AFL trade news: Harry Perryman to join Collingwood via free agency

Harry Perryman might not be a household name to Magpie fans, but the utility has landed at the right time for Collingwood, forming an important piece in a reshuffling at the Pies.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 25: Harry Perryman of the Giants celebrates kicking a goal during the round seven AFL match between Greater Western Sydney Giants and Brisbane Lions at Manuka Oval, on April 25, 2024, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images )

Some Magpie fans would not recognise Harry Perryman if he walked down Smith St but the Giant has landed at the right time to lead a reshuffle of Collingwood’s midfield.

Outside of childhood loyalty, Perryman chose the Pies over the Power, and early interest from the Hawks, after he was talked around with more midfield time.

Collingwood needs a reliable body in there and Perryman has filled that role perfectly in the past.

For a 12 month stretch from round 10, 2022 to round 10, 2023 he played 81 per cent midfield time and while he didn’t dominate, he excelled.

He was ranked 57th of all players in the competition in that time, averaging 20.7 disposals, 9.6 contested possessions and an impressive 6.1 tackles.

It’s not star-level numbers but it is very handy midfield support.

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Perryman will be a valuable addition to the Pies’ midfield. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

And getting in a player of that level when Collingwood had virtually no trade assets is a huge win for Craig McRae as he preaches a need to find ready-made talent.

The 25-year-old has been thrown around towards defence at times since, but those numbers present a solid, defensively minded midfielder.

He has played 43 games in his last two seasons and the Magpies need a reliable midfielder in his prime.

They will still give it a shot in 2025 but the Magpies know that Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury are on their way out of the midfield, while Jack Crisp started 2024 slowly before rounding into form.

Sidebottom and Josh Daicos spent some time off their customary wing spots during this last season but Perryman can ensure they go back to the width.

And his presence as a bullocking midfielder surely helps ease the weight on Nick Daicos and Jordan De Goey, who simply must get back to full fitness for Collingwood to be a premiership threat again.

At times in 2024, the Magpies were looking around desperately for warm bodies to fit in the midfield and Perryman is an innings eater – he can play long minutes there to help rotate others around him.

A six-year deal at hefty coin makes eyes boggle but that is the business these days.

For the Giants, it means a quality compensation pick.

The man most concerned about Harry Perryman choosing Collingwood may be Dan Houston.

The wantaway Power star’s hopes of getting to Victoria were dealt some sort of hit when the Giant passed over the Power.

Port Adelaide has said it needed a head-turning offer to let the two-time All-Australian go, and that was before it missed on GWS pair Isaac Cumming (who is headed to rivals the Crows) and Perryman.

Either free agents could have filled a hole left by Houston but now a team that surely sees itself still in a premiership window after making another preliminary final has to question the value in letting a star half-backer go.

If Carlton is refusing to play ball, as some reports have suggested, North Melbourne’s offer of a future first rounder would look far juicier to those at Alberton.

Given their history, you have to bank on that Roos pick landing in the top six in 2025.

If he wants to get back to Victoria that desperately, Houston may have to have a genuine look at the cellar dwelling Roos.

PERRYMAN CHOOSES PIES AFTER MEGA OFFER BLOWS PORT OUT OF RACE

– Jon Ralph and Jay Clark

Collingwood has secured GWS free agent Harry Perryman after trumping Port Adelaide and the Giants on a long-term deal of six years.

Perryman had seemed set to cross to Port Adelaide on a deal of at least $850,000 until the Pies launched a huge campaign to drag him away from the Power.

His status as a free agent means the Pies will not have to give up a pick and they are also likely to secure pick 20 from the Gold Coast for departing half back John Noble.

They will hope to secure a very similar player while securing a draft pick for Noble that will eventually settle in the mid-20s after father-son and academy picks.

Harry Perryman in action against Collingwood during the 2019 finals series. Picture: Michael Klein

Collingwood coach Craig McRae said last week he was keen to take players not picks, under new list boss Justin Leppitsch.

So now he has a ready-made half back who can also play some midfield time given Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom are in the last years of their career.

GWS will likely secure an end of first round-compensation pick for Perryman given a player’s salary will need to hit more than $900,000 a season.

GWS believes they can replace Perryman, who is a quality ball user but has only finished top three in the Giants best and fairest once.

The former Collingwood supporter went to GWS as an academy player and while he has battled injuries he has played 43 games in his past two seasons.

He will join forces with Jordan De Goey and Nick Daicos in the Collingwood engine room and swap to the back line, helping give the Pies damaging combinations.

Port Adelaide had long chased Perryman and he had a strong relationship with Ken Hinkley.

With the Power having missed out on both Isaac Cumming (who has chosen Adelaide) and Perryman, it will mean the club has a decision to make on trading Dan Houston.

Perryman is set to pocket a huge deal to join the Magpies. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

Houston wants a trade to Carlton or the Roos but there is a chance the Power will now hold him unless they can secure a phenomenal trade haul.

The Roos have offered a future first-rounder but he would ideally find his way to Carlton.

McRae said last week his philosophy was about constantly getting better.

“That’s true, I’m a coach that wants to bring players in,” McRae said.

“I said that at the end of the season and it’s such a hard market fishing from the same pond, but I don’t want picks.

“I say to the list mismanagement, ‘I don’t want picks, I want players, let’s bring players in and make us better, not just any player, but players that are going to make us better’.

“We’re somewhat deliberate on that and we think Harry can make us better and we’re hoping we can put a case to him that he thinks Collingwood is the place for him.”

“I want to get better every day, and I want to bring players in that make us better.

“I don’t want to stand still … Geelong have done it extremely well, you look at that as a platform and you see other clubs like this year, Sydney brought players in, and it made them better.”

Originally published as AFL trade news: Harry Perryman to join Collingwood via free agency