Updated October 28, 2026 — 5:30pm, first published 12:30pm
Dual AFLW premiership coach Craig Starcevich has rebuffed interest from Collingwood, led by his 1990 premiership teammate and the club’s CEO Craig Kelly, to help the struggling Magpies.
The move comes as Collingwood announced an “independent external expert” would be involved in a review into their women’s program on Wednesday afternoon, a fortnight after Kelly declared the club did not need one.
Lions coach Craig Starcevich has signed a three-year contract extension. Getty Images “I don’t need external people to be sitting there doing that – we can do it ourselves,” Kelly told the Herald Sun on October 17.
A source familiar with the Collingwood situation, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Collingwood’s executive and board, following a meeting on Tuesday, decided it was important for an external figure to work with the club on improving its AFLW program.
The Magpies did not offer a timeframe for the review, but are facing pressure following the departure of captain Ruby Schleicher, with several senior players voicing concerns about a lack of improvement and direction in the program.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Collingwood president Barry Carp said, “The board, together with the executive team, acknowledges that we haven’t got it right – we take responsibility for that and are committed to getting better, both on and off the field.
Sam Wright
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