AFL 2024: Collingwood faces a fight to keep football boss Graham Wright when he returns later this season

Graham Wright will return from an extended break later this season – but will he remain at Collingwood? Rival clubs aren’t the only ones lining up.

Collingwood faces a fight to keep football boss Graham Wright when he returns from an extended break later this season.

Wright is expected to become one of the most sought-after people in football when the highly-respected football administrator returns from an overseas holiday.

While multiple clubs are expected to make a play for Wright, who helped steer Collingwood to the 2023 premiership after four flags at Hawthorn, the AFL has also met Wright recently.

Football boss Laura Kane spoke with Wright about his thoughts on the game and his plans upon his return in September.

Collingwood President Jeff Browne and Graham Wright in January. Picture: Brendan Beckett

The league has not offered Wright, 55, a job at this stage.

But the league is open to having another conversation about his future.

Wright would be a brilliant pick-up for the league considering his experience in list management and ability to oversee the operation of the mid-season trade period.

The AFL wants to introduce the mid-season trade period for next year.

But it is known Wright has also eyed a club CEO role and stepped up as Collingwood interim chief executive before Craig Kelly arrived.

Collingwood expects Wright to resume as Magpies’ football boss in September after rejecting his resignation offer.

Instead, the parties agreed for him to take an extended break.

Former assistant coach Brendon Bolton has stepped up into most of Wright’s duties while he is away, with Justin Leppitsch overlooking strategy and list management.

The Pies lost football operations boss Clare Pettyfor last month, when she was lured over to lead up media and communications at Melbourne.

Wright returns from extended break later this season. Picture: Michael Klein.

Wright said in December when the arrangement was announced he would stay involved with the club during his time away and planned to return.

“We agreed that I will stay connected to the club in a consultancy role providing advice to the CEO and wider club during my time away with a plan to return to full-time work in September,” Wright said.

Meanwhile, Dan McStay could make a comeback to the senior side late this season.

McStay tore his anterior cruciate ligament in November, and continues to make good progress after running at Collingwood training on Wednesday.

McStay would provide a huge boost to the Magpies’ forward line.

The hardworking forward missed the club’s 2023 premiership triumph with a medial ligament injury.

Originally published as AFL 2024: Collingwood faces a fight to keep football boss Graham Wright when he returns later this season