AFL 2024: Contract calls loom at Collingwood ahead of Jeremy Howe milestone

Collingwood’s list planning is picking up speed as the reigning premiers try to fill the void of an “irreplaceable” star.

Collingwood veterans Jeremy Howe (left) and Will Hoskin-Elliott (right) are yet to recommit to the Magpies beyond 2024. Picture: Michael Dodge / Getty Images

Collingwood coach Craig McRae says the Magpies “can’t quite commit” to a few out-of-contract players as list management talks intensify.

McRae said the Magpies were closing in on a number of contracting decisions but would not be drawn on the futures of individual players as one of them, Jeremy Howe, prepares for his 250th AFL game against Sydney on Friday night.

The Pies can keep their premiership defence alive in finals by winning their remaining three matches, but they expect the Swans to be a far stronger opponent than they looked in a heavy loss to Port Adelaide that McRae said “was a game like I hadn’t seen before”.

McRae said he was looking at how to fill the hole left by “irreplaceable” star Jordan De Goey after his season ended with a hamstring tendon injury against Carlton on Saturday night.

“He’s been chasing his tail this year, Jordy, and you would’ve seen at training that he couldn’t get through many sessions,” McRae said.

A hamstring tendon injury ended Jordan De Goey’s season after the Collingwood star battled a groin issue throughout 2024. Picture: Dylan Burns / Getty Images

“He kept struggling to get to the line, and it’s unfortunate his season has come to an end.

“We don’t replace Jordy … he’s irreplaceable to be honest. His centre bounce work is as good as anyone in the competition … we’ll find someone who can do something, just maybe not at that level.”

De Goey’s setback comes as hapless premiership midfielder Tom Mitchell was also ruled out for the rest of the season amid an ongoing foot problem and surgery to remove his appendix.

With the 31-year-old contracted until the end of next season, McRae said he hoped “there was still a lot of life left in those legs”.

“It got to a stage where it was just a pile-on,” McRae said.

“There’s a lot of things weighing against him, and common sense says let’s just look after yourself and have a bit of time off now, (start) pre-season earlier.”

Collingwood veteran Jeremy Howe will play his 250th AFL game on Friday night against Sydney. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

Along with veteran duo Scott Pendlebury, 36, and Steele Sidebottom, 34, the Magpies also have to decide on the futures of out-of-contract trio Jeremy Howe, 34), Mason Cox, 33, and Will Hoskin-Elliott, 30.

All three were heavily influential in the narrow win over the Blues, and Howe will reach the 250-game milestone after playing 16 of 20 games this season.

“We had a meeting last week, and we’ve got another one today funnily enough. We’re meeting weekly at the pointy end of this season,” McRae said about Collingwood’s list decisions.

“We go through all out-of-contract players, some we can’t quite commit to yet, that’s just the natural course … most teams will be doing that.”

McRae said he only wanted to focus on Howe’s milestone after the high-jumping utility bounced back from a horror broken arm suffered in round 1 last year.

“We’ll celebrate his milestone this week, 250 games for a guy that’s been across the road (at Melbourne) for a bit and to come here,” he said.

“What a great father, what a great role model for our young players in the way he prepares.

“I think for Howie his marking stands out, but his fight, his desire and his want to win and compete is something that we’ll hang onto and hopefully inspire others.”