In a significant move set to reshape the future of the Collingwood Football Club, Executive General Manager of Football, Charlie Gardiner, has today announced a sweeping restructure of the club’s player development pathways.
The changes are aimed at strengthening the club’s long-term competitiveness by enhancing its talent identification, nurturing homegrown players, and providing a clearer transition from junior ranks to the AFL level.
Key Highlights of the Restructure Include:
- A New Role: Head of Player Pathways – A newly created position will oversee the entire development pipeline, from the Next Generation Academy (NGA) to VFL and AFL integration. Recruitment for this role is already underway.
- Deeper Community Engagement – Collingwood will expand its reach into local Victorian junior leagues and Indigenous communities, with additional scouting and support resources allocated to grassroots partnerships.
- Revamped VFL Program – The club’s VFL side will be more tightly integrated with the senior team, ensuring young players are exposed to Collingwood’s high-performance standards earlier in their careers.
- Mentorship & Leadership Initiatives – Former players will be invited back into the fold to mentor emerging talent, with a focus on leadership, mental resilience, and club culture.
Gardiner said the changes were the result of months of internal review and consultation with coaching staff, former players, and industry experts.
“To remain a leading club, we must continually evolve,” Gardiner said at a press conference this morning. “This restructure is about building a sustainable future and making sure that young athletes have the best possible environment to grow — both on and off the field.”
Gardiner also acknowledged the work done by previous development teams but stressed that the modern AFL landscape demands a more holistic and integrated approach to player progression.
This announcement comes as Collingwood continues to balance its premiership ambitions with a firm eye on future success. The Magpies, fresh off a solid 2025 campaign, are looking to deepen their talent pool ahead of the next draft period and position themselves for another shot at the flag.
More updates, including personnel appointments and program details, are expected in the coming week.
