Collingwood are facing an intriguing off-season with a “lack of unity” among key figures, including coach Craig McRae, having the potential to destabilise the club.
The situation has been highlighted by the failed pitch to land superstar free agent Zak Butters, which resulted in some curious comments from McRae towards to the list team.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Collingwood in crisis as Pendlebury departs amid leadership chaos
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The Magpies’ season came to a heartbreaking end last Friday night when they lost to the Western Bulldogs after Tim Membrey missed a shot to win the match as the siren sounded.
Less than 12 hours later, news emerged that club legend Scott Pendlebury will depart the club to join Gold Coast.
Channel 7’s Caroline Wilson reported that only some senior Collingwood officials learnt of Pendlebury’s decision earlier in the week, which points to the lack of unity.
Wilson also highlighted the “diminishing relationship” between McRae and list boss Justin Leppitsch, as well as CEO Craig Kelly announcing a farewell plan for Pendlebury as other off-field issues.
Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury will move to Gold Coast in a deal where he will switch to coaching. Credit: AAP “I think senior Collingwood figures learnt of this Wednesday or Thursday last week, not all senior Collingwood figures learnt of it,” she reported on The Agenda Setters .
“And I think it points to a lack of unity in communication around that football club.
“The stories all year have reached close to fever pitch now about the diminishing relationship between the senior coach, Craig McRae, and his list manager, Justin Leppitsch, with whom he enjoyed a great relationship.
“I think that once the Pendlebury story broke, I think Craig Kelly stepped up and said, there’s going to be a farewell game next year.
“I don’t think everyone was absolutely thrilled with that. I don’t think necessarily the Gold Coast were thrilled with that. I mean, I don’t think that’s realistic personally at all.”
Wilson said Kelly’s looming departure is also causing “disharmony” at the club.
“I also think that, and I know we’ve talked with some lightheartedness in recent weeks about my story about Craig Kelly leaving earlier this year or managing his exit, potentially this year or next year,” she continued.
“There’s been more disharmony around that and more politics than you would know.
“Craig Kelly is an old-fashioned CEO. He’s not a new woke guy. And not everyone at the Collingwood Football Club likes his style, nor some of the people he negotiates with.
“His decision to say, ‘he’s going to be there next year and potentially the year after, but probably not … well, I can’t really say’. When talking to others about leaving and people offering his job to other people has been destabilising.
“I think Kerrie Brewer was promoted in recent weeks to COO in something that many at the club believe was long overdue.
“I think there’s a view that Barry Karp, the relatively new president, needs to stand up now and make something definitive about Craig Kelly’s future. Of course, he wants to stay on in a consultancy role. Not everyone agrees with that.
“And I don’t think Craig McRae and Craig Kelly are great either at the moment.
“So they’ve got a lot to work on over the summer and I’m not sure how many will be there by the time we do our first show next year.”
Craig Kelly has an uncertain future at Collingwood. Credit: Getty Collingwood are in the box seat to land Brisbane champion Lachie Neale, but have been told they are out of the running for Zak Butters.
McRae made some interesting comments when asked about the Butters pitch.
“We’ll certainly do our own review of the situation and why we aren’t in the race to land great talent like that. I assume we’ll learn some great lessons from that,” he said.
“I think just offering the MCG as a carrot … we need to be more than that. We’ve got a lot of layers and we’ve got a lot to offer.”
Those comments were interpreted a dig at the recruiting team.
“Now I’m assured there was a united approach to Zak Butters, including Nick Daicos and the list management team, and Craig Kelly and Craig McRae, but that was not exactly a vote of confidence in the Collingwood push, and I don’t think everyone was thrilled by those words from Craig McRae,” Wilson said.
Kane Cornes described them as a “fair whack”, while Craig Hutchison believes there is “no question” they were too late in getting to the party.
“They almost swanned in, saying ‘we’re Collingwood, we’re ready, are you ready?’ It was very late,” he said.
Cornes also praised McRae for finishing ninth with what he described as “not a whole lot” of talent, but predicted a “world of trouble” for the Magpies in the coming seasons.
“The strategy has sort of changed, hasn’t it, from coach down to CEO down to list manager,” he said.
“So they’re in a world of trouble. There’s no doubt about that.
“They’re in a world of trouble with their list and now the fact that they’re unstable off the field doesn’t loom well for success in the coming years.
“I’ve been saying it for 12 months, they’ve overachieved from where I thought they’d be. I’m telling you Lachie Neale isn’t going to sort this mess out.
“They’re well coached, they’ve got a good system, they’re disciplined, they’ve got the game’s best player and they finished ninth or 10th.”