TOM Phillips faces a difficult decision on his playing future, with the talented winger told by Collingwood it is open to trading him.
Phillips is contracted until the end of next year, but after open and honest conversations with club chiefs in recent days, faces the prospect of being squeezed out of the club’s best 22.
The left-footer has been told by Collingwood that it is happy for him to stay, but both parties are conscious of the development of the list and Phillips’ opportunities next season and beyond.
The Pies’ stance is certain to set off alarm bells at rival clubs, with Phillips proving himself as a consistent performer and excellent decision maker in the first five years of his career.
The 24-year-old would hold widespread appeal in a modern game where the role of wingmen has never been more important.
Phillips, 24, was seventh in last year’s Copeland Trophy and sixth in the Grand Final year of 2018. A hamstring injury in Round 15 this year prematurely ended a season in which he was shuffled to a half-forward role.
Phillips could choose to stay and fight for a spot, but he now faces serious competition in a Collingwood side batting deep in that part of the ground.
The emergence of Josh Daicos, Jamie Elliott’s success as a midfielder and Steele Sidebottom’s return all go into creating that cloud of uncertainty for Phillips at Collingwood.
Collingwood today announced that Tim Broomhead and Matthew Scharenberg had been delisted after the club conducted its end-of-season exit meetings.
It comes after Lynden Dunn, Ben Reid and Travis Varcoe announced their retirements in recent weeks.