We all knew that he was probably be the man, so he will get the rubber stamp later in the year.
Collingwood’s build-up to the 2025 season has been labelled a “must-watch” as the club continues to work through
considerable off-field changes.
After missing out on finals just 11 months after their 2023 premiership, the black and white army’s corporate team
will look notably different next year off the back of multiple key personnel stepping down.
And speaking on Fox Footy’s Trading Day, panellist Glenn McFarlane flagged one movement behind closed doors
may have been a result of higher-ups not seeing eye-to-eye.
“(Carlton president) Luke Sayers called Graham Wright the best football person in the country to lead a football club
– now that was a jab at Collingwood, because we know that Collingwood is actually looking for ‘Wrighty’s’
replacement,” McFarlane began by saying.
“There’s no question that there were internal differences between Graham Wright and Craig Kelly at Collingwood,
there’s absolutely no doubt about that.
“I think this is a really good appointment; he gets 12 months to spend underneath Brian Cook, who’s one of the
legendary CEO’s … I think it’s a great appointment and maybe caught Collingwood a little bit on the fly.”
Wright’s new role will begin by shadowing current chief executive Cook for 12 months, before stepping into the role
himself.
His previous work at a list manager at Hawthorn before stints as a football boss at the Hawks and Magpies see him
hold an excellent footballing resume that the Blues couldn’t resist pursuing.
The 56-year-old was appointed the gig at Carlton after attracting interest from the AFL, the Adelaide Crows and
Tasmania Devils.
And while the Magpies are hotly tipped to be back in the premiership window in 2025 after a tough run with injuries,
there’s no doubt that Wright exit, along with Jeff Browne will be sorely felt.
Browne sent a heartfelt letter to members on Tuesday morning informing them of his own resignation, noting that
his battle with cancer has impacted his ability to cope with the demands of being president at such a big club.
“I do want to assure you I am healthy and in remission from my cancer diagnosis last year, but as you would
understand, the demands of being President are significant and carry a heavy responsibility and workload. I do need
some more time to devote to maintaining my health and I am confident that the next President will bring their own
style and lead the Club admirably and with great distinction,” he told members.
“It’s a sad day, we probably thought this was going to come; a few weeks ago he talked about potentially standing
down. Any time anyone says they’re going to stand down, you know it’s going to come sooner rather than
later,” Trading Day’s McFarlane continued.
“He was up for re-election at the end of the year … Jeff Browne was talking to the Collingwood staff and putting out a
memo to members at almost the exact same time that Graham Wright was being appointed CEO at Carlton – there
was a bit of symmetry there.
Co-panellist and Herald Sun colleague Scotty Gullan flagged the significance of the void that Wright and Browne
now leave at Craig McRae’s club, with both widely regarded as some of the industry’s best off-field leaders in recent
times.
“The footy department have rumblings… there’s issues all around this club that’s been so stable. This is a must-watch
for the next three to six months,” Gullan noted.
“The man that will replace Jeff Browne is a guy called Barry Carp; not many people would know him – he’s one of the
three men that Browne brought on in December 2021,” McFarlane revealed.
“This guy is venture capitalist … he has now go the recommendation of the board. We all knew that he was probably
be the man, so he will get the rubber stamp later in the year.
