AFL 2025: Collingwood signs Tim Membrey as delisted free agent

Collingwood has continued its daring list strategy by bringing in a delisted free agent on the first day of the signing window.

A lasting friendship with a former Sydney teammate helped convince Tim Membrey to move to a third club as Collingwood continues its daring ploy to keep the premiership window ajar.

The Magpies snapped up Membrey as soon as the delisted free agency period opened on Friday, with the 30-year-old forward given a two-year deal despite a perceived lack of interest from St Kilda.

The three-time Saints leading goalkicker had been delisted on Monday, but had already agreed to join the Magpies after catching their eye with a 14-goal hot patch as the Saints won five of their last six games in 2024.

Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch had been open about the Pies’ interest in adding a forward “battering ram” to support key targets Brody Mihocek and Dan McStay, and said Membrey was a “key talent for our list’s needs”.

It's official ✍️ ✅ Tim Membrey is a Magpie after signing a two-year deal!

With 179 games of experience, Membrey has kicked 293 goals at AFL level. pic.twitter.com/IfScUT19Iq

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) October 31, 2024

“We have been in discussion with Tim for some time ... above his football ability, Tim is a quality individual and strong leader, which we know will complement our program,” Leppitsch said.

“We welcome Tim, his wife Emily, and their children Wren and Beau to our club, and we look forward to introducing them to our Collingwood family when we return for pre-season training come November.”

Membrey became the 10th player over the age of 30 on Collingwood’s list leading into 2025 as the Pies stuck tight to coach Craig McRae’s bold “players over picks” strategy.

The Magpies this week delisted premiership defender Oleg Markov and Ash Johnson to free up the primary list space to go after Membrey.

Membrey joins Collingwood after booting 293 goals in 179 games for Sydney and St Kilda. He was the Saints’ leading goalkicker in 2016-17 and 2019. Picture: Collingwood FC

They committed to redrafting the discarded pair in the rookie draft later this month.

Membrey said his close ties to former Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell from their time together at Sydney had encouraged him to explore the move to Collingwood.

Mitchell arrived at the Swans via the 2011 draft, with Membrey joining in the following year.

“It happened pretty quickly, to be honest. It was pretty quiet for a while there, and my manager just rang me and said, ‘Collingwood are pretty interested if you want to go have a chat’,” Membrey said.

“I guess you meet a few guys throughout footy, I got drafted to Sydney originally and became really close with Tommy (Mitchell) straight away, we just hit it off.

“I’ve been super keen to get in here and get out there and train with him, and also the other boys as well.”