Cashed up Pies among teams set to chase superstar free agent in 2025

Collingwood is set to be ultra active in the upcoming off-season according to AFL.com.au’s Cal Twomey.

The Magpies are already armed with cap space, and they’re set to free up some more money if they choose to move on the likes of Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury.

With Nathan Murphy also recently retiring due to concussion issues, Twomey expects Collingwood to target the tall defensive market as an area of off-season need.

“It’s decision time … that’s coming for them for a lot of their veterans,” Twomey said on AFL.com.au’s Gettable.

“Jeremy Howe, Steele Sidebottom, Scott Pendlebury … but they won’t want to dip as a footy club, so they’re going to be ultra active, and we’ve seen that from them previously as well.

“They have big money in their cap. They went after Miles Bergman last year … they went after Tom Doedee at the end of the season.

“Clearly the tall market defensively is something they’ll look at.”

One superstar that Twomey expects Collingwood to chase hard is GWS defender Sam Taylor.

Renowned as perhaps the best tall back in the competition, the 24-year-old becomes a restricted free agent at the end of the 2025 season and Twomey named Collingwood among four clubs that will be “front and centre” should Taylor assess his options.

“Sam Taylor is one that’s out of contract next year,” Twomey said.

“We’ve spoken about Jacob Weitering, he’ll be getting the same if not bigger offers as a free agent next year.

“The Giants have started some early discussions with him to try and extend him beyond next season.

“But I think Collingwood is among the clubs that will hunt him as a free agent next year and throughout the next 12-18 months.

“Everyone is going to have a dip, let’s face it, West Coast, Fremantle, I think Essendon as well as the Magpies will all be front and centre if he does want to look at his options.

“You have to have a throw at the stumps.”

Taylor hails from Perth and was named an All-Australian in 2022. Many think he would have made the team in 2023 as well if he hadn’t missed seven games with a hamstring injury.