AFL great scorches Collingwood over dire contract situation

An AFL icon has applied the blowtorch to Collingwood as criticism continues to pile up over the club’s dire contract situation.

Collingwood haven’t enjoyed a great off-season.

Collingwood have found themselves under the spotlight since the end of the 2020 AFL season for all the wrong reasons.

The ongoing drama surrounding star midfielder Adam Treloar has seen fans vent over the club’s handling of the situation.

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Treloar was thrown into the trade rumour mill when it was revealed his partner Kim Ravaillion would resume her netball career with the Queensland Firebirds in the Super Netball competition next year.

She’ll be taking the couple’s young daughter with her, sparking speculation Treloar was eyeing a move to the Brisbane Lions or Gold Coast Suns to avoid being separated from his family.

The 27-year-old emphatically shut down those rumours, saying he wanted to remain in the black and white jumper. The only problem is, the club doesn’t feel the same way, even though he’s contracted until the end of 2025.

Treloar isn’t the only contracted player at the Pies whose future remains up in the air with Tom Phillips, Jaidyn Stephenson and Mason Cox reportedly on the trade table as the Melbourne powerhouse looks to free up salary cap space.

Former Demons legend Garry Lyon has been left stumped by the club’s moves, even more so after it was reported the Magpies are interested in poaching Hawthorn’s Jack Gunston.

“Collingwood left, right and centre are going back to players and saying, ‘Yeah we mucked up your contract, give us some money back or we’ll have to move you on’,” Lyon said SEN Breakfast.

Treloar looks on the way out.

The Pies are looking to add Gunston.

“That’s essentially what they’re doing. And then in the midst of that they’re making a play for Jack Gunston?

“Why would Jack Gunston go to Collingwood when they’re signing blokes and then a year later they’re going, ‘Give us your money back and move on’?

“That’s not the time to go and chase someone. If you’re Jack Gunston, you’d go, ‘I beg your pardon, you’ve made a contract offer to me, one like you did with Adam Treloar? Is that what I’m looking at in a couple of years’ time?’”

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire refused to buy into the speculation, remaining tight-lipped on Treloar’s contract situation.

“Can I tell you this? No one will be speaking at Collingwood,” McGuire said the Triple M Hot Breakfast last week.

“(Collingwood list boss) Ned Guy has to speak at draft radio or whatever it’s called, Trade Radio, but he won’t be saying too much I wouldn’t have thought, and it’s as simple as that.”

But Lyon believes the Trade Period has done serious damage to the Pies and wonders if anyone will be held to account.

“I don’t know who is to blame at Collingwood — will someone get the sack for this?” he said.

“I’m talking about Adam Treloar’s five-year contract which they don’t want anymore, we’re talking about Jaidyn Stephenson’s two-year contract extension, which they’re happy to offload, we’re talking about Tom Phillips who has a year to run on his contract.

“Who do we blame for that and who is going to be ultimately held accountable?”