Collingwood Cuts Six Players in List Reset

Collingwood has wasted no time sharpening its list after the 2026 season, cutting six players including former second-round pick Jakob Ryan and ex-cricketer Wil Parker in a decisive post-campaign cull.

The club confirmed that Ryan, Parker, Lachie Sullivan, mid-season draftee Mitch Podhajski, defender Joel Cochran and ruckman Iliro Smit have all been delisted as the Magpies reshape their squad.

Player Departures

Sullivan, a hard-working midfielder who fought his way into the senior side for 26 games across his stint at the club, found opportunities scarce this year and managed just two AFL appearances before falling victim to the squeeze. His departure underlines the competition for spots in a midfield that continues to evolve.

Parker’s story always stood out. A former Victoria cricketer, he crossed codes as a Category B rookie and carved out 14 AFL games across three seasons in black and white. His journey from state cricket to the MCG spotlight captured plenty of attention, but with Collingwood tightening its list, the experiment comes to an end.

Ryan, taken with pick No.28 in the 2022 national draft, never quite got the extended run many expected of a second-round selection. He played his only AFL game in 2023 and has now been moved on as the club looks to refresh its depth and open space for new talent.

Podhajski, a mature-age addition from the 2026 mid-season draft, made two senior appearances after being picked up in May. Like so many mid-season recruits, he arrived as a ready-made option, filled a role when called upon, and now becomes a casualty of the next phase of list planning.

For Cochran and Smit, the top level remained just out of reach. Cochran, selected with pick 47 in the 2024 draft, and Smit, another mid-season recruit, were unable to break through for an AFL debut during their time at the club, plying their trade in the VFL as depth options.

Tribute from the Club

List boss Justin Leppitsch paid tribute to the departing group, highlighting their impact across both senior and state-league programs.

"On behalf of everyone at Collingwood, we would like to sincerely thank Joel, Wil, Mitch, Jakob, Iliro and Lachie for their dedication and contribution to our Football Club," Leppitsch said. "Each of them has played an important role across both our AFL and VFL programs, and they should be incredibly proud of the commitment, professionalism and character they have shown throughout their time in black and white."

For Collingwood, the message is clear: sentiment yields to strategy. Spots are precious, the window is unforgiving, and the next wave of Magpies is already lining up for a chance to take flight.