Collingwood make final list calls on Reef McInnes, Charlie Dean, Ash Johnson and Oleg Markov

A pair of senior Magpies have been delisted by the club but with promise of a rookie return, as a host of fringe Collingwood players snapped up another chance in 2025.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 21: Reef McInnes of the Magpies celebrates a goal during the 2024 AFL Round 02 match between the St Kilda Saints and the Collingwood Magpies at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 21, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Contracted pair Ash Johnson and Oleg Markov were delisted under the promise of being drafted again as rookies by Collingwood as forward hopeful Reef McInnes was one of four Pies given a one-year contract for 2025.

Johnson signed a two-year deal in 2023 and Markov had extended his one-year contract into 2025 mid-season but the pair were officially delisted on Tuesday.

Collingwood has promised to take both in the rookie draft but either could be snapped up earlier if a rival club can get in front of the pair.

Markov played in Collingwood’s 2023 premiership after being grabbed by the Pies following stints at Richmond and Gold Coast but played 12 games in 2024. And Johnson, 27, burst onto the scene in 2022 but has been a fringe forward since.

Ash Johnson has been delisted. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Oleg Markov has also been delisted. Picture: Michael Klein

“We’ve had to make a difficult decision around Ash and Oleg for 2025 but we are committed to relisting them as rookies,” Magpies list boss Justin Leppitsch said.

Collingwood’s moves finalised its list before November’s draft.

Defender Charlie Dean and midfielders Ned Long and Lachie Sullivan were also handed one-year deals.

McInnes, a 194cm forward, played a career-high nine games in 2024 for 13 goals but didn’t quite grasp a chance in the forward half when tall Dan McStay missed the first two-thirds of the season through injury.

He was taken with the 23rd pick in the 2020 draft and has played 20 games across three seasons.

Reef McInnes will be at the Pies in 2025.

A VFL success story, Dean made his AFL debut this year and played eight games as the Magpies searched for cover for retired defender Nathan Murphy.

Former Hawk Long landed with the Pies in the mid-season draft and played seven of Collingwood’s final eight games.

Sullivan was expected to be retained by the Magpies, having impressed in 10 games through the middle of the season.

The Pies are expected to add delisted Saints veteran Tim Membrey to their forward mix, when the delisted free agency period begins on Friday.

Collingwood holds picks 52, 55 and 58 in November’s draft.

STAYING OR GOING? THE CLUBS WITH BIG LIST CALLS TO MAKE

Collingwood and St Kilda are the two clubs with the most decisions left to make as clubs finalise their lists before next month’s draft.

With the delisted free agency period to open on Friday, the final calls are imminent at six clubs.

Collingwood has lost eight players off its list from this year, while bringing in Dan Houston and Harry Perryman.

The Pies are expected to scoop up Tim Membrey from St Kilda once the DFA window opens, though Membrey is one of four Saints yet to be officially delisted.

The Pies only hold picks 52, 55 and 58 in the draft so don’t have to keep clear space on the list for many draft prospects.

Aaron Francis is waiting on a deal from Sydney.

Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield still hasn’t finalised his contract for next year, while ruck Rhys Stanley and veteran Mitch Duncan will soon have new deals announced.

Sydney’s Aaron Francis, West Coast’s Luke Edwards and Hawthorn’s Josh Bennetts are also waiting on deals.

With clubs salivating over a deep draft next month, list spots have been at a premium this year and several clubs have dropped players off their list under the promise of selecting them again in the rookie draft.

That includes Brisbane pair Darcy Craven and Darragh Joyce, Fremantle ruck Max Knobel and Richmond giant Mate Colina.