Six Magpies and five others who should consider retirement or a trade

Collingwood will have some decisions to make at the end of the year in regards to veteran players and whether they should continue on in 2025.

Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom are out of contract, while the likes of Jeremy Howe, Mason Cox, Jamie Elliott and Tom Mitchell all have deals for next season – but Kane Cornes and Sam Edmund have gone through the veterans to discuss whether they should retire.

Clubs obviously don’t want clumps of veterans heading out the door at the same time, would the Magpies benefit from seeing a few older players depart this year?

Steele Sidebottom

Edmund: “No. I don’t think (he plays on in 2025). I like to see players go out playing well. However, I’d counter that by saying he’s shown some real signs on the half back flank.”

“A year is a really long time in the game. What might look good now might not look so good next year.”

Tom Mitchell

Edmund: “Yeah, I think Tom Mitchell should play on.”

Cornes: “He’s 31 and had some significant injuries. You’d give him the tick?”

Edmund: “Yep. He’s got a contract.”

Scott Pendlebury

Edmund: “One more year and then moving into the coaching space after that.”

Jeremy Howe

Edmund: “He’s due to meet a trigger in two weeks in the Carlton game. It will trigger a contract extension for 2025 and I still think he’s playing good enough.”

Mason Cox

Edmund: “It’s hard isn’t it. He’s contracted.”

Cornes: “It’s not that hard, is it? How is he contracted? Who is doing these contracts? It’s a great job from our guy Liam Pickering to get him the contract. Genius from Pickers. He’s clearly well past his best.”

Fin Macrae (trade prospect)

Edmund: “Surely if you’re Fin, you’ve played eight games this year, you’ve got to cut ties and run? You’re not in the game for long.”

Cornes: “I would have thought so. There would be a thought that maybe he’s not up to it given all the injuries Collingwood has had and he can’t get a regular spot, that says to me he’s not quite good enough as brutal as that is.”

And outside of Collingwood (trade and retirement)

Jack Macrae

Edmund: “It’s funny thinking about Fin Macrae, maybe his older brother has a decision to make too, even though he has found a new role. I think the Dogs have some decisions to make.”

Caleb Daniel

Cornes: “Will there be a market for Caleb Daniel?”

Edmund: “I would have thought so.”

Tim English

Edmund: “The latest on this is the Eagles are not at the table and in fact it’s the lack of competitive tension for Tim English that has seen this drag out.”

Cornes: “If that’s the case, what’s he waiting for. If there’s not much interest?”

Edmund: “There’s nothing to be gained by signing now. If you’re thinking like a manager, you’re waiting for someone to come to the table to get the best price for your player. Initially that was West Coast, but for whatever reason they’ve pulled out and the Bulldogs know that.”

Taylor Walker

Edmund: “It’s a different situation for Taylor Walker because I think the players around him benefit from him being out there, even if his personnel output plummets. I think the positives might be worth him hanging around for one more.”

Cornes: “You don’t think Riley Thilthorpe and Darcy Fogarty would be better without him there?”

Edmund: “I’m not saying he should play every game, but I think what he can offer those emerging forwards surely is worth consideration. I think experience is important for the Crows.”

Charlie Dixon

Cornes: “No, I don’t think he plays next year. I think it’s obvious for us all to see that this should be his last year.”