Melbourne, VIC – With the 2025 AFL season heating up, Collingwood Football Club is heading toward a significant list management challenge — a “list squeeze in the best possible way,” according to Herald Sun journalist Jon Ralph. As the Magpies prepare for a critical off-season, tough decisions loom for list boss Justin Leppitsch, who must navigate a delicate balance of retaining veterans, securing young talent, and managing potential incoming stars.
PIES’ VETERAN CONUNDRUM: WHO STAYS AND WHO GOES?
Despite re-signing Norm Smith Medallist Bobby Hill through 2030, the Magpies have eight players over 30 whose contracts expire at season’s end:
•Mason Cox
•Jamie Elliott
•Steele Sidebottom
•Scott Pendlebury
•Tom Mitchell
•Will Hoskin-Elliott
•Jeremy Howe
•Brody Mihocek
While insiders suggest legends like Pendlebury, Sidebottom, and Elliott are likely to play on, others — particularly Tom Mitchell and Hoskin-Elliott — are seen as borderline. Mitchell, though now back in full training, is yet to secure a new deal, with Ned Long’s emergence potentially pushing him out. Hoskin-Elliott’s role has also come under scrutiny, with some insiders labeling him “vulnerable” amid declining influence.
Oleg Markov, a premiership defender, is “just hanging on,” while Mason Cox, often considered on the fringe, may earn a lifeline given Dan McStay’s injury.
The Pies also have several under-30 players out of contract after 2025, including:
•Darcy Cameron (29) – in-form and expected to stay
•Brayden Maynard (28) – eligible for free agency and attracting rival interest
•Finlay Macrae, Ash Johnson, Oscar Steene, Lachie Sullivan, Wil Parker, and Charlie Dean
Among those, Macrae and Johnson are predicted to move on in 2026, while Steene is being tipped to stay following strong VFL performances.
With no first-round draft pick due to the Dan Houston trade, and the club’s interest in father-son prospects Tom McGuane and Oscar Lonie, along with promising NGA players Zac McCarthy and Jai Saxena, Collingwood is clearly preparing to inject youth — but it will require sacrifices from veterans and fringe players alike.
WESTERN BULLDOGS LEAD RACE FOR ZAK BUTTERS
In a major potential coup, the Western Bulldogs have emerged as frontrunners to land Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters, should he choose to leave the Power. According to Jay Clark, the Bulldogs have long targeted the 2023 All-Australian and are now in pole position among several Victorian suitors, including Collingwood, Hawthorn, Essendon, and Richmond.
Butters, still under contract until end of 2026, becomes a free agent at the conclusion of that season. While Port remains hopeful of keeping their vice-captain, sources suggest Butters is open to exploring trade options later this year.
The Bulldogs’ pursuit is part of a broader strategy to rejuvenate their midfield and bolster their long-term premiership prospects. Securing Butters, a dual Best and Fairest winner at Port, would significantly boost their on-ball division.
HAWTHORN’S STRONG FREE AGENCY PLAY ‘ALL BUT AGREED’
Meanwhile, Hawthorn appears poised to pull off one of the first major free agency moves of the 2025 trade period. While the player has not yet been officially named, Fox Footy reports suggest the deal is “all but agreed”, with the player expected to sign a multi-year deal in the coming months.
The Hawks have remained tight-lipped, but speculation points to a strong-bodied midfielder or versatile utility from a top-eight club looking for greater opportunity.
SUMMARY: A SEASON OF HARD CALLS AND HIGH STAKES
As clubs prepare for the final stretch of the season and the trade period ahead, list management strategies are becoming clearer — and more ruthless. For Collingwood, the mix of aging stars, rising prospects, and trade ambitions creates a puzzle that could reshape the club’s identity. Meanwhile, Western Bulldogs and Hawthorn appear ready to capitalize on the trade market, with high-impact additions potentially on the horizon.
Stay tuned for more updates as AFL Trade Whispers continues to track every major move, re-signing, and behind-the-scenes negotiation.
