Jamie Elliott tells Melbourne, Brisbane he will stay at Collingwood
Jamie Elliott spoke to Melbourne and Brisbane about lucrative offers to switch clubs but stayed loyal to Collingwood. Here’s the inside story of the free agent’s big decision.
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Jamie Elliott’s sense of unfinished business at Collingwood saw him rebuff more lucrative offers as he attempts to win an elusive premiership with the Pies.
The Magpies small forward spoke with Melbourne and Brisbane about moving on from Collingwood, but in the end decided he could not leave.
Elliott was able to kick 26 goals in 16 matches this year, including 11 in his final four games of the season.
Having stayed despite his free agency status, he is holidaying with his brother in Airlie Beach ahead of a European holiday.
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He is feeling as fresh in mind and body as at any time in recent years and needs no surgery or ongoing treatment over the holidays.
It means he can attack the pre-season confident he can build on his 2019 season after the Pies crashed out against GWS in the preliminary final.
He can also get a full pre-season that will allow him to continue building on a tank that is good enough to allow him to play on a wing at times next year.
The Pies will hope to get full seasons from Jaidyn Stephenson and Jordan De Goey that will allow them to mix and match with their trio of small forwards.
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Elliott showed himself to be capable of playing a key role as a small forward target with five goals against Adelaide in Round 22 and 3.4 against Essendon in Round 23.
Melbourne and Brisbane make compulsive pitches to Elliott, giving him food for thought about whether he might move on. But after 105 games at Collingwood, the Pies forward was happy to stay on a two-year contract.
Ideally, he would have at one stage cashed in on his massive talent with a huge long-term deal. But his hamstring and back injuries have meant he has had to accept a series of shorter contracts, including this year’s one-year deal that extended his free agency rights.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire lauded Elliott’s approach this morning on his Triple M radio show.
“I think the main thing, just on that one, is that Jamie Elliott at no stage said, ‘I want out’,” McGuire said.
“He said he loved the club, wanted to stay, wanted to explore the options and was actually encouraged to explore his options by Ned Guy.
“Everyone was fully across what was going on. He did it in a very professional manner, and at no stage did he put the gun to anyone’s head at Collingwood.”
Melbourne and Brisbane both reportedly offered three-year deals to the mercurial, yet oft-injured star.
Elliott toured the Lions’ facilities last week and they were hoping he would move north and provide another weapon in their diverse forwardline.
But he will now stay at the club that nurtured him through two seasons ruined by injury.
Collingwood list manager Ned Guy said yesterday the club had been in “continual conversations” with Elliott.
“He has got a two-year deal on the table,” Guys said.
“We would like to keep Jamie, so hopefully we can continue that relationship.
“Hopefully we have got good news sooner rather than later.”
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Brisbane football manager David Noble was just as hopeful yesterday of securing Elliott.
“We felt like we were in the fight until the end,” he said today.
“He’s been at the Pies a long and it’s hard to wedge them out. I don’t think he was unhappy with Collingwood at all, I think he was having a look around, which is his right with free agency.
“We were an option, we put our best foot forward and he stayed. We wish him all the best with Collingwood, it was unfortunate we missed out, but we move on.”
Originally published as Jamie Elliott tells Melbourne, Brisbane he will stay at Collingwood