By Jake Niall and Michael Gleeson
Less than 11 months after their storied premiership, Collingwood have lost one of the principal architects of that flag following the resignation of football boss and ex-premiership hero Graham Wright after a club-paid sabbatical this season.
Tensions between Wright and chief executive Craig Kelly, a 1990 premiership teammate, were among the factors that have led to the decision to leave the club, as the Pies appear certain to seek an outsider to replace Wright, who has already been sounded by the AFL and other clubs about potential positions.
Graham Wright and Craig Kelly this year.Credit: Penny Stephens
Multiple sources from Collingwood and the AFL industry, who requested anonymity to speak freely, have confirmed that tension had developed between the forthright chief executive Kelly and Wright during a difficult year in which the Magpies are all but certain to miss finals. Difficulties arose after Collingwood’s hierarchy opted to give Wright several months leave this year – paying him as a consultant – and to reshape the football department in his absence.
Wright’s decision to quit follows an attempt by president Jeff Browne to persuade him to remain at the club in his position as general manager of football. It was Browne who dealt with Wright rather than CEO Kelly. Browne also has had regular conversations with senior coach Craig McRae about the football department reshuffle.
Kelly, who previously ran the sports management company TLA Worldwide – which had McRae, Collingwood assistant coach Justin Leppitsch and Wright as clients – is among the most-connected figures in football and also took a more hands-on role at the club once Wright stepped away. Wright had tendered his resignation after the premiership but Browne, McRae and the board were keen to retain him and devised the plan to grant him a period of extended leave while keeping him on the payroll.
Leppitsch was empowered during Wright’s sabbatical and given some list-management responsibilities, while fellow assistant Brendon Bolton became GM of football – but will not take up that position in the future restructure, according to well-placed sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Leppitsch is likely to become the head of list management in the new football department, the former Brisbane Lions coach having been sounded out about an enhanced position in the football operations of the Western Bulldogs, prompting the Magpies – including Wright – to offer Leppitsch an upgraded role.
Leppitsch’s position – and the view that there was not clear reporting lines in Wright’s absence – had been a source of friction within the football department.
Wright has been in discussions with the AFL, but no specific role has been put forward, while at least two other clubs have sounded him out and there is also the possibility he will be offered a role with the incoming Tasmania Devils, as a former Tasmanian with strong credibility among the clubs.
Wright was instrumental in the appointment of McRae, running the process that led to the hiring of the eventual premiership coach and of his support coaches, Leppitsch, who is a former McRae teammate from their days at the Brisbane Lions, and Bolton, the ex-Carlton senior coach and Hawthorn assistant.
Wright had acted as list manager in addition to GM of football, negotiating contracts and was the driver of the decisions to recruit Norm Smith medallist Bobby Hill, key forward Dan McStay, Brownlow medallist and ex-Hawk Tom Mitchell and, last year, ex-Docker Lachie Schultz.
Wright, a 201-game Magpie, cut his teeth in football administration first at the Lions and then as list manager during Hawthorn’s premiership era and as GM of football from 2017 until 2020 at the Hawks.
In a statement confirming Wright’s departure, on behalf of Collingwood, Browne thanked Wright “for his outstanding service and contribution to our club”.
“Graham has spent over three decades in the elite AFL system – first as a premiership player for Collingwood and then as a much-respected and successful administrator. We have been in constant discussions with Graham during his sabbatical and both of us have agreed that Graham be free to pursue new opportunities to further develop his already distinguished career,” Browne said.
“All of us at Collingwood wish Graham, his wife Tracey and children James and Ethan all the best and every success for the next chapter.”
Wright, who is still in Europe, said: “Thank you to the players, staff and supporters for making my time at Collingwood an enjoyable period of my career. I am grateful to have been able to serve the Collingwood Football Club.”
Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.