Collingwood crisis deepens with coach to leave struggling club

Sam Wright to end stint as Collingwood coach as crisis deepens at AFLW clubTopic:AFL Women’sPosted Tue 27 Oct 2026 at 11:56amTue 27 Oct 2026 at 11:56amSam Wright will end his three-year stint as Collingwood AFLW coach at the end of this season. (Getty Images: AFL Photos/Sarah Reed)In short:Collingwood's AFLW coach Sam Wright will leave his post at the end of the season.The Magpies have already lost captain Ruby Schleicher, while there are reports of disharmony among players over list management, development coaching, and medical treatment.What's next?Collingwood faces Essendon in the final round on Sunday, with both sides on the bottom of the ladder.Collingwood's AFLW crisis has deepened, with coach Sam Wright another casualty in a horror season. Wright will leave his position after the Magpies' final-round match against Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday, ending a three-season campaign. The Magpies have managed just one win from 11 games to anchor the AFLW ladder alongside the Bombers and St Kilda. The match will also be the last for Essendon coach Natalie Wood, while St Kilda is already looking for a replacement for Nick Dal Santo.Wright's news comes after skipper Ruby Schleicher announced last week she would leave the Magpies to head home to Western Australia, with other players believed to be also planning a departure.Tarni White, Lauren Butler, Bri Davey, Sarah Rowe and Mattea Breed are all out of contract, while vice-captain Jordyn Allen is contracted but is expected to seek other opportunities.Players and staff are reportedly frustrated with list management, development coaching, and medical treatment at the powerhouse AFL club.Wright backed Collingwood's commitment to the women's football program."I look forward to coaching the group this Sunday and I wish them all the very best for the future — I leave knowing Collingwood is committed to driving its AFLW program forward," he said in a statement on Tuesday."It has been a privilege to serve the AFLW program at Collingwood."I will always look back on my time at the Pies with gratitude, and I want to thank every player, coach, staff member and supporter I've shared this journey with."While these decisions are never easy, I know it is the right one for my family and the football program as we move forward."The Magpies haven't made the AFLW finals since 2022 when they were semifinalists, after ending the regular season sixth.Despite their resources, they have finished outside the top 10 in each of the following seasons.AAP