Collingwood football boss Graham Wright will not return to club after sabbatical

After taking a sabbatical at the start of 2024, Collingwood football boss Graham Wright will not return to the Pies, with a number of possibilities on the horizon for the powerful footy figure.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – OCTOBER 09: Graham Wright, GM of Football of the Magpies speaks with media during the 2023 Continental Tyres AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 09, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Collingwood’s football boss Graham Wright will not return from a northern summer sabbatical, with the AFL and Tasmania likely to be interested parties in his services.

The decision to officially quit the Pies came on the weekend it was confirmed they would miss the finals after a season plagued by injuries and moderate form.

Now the reigning premier has to find a new football boss and shore up chief executive Craig Kelly’s position.

Kelly has been the subject of accusations from a former staffer, with the Pies adamant they will strong defend him against those allegations in court as they run a “safe and inclusive” workplace.

A club that had hoped to establish a dynasty has instead battled to find its mojo and will have to find more on-field talent to rebound despite having traded away its first-round pick.

Graham Wright will not return to Collingwood.

The Herald Sun first reported in April that Wright was unlikely to return to the Pies, with the AFL interested and having even spoken to him about his plans.

Wright had only been at the Pies since January 2021 but had established himself as a powerful figure who was a valuable confidant of first Nathan Buckley, then Craig McCrae.

As Collingwood improved its salary cap position and then moved on Buckley it surged back into premiership contention and then won the 2023 premiership against Brisbane.

Wright is believed to have aspirations to be a club chief executive but would be highly valued at the AFL given their lack of key football staffers with industry knowledge.

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon was keen to secure Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale in a wide-ranging role but he did not eventually move to AFL House amid conjecture about whether he would officially be named the second in command.

The AFL has lost Gillon McLachlan, Travis Auld and Kylie Rogers from key executive positions in the last 12 months.

Wright (R) took a sabbatical at the start of 2024. Picture: Brendan Beckett

And while it has hired figures including former Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney there is a role for a quality football person who has strong relationships with its clubs.

Wright would also be perfect as the Tasmania Devils’ first football boss or even list manager given he has held both of those roles.

But whether the timing is right is an issue given they will not enter the competition until 2028.

They will need to work on their list build and the introduction of a VFL team, with Gale not scheduled to come on board as their CEO until next year.

He will make key decisions about the timing of the club’s first coaching appointment and football boss, with Wright a proud Tasmanian.

Justin Leppitsch is set to be appointed as Collingwood’s list boss, with former Carlton senior coach Brendon Bolton currently the acting football boss.

But the Pies have a decision to make about whether Bolton continues in that role or they go to the market to try to secure another leading football identity.

Originally published as Collingwood football boss Graham Wright will not return to club after sabbatical