Collingwood's recent moves in the AFL off-season have been a mix of retention and recruitment, with a focus on securing young talent. The club has reportedly taken a long-awaited step in securing one of its brightest talents, Ed Allan, by beginning contract extension talks. This comes as a relief for the Pies, who have been keen to retain the 22-year-old Claremont product after his impressive season in an enhanced midfield role. Allan's development has been on full display, with his 15.4 disposals, 4.8 tackles, and 2.7 inside-50s averaging a career-best. The 30-gamer has also earned selection to the 22Under22 squad of 40, further solidifying his importance to the team. However, the Pies are not without their challenges. They are favourites to land dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale as an unrestricted free agent, but they also face competition from other clubs. Additionally, the club is working through end-of-season calls, including out-of-contract veterans Scott Pendlebury, Steele Sidebottom, Jeremy Howe, and Tim Membrey. Howe is set to play on into 2027, while Sidebottom is tipped to retire, and Pendlebury's future is still uncertain. Another concern is the potential poaching of mid-season draftee Marcus Herbert by Carlton. Herbert, who has only played seven games, is yet to be re-signed for 2027, and clubs like the Blues are willing to offer multi-year deals. The Pies are also dealing with the loss of small forward Jake Rogers, who has agreed to a contract extension with the Gold Coast Suns. This comes as a blow to Collingwood, who were reportedly front and centre in the queue for Rogers. The club is now searching for an addition to its small forward ranks, but the future of Tom Lynch, a long-time Richmond spearhead, remains uncertain. Lynch, who has kicked 16.20 in 12 games this year, is without a new deal for next season, and his future is a topic of significant uncertainty. The off-season is shaping up to be a busy and challenging time for Collingwood, with a mix of retention, recruitment, and uncertainty surrounding key players.
