Collingwood prepares for life without Graham Wright as veteran administrator’s return remains uncertain

Collingwood president Jeff Browne has hit back at critics who have attributed the club’s slide out of the top eight to the absence of one of its most influential football staffers.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 03: Graham Wright, GM of Football of the Magpies speaks with Chris Davies, GM of Football of the Power during The 2023 AFL Trade Period at Marvel Stadium on October 09 , 2022 in Melbourne, Australia.

Collingwood president Jeff Browne is adamant the absence of respected football boss Graham Wright has had no impact on the reigning premier’s on-field demise.

Wright was granted leave to travel to Europe this season with the Magpies promoting assistant coaches Brendon Bolton and Justin Leppitsch to help fill the leadership void.

But the club’s premiership defence is on life support with the Magpies slumping to 13th on the ladder and no guarantees Wright will return to the club.

Adding to their woes is the fact they do not have a first-round pick in this year’s draft and the club was left red-faced by the performance of sacked premiership player Jack Ginnivan (Hawthorn) on Saturday.

Collingwood football boss Graham Wright during last year’s trade period.

Browne confirmed he was in talks with Wright – but said a possible return would have to fit within the new-look department that he has moulded.

“The enthusiasm in the group here and the restructuring of the football department that we’ve built while ‘Wrighty’ was away is something that’s very durable and futuristic,” Browne told the Herald Sun on Tuesday.

“We’re all learning a lot through the losses. We had most of our luck last year and we’re squaring up the ledger this year with a lot of bad luck with injuries.

“But I’m really happy with the structure of the football department and anyone who wants to attribute the losses this year to the absence of ‘Wrighty’ are just way off the mark.

Wright has taken a break from football this year. Picture: David Crosling

“They don’t understand the strength that we have in that club. I’m very optimistic about the club. I believe we’re in for an era of success and we’re building for that.

“My focus is not on our win-loss ratio, it’s on winning our next premiership.”

Asked specifically about whether Wright would return, Browne said: “I’m still talking to him – but what has happened is we’ve built a really, durable structure behind him while he’s been away.

“So it’s looking at how he could fit into that, and I’m talking to him about that. That’s an ongoing discussion.

“But I’m very optimistic about the club. I’m very happy with the club.

“I’m very happy with the structures we’ve got and I’m very happy with the people we’ve got in place to take this club forward for many, many years to come.”

Originally published as Collingwood prepares for life without Graham Wright as veteran administrator’s return remains uncertain