By Peter Ryan and Michael Gleeson
Collingwood midfielder Taylor Adams informed the Magpies that he would like a trade to Sydney on what is likely to be a three-year deal with the Swans.
The 30-year-old made the tough decision to leave Collingwood on the weekend after attending the club’s best and fairest on Friday night, according to a source familiar with the matter who was not authorised to speak publicly. He officially informed the club on Sunday as he told his Magpie teammates of his difficult decision.
Taylor Adams and Craig McRae pictured at Collingwood training before the preliminary final.Credit: Darrian Traynor
Adams, who missed the grand final through injury, had undergone a whirlwind few days after Collingwood’s win as he celebrated with teammates and friends, before he headed to Sydney to be shown through the Swans’ recently opened Moore Park facilities by co-captains Callum Mills and Luke Parker.
The Magpies vice-captain had played every game in 2023 until he suffered a hamstring injury at training that caused him to miss the preliminary final and the decider.
He had been crucial in the opening phase of the Magpies’ qualifying final when they opened up a match-winning lead over Melbourne, having spent much of the season playing in an uncustomary mid-forward role.
Adams was already considering an approach from Sydney before he suffered the hamstring injury.
Collingwood put out a statement following the decision that indicated they were open to the request and will look to facilitate a trade.
“Taylor is contracted until the end of 2024 and is a required player and leader. The club will discuss the request with Sydney,” the statement said.
The 30-year-old has played 175 games at Collingwood after playing 31 matches at the Giants as a teenager. He won the Magpies’ best and fairest in 2020 and was an All-Australian. He was runner-up in Norm Smith Medal voting in the 2018 grand final behind West Coast’s Luke Shuey and has been a heart and soul player with the Magpies since he was traded from the Giants in exchange for veteran Magpie Heath Shaw.
With his contract that runs out at the end of 2024 slightly back-ended, the discussions with Collingwood were mature before he chose to request a trade. The expectation is they will agree to trade a player who has given such great service to the team, and a trade could also free up salary cap space and opportunities for youngsters such as Finley Macrae and Ed Allan.
The Swans have already added ex-Demon James Jordon via free agency, while Fremantle’s Joel Hamling is set to join the club too. They are expected to negotiate a deal to get Brodie Grundy from Melbourne during the trade period.
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