Graham Wright s Unexpected Departure from Collingwood Shakes Up AFL World

In brief: Graham Wright, the head coach of Collingwood football, will step down from his position following a leave of absence during the 2024 home-and-away campaign.

Wright was one of the driving forces behind Collingwood’s 2023 championship victory.

What comes next?
With only a mathematical chance of finishing inside the top eight going into the last round, Collingwood is poised to become the third incumbent premier in four seasons to miss the finals.

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Graham Wright, the football manager at Collingwood, has resigned from his position, opting not to come back after the Magpies granted him a leave of absence this year.

Since March, Wright and his spouse Tracey have travelled around the United States and Europe.

In 2024, ABC Sport will provide live blogging coverage of every AFL and NRL round.

The 56-year-old, who was a driving force behind Collingwood’s victory the previous season, desired a vacation after 35 years in a row spent in the AFL, first as a player and subsequently in a variety of off-field capacities.

The Magpies were determined that Wright would take a new look at his role. But he leaves the team instead, having been on leave for the whole home-and-away campaign.

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Is placing in the top four really everything?

“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,” Jeff Browne, the president of the Magpies, 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.”

Prior to joining Collingwood in 2021, Wright—a 1990 Premiership player with the Magpies—worked for a considerable amount of time at Hawthorn under Alastair Clarkson.

Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly stated the club intended to “normalise this type of leave for our key people” when the Magpies announced Wright’s sabbatical in December of last year.

In Wright’s absence, assistant coach Brendon Bolton primarily performed the vital position.

With only a mathematical chance of finishing inside the top eight going into the last round, Collingwood is poised to become the third incumbent premier in four seasons to miss the finals.