Graham Wright will not return to Collingwood after taking sabbatical

Graham Wright’s time at Collingwood has seemingly come to an end.

Channel Nine journalist and SEN regular Tom Morris is reporting that the Magpies’ former Executive General Manager of Football will not return to the club next year.

Wright stepped away from the role in March on extended leave with the view that he would be back at the AIA Centre in September following his six-month sabbatical.

However, that scenario now seems highly unlikely according to Morris.

“Hardly a surprise, it’s been viewed as the most likely scenario, but I can confirm that Graham Wright will not be coming back to the Pies in 2025,” Morris said on SEN Breakfast.

“He’s still on holidays for another couple of weeks. He’s been in regular contact with (club president) Jeff Browne and I think from the moment he took his sabbatical we all thought he wouldn’t come back.

“‘Caro’ (Caroline Wilson) last week on Footy Classified said she didn’t think he’d come back. I’ve been saying the same.

“This morning I can confirm that he won’t be coming back to the club.”

Morris added: “He’s highly regarded in footy and he’ll get a job elsewhere. There’s been rumours that the AFL want him in a senior role.”

“As Sam McClure reported he wasn’t going to come back in the same role anyway. The writing has been on the wall for several months that he won’t be coming back to the club.”

The reigning premiers currently sit 10th on the ladder and it appears unlikely that they’ll play finals in 2024, even if they do beat Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night, although it is still mathematically possible.