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Amir Azimi
Cricket

Collingwood Cuts Six Players as List Reshape Begins

Collingwood has wasted no time reshaping its list after the 2026 season, cutting six players 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 ruckman Iliro Smit have all been delisted as the Magpies turn their attention to the next phase of their list build.

Player Details

  • Lachie Sullivan: The most seasoned of the group at AFL level, the hard-working midfielder has 26 senior games to his name but managed just two appearances this year, squeezed out of a crowded engine room as Collingwood chased continuity and chemistry in the middle.
  • Wil Parker: Parker’s story was one of the more intriguing experiments on the list. Recruited as a Category B rookie after a cricket career with Victoria, he carved out 14 AFL games across three seasons, a genuine cross-code project who fought his way into the side but couldn’t secure a long-term spot.
  • Jakob Ryan: Taken with pick No.28 in the 2022 draft, Ryan never quite got the extended run many expected of a second-round selection. His only AFL outing came back in 2023, and while he remained a presence at VFL level, the club has now drawn a line under his time in black and white.
  • Mitch Podhajski: Arrived as a mature-ager in May’s mid-season draft and cracked the senior side twice. It was a brief window, but enough to show he could compete at the level, even if it ultimately wasn’t enough to earn another contract.
  • Joel Cochran: Selected with pick 47 in the 2024 draft, Cochran was unable to break through for an AFL debut, confined to development and VFL duties during his stint at the club.
  • Iliro Smit: Another mid-season recruit, Smit was also unable to break through for an AFL debut and spent his time at the club on development and VFL duties.

“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 salary space as Collingwood prepares to attack the trade, draft and mid-season markets again, hunting the next wave of talent to keep its premiership window open.

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