Collingwood Delists Six Players for 2027, Including Ex-Cricketer Wil Parker

Collingwood has delisted six players who will not receive contracts for 2027, following the club’s Wildcard Round loss to Western Bulldogs. The departures include Wil Parker, a former Victoria cricketer, and Mitch Podhajski, a mid-season draftee who played just two AFL games. The move marks the latest phase of a significant off-season rebuild for the Magpies.

Who has been delisted

Joel Cochran, Wil Parker, Mitch Podhajski, Jakob Ryan, Iliro Smit and Lachie Sullivan will not be offered 2027 contracts. Sullivan played 26 AFL games across three years, including two in 2026. Parker played 14 AFL games over three seasons after joining as a Category B rookie in 2024. Ryan was pick 28 in the 2022 National Draft but played just one AFL game in 2023.

The mid-season draftees and untested recruits

Podhajski, 27, arrived at Collingwood via the mid-season draft in May 2026 after three prolific seasons kicking goals for VFL club Coburg. He made his debut in front of 88,019 fans at the MCG during the King’s Birthday clash with Melbourne. Cochran and Smit, both mid-season recruits from 2024, failed to break into the senior team despite showing strong VFL development, with Smit averaging 14.5 hit-outs per game across 32 VFL appearances.

Part of a larger off-season overhaul

The delistings follow the retirement of Steele Sidebottom and the departure of Scott Pendlebury as an unrestricted free agent to Gold Coast. Justin Leppitsch, Collingwood’s general manager of list and talent strategy, thanked the six players for their dedication across both AFL and VFL programs. The club is reshaping its list after a disappointing 2026 campaign.

Parker’s cricket background and AFL journey

Parker bowled leg-spin for Victoria and Hobart in the Big Bash League before pursuing Australian Rules Football. He joined Collingwood as a Category B rookie ahead of the 2024 season and played 14 games at the top level. His departure adds to the club’s significant list changes for 2027.

Final Thoughts

Collingwood’s delistings reshape the club’s list after a disappointing 2026 season. With six players departing and key figures like Pendlebury leaving, the Magpies are building toward 2027 with significant turnover in their squad.

FAQs

Disclaimer:

The content shared by Meyka AI PTY LTD is solely for research and informational purposes.  Meyka is not a financial advisory service, and the information provided should not be considered investment or trading advice.