By Michael Gleeson and Jake Niall
Collingwood have unveiled former Sydney Swans football chief Charlie Gardiner as their new head of football.
Less than an hour after this masthead broke the news of Gardiner’s appointment on Tuesday afternoon, the Magpies and Swans released statements within minutes of each other that confirmed he’d taken the crucial role as Collingwood’s executive general manager of football.
Charlie Gardiner is the new Collingwood football boss.Credit: Getty Images
The club had been without a permanent head of football since Graham Wright went on extended leave in 2023.
Gardiner and former Fremantle football boss Peter Bell were the leading contenders for the role at Collingwood, who had taken time to find a replacement for Wright after he chose not to return to the club and crossed to Carlton as their designated next chief executive once Brian Cook finishes later next year.
Adelaide list manager Justin Reid was the other candidate in the final three contenders for the role, all of whom met with the Magpies last week.
Gardiner had also been in discussions with Melbourne about their vacant CEO role.
Gardiner, an ex-Geelong and St Kilda player with a legal background, headed up Sydney’s football department for five seasons until 2024 when he returned to Melbourne for family reasons and took up a legal and compliance position with the Swans this year, as Leon Cameron took over as head of football.
The hiring of Gardiner continues a period of upheaval at Collingwood, given Wright’s exit, the departure of longtime recruiting boss Derek Hine last week, premiership assistant coach Justin Leppitsch’s ascension to head of list management and Brendon Bolton’s exit to St Kilda.
The football department has changed dramatically since the club’s 2023 premiership, as chief executive Craig Kelly took a more active role and was forced to revamp the football department in the absence of Wright. As part of the restructure of the recruiting department, Adam Shepard is favoured to be promoted to fill the role previously occupied by Hine.
Leppitsch is expected to report to Gardiner under the revamped football department structure.
Collingwood Football Club chief executive Craig Kelly.Credit: AAP
In confirming Gardiner’s appointment, Kelly praised his incoming footy boss.
“We are delighted to have Charlie join Collingwood, leading our AFL football department,” Kelly said in a statement.
“Charlie played a key role in shaping the Swans football strategy with proven success, and we look forward to welcoming him as the EGM of football.
Swans CEO Tom Harley – who played alongside Gardiner at Geelong – thanked the departing official for his service.
“We welcomed Charlie and his family to the Swans in November 2019 and he was an integral leader of the men’s football department up until 12 months ago when he took over the role of general counsel,” Harley said.
“Charlie was instrumental in helping the club navigate through the challenges of the COVID seasons, which laid the foundations for a return to the grand final in 2022.”
Who your team plays in the AFL Community Series
Geelong fans will get their first glimpse of star recruit Bailey Smith in competitive action when the Cats play Essendon in the opening match of the AFL Community Series in February.
And the Bombers will unveil their new-look forward line, following the departure of Jake Stringer for GWS and the recruitment of excitement machine Isaac Kako in the draft.
All 18 teams will play one pre-season match in the community series, with matches shown on Kayo and Foxtel. See who your team plays here:
Geelong vs Essendon
Tuesday, February 25, GMHBA Stadium, 7.10pm
Richmond vs Collingwood
Wednesday, February 26, IKON Park, 7.10pm
Hawthorn vs Western Bulldogs
Thursday February 27, UTAS Stadium, 5.20pm
Brisbane Lions vs Adelaide
Thursday February 27, Brighton Homes Arena 7.10pm
GWS vs Carlton
Friday February 28, Manuka Oval, 5.20pm
Gold Coast vs Sydney
Friday February 28, People First Stadium, 7.10pm
St Kilda vs Port Adelaide
Saturday March 1, RSEA Park, 3.10pm
West Coast vs North Melbourne
Saturday March 1, Hands Oval, 3.10pm
Fremantle vs Melbourne
Sunday March 2, Rushton Park, 3.10pm
*All times are local
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