Collingwood has wasted no time turning the page on its 2026 campaign, cutting six players from its list, including former second-round pick Jakob Ryan and ex-cricketer Wil Parker.
The club confirmed that Ryan, Parker, Lachie Sullivan, mid-season draftee Mitch Podhajski, defender Joel Cochran and ruck Iliro Smit have all been delisted as the Magpies move into the next phase of their list build.
Departures
Sullivan is the most experienced departure, having played 26 senior games in black and white, though just two of those came this year as he slipped down the pecking order in Craig McRae’s side. His exit underlines the squeeze on Collingwood’s midfield depth.
Parker’s story carried a different kind of intrigue. Recruited as a Category B rookie after his cricket career with Victoria, he managed 14 AFL games across three seasons, a rare dual-sport journey that always drew attention whenever his name appeared on the teamsheet.
Ryan, taken with pick No.28 in the 2022 draft, never quite found a foothold at senior level. His only AFL appearance came in 2023, a brief glimpse that never turned into a regular role despite his early draft pedigree.
Podhajski, a mature-age recruit snapped up in May’s mid-season draft, featured twice at AFL level. He arrived as a ready-made option, but with limited chances in a settled side, his stint at the top level proved short.
For Cochran and Smit, opportunity never arrived. 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, confined instead to the VFL program as depth and development pieces.
Tribute from Collingwood
Collingwood list boss Justin Leppitsch paid tribute to the departing group as the club made the changes official.
“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.”
The decisions clear valuable list spots and signal a fresh round of regeneration at a club that refuses to stand still, even for those who have worn its famous jumper only once, or not at all.
