Collingwood has officially announced that their football boss, Graham Wright, will not be returning to his role after taking an extended sabbatical overseas with his family. Wright, who has been on leave since March, has spent the past several months traveling across the United States and Europe with his wife, Tracey, and their children, James and Ethan.
The 56-year-old, who played a pivotal role in Collingwood’s premiership victory last year, initially offered to resign from his position, seeking a well-earned break after 35 years of continuous involvement in the AFL, both as a player and in various off-field roles. However, the club opted to grant him a year-long sabbatical instead, with the hope that he would return refreshed and ready to continue his tenure.
Despite these plans, Collingwood confirmed on Monday that Wright will not be returning to his position as football boss. In a statement, Magpies president Jeff Browne expressed the club’s gratitude and well wishes for Wright’s future endeavors. “We have been in constant discussions with Graham during his sabbatical, and both of us have agreed that Graham be free to pursue new opportunities to further develop his already distinguished career,” Browne said. “All of us at Collingwood wish Graham, his wife Tracey, and their children all the best for the next chapter.”
Wright’s departure follows significant backlash within the AFL community after he posted photos of his family holiday on social media, leading to criticism about the optics of his absence during a turbulent period for the Magpies. The club, who were struggling on the field, missed out on the finals for the 2024 season, sitting in 12th place on the ladder.
Port Adelaide legend Kane Cornes was one of the loudest voices, calling out Wright for sharing vacation photos while the club faced mounting challenges. Speaking on Footy Classified, Cornes remarked, “If he’s out, he’s out. Let’s just pay him to go on holiday and watch his Instagram clips as we’re sitting 12th on the ladder and trying to qualify for finals. It’s a pretty intense industry, but it wasn’t a great look when your head of footy is posting pictures and your side is struggling.”
The impact of Wright’s absence on Collingwood’s performance was also a subject of debate, with Essendon great Matthew Lloyd weighing in last month. “The game stops for no one,” Lloyd said. “Collingwood changed everyone’s roles in his absence—too much change. They got everything right last year to win a flag, but they haven’t this year.”
During Wright’s sabbatical, assistant coach Brendon Bolton and other senior staff took on increased responsibilities, but the club’s on-field struggles persisted. With Wright now officially out, Collingwood will be looking ahead to the next phase of leadership, both on and off the field.
Fans and AFL insiders alike will now be watching closely as the Magpies navigate this transitional period, hoping to rebuild and reclaim their spot at the top of the league.
