Collingwood has parted ways with its long-time recruiting boss Derek Hine after a shake-up of its list management operations.

Hine will leave the club after more than 20 years heading up the Magpies’ recruiting arm, having first started at the club in 2003.

It comes as Collingwood’s new list manager Justin Leppitsch restructures the club’s talent acquisition department.

Leppitsch just oversaw his first trade and draft periods after stepping out of the coaching team.

Hine has been the Magpies’ longtime recruiting guru.

The Magpies are yet to appoint a new football boss after Graham Wright joined arch rival Carlton after a six-month sabbatical.

The Magpies said that despite Hine’s departure the club “remains committed to investing in this area to ensure sustained on-field success”.

One of the game’s most respected talent spotters, Hine spearheaded an era of success for the Pies, winning flags in 2010 and 2023.

Derek Hine at @CollingwoodFC

21 seasons.

13 finals series.

9 preliminary finals.

5 grand finals.

2 flags.

Thanks Derek 👏👏👏#gopies

— Matt (@Mattys123) December 6, 2024

He thanked the club and its fans for their support over his long stint.

“It has been an incredibly enjoyable period of my life and I leave Collingwood with many cherished memories and lifelong friends,” he said.

“I particularly want to acknowledge all the part-time recruiters who have worked in our talent program over the journey who continue to work tirelessly to identify players across the country.”

Collingwood took Dale Thomas and Scott Pendlebury together in the top five of 2005’s draft - Hine’s first as recruiting boss - before landing Steele Sidebottom and Dayne Beams back-to-back in 2008.

Later top picks included Brodie Grundy, Jordan De Goey and Isaac Quaynor, as well as father-son stars Darcy Moore and Nick Daicos.

And Hine convinced American giant Mason Cox to join the Magpies, one of several rookie diamonds picked up in his time such as Alan Toovey, Sharrod Wellingham, Jarryd Blair, Brody Mihocek and Jack Ginnivan.

The 2006 national and rookie drafts grabbed an incredible six players who would play in a premiership four years later – Ben Reid, Nathan Brown, Chris Dawes, Tyson Goldsack, Wellingham, Brent Macaffer.

Under coaches Mick Malthouse, Nathan Buckley and Craig McRae, the Pies have made 13 of the last 19 finals series and grand finals in 2018 and 2011.

Originally published as Longtime recruiter Derek Hine set to leave Collingwood