“They were filthy to lose him”: Reported Collingwood pursuit of key defender labelled “shrewd”

Collingwood’s reported pursuit of Adelaide’s Mark Keane has been labelled “shrewd” given the club’s lack of key defensive depth.

7AFL reported during the week that the Magpies were hoping to lure the Irishman back to the club where he started his AFL career.

Keane joined the Pies as a Category B rookie, playing limited games across 2020 and 2021 before returning home to Ireland during the pandemic.

Despite having a year to run on his contract, he opted not to return in 2022, but did return to Australia in 2023, signing with Adelaide.

He has been a regular in the Crows side since the end of the 2023 season and one of the more improved key defenders in the league.

Given the retirement of Nathan Murphy, Kane Cornes believes it would be a savvy pick-up for the Magpies.

“What have you made of their interest in Mark Keane from the Crows? I think it is shrewd. He is a much improved player,” Cornes told SEN’s Sportsday.

“Adelaide would hate to lose him and I think if Collingwood could get him, it would be a huge addition.”

AFL Media reporter Josh Gabelich provided further insight into the situation.

“Collingwood were filthy to lose him when he returned home (to Ireland), he didn’t come back, he had a year to run on his contract,” Gabelich said.

“They spent so much time developing him. They really rated him and he would have played a lot of footy in the last couple of years.

“They wouldn’t have gone and got Billy Frampton if Keane had remained. Clearly with no Nathan Murphy he’d be playing right now and he’s playing really well at Adelaide.

“He’s got a contract (with the Crows) for next season.”