Why Collingwood has backed off from Jack Lukosius pursuit

Collingwood is no longer in the running for Gold Coast forward Jack Lukosius according to SEN SA’s Michelangelo Rucci.

The Pies have been linked to the forward in recent weeks and the Suns have reportedly given him permission to do what’s best for his career despite being contracted for the next two seasons.

While he’s most often been linked to a move home to South Australia with either Adelaide or Port Adelaide, Collingwood was considered a potential landing spot but the Magpies pulled out of the race after the Suns refused to offer salary cap relief in 2025 and 2026 as his current contract is back-ended.

“The Jack Lukosius situation is looking like it will have to be a come home deal from Gold Coast,” Rucci said on SEN SA The Run Home.

“Collingwood has backed away and my understanding is Collingwood's looked at the back-ended part of Lukosius’ contract and said to Gold Coast, ‘If we're talking, you've got to do some salary relief for us on this one’. That’s not going to happen.

“Not when you've got Adelaide and Port Adelaide who are going to help Gold Coast go through that saga as well. So, Collingwood is out of the way.”

As a result, Rucci thinks that Adelaide is in pole position to secure his services as he believes the Crows can absorb the rest of his back-ended deal which could be worth around $900,000 a season for 2025 and 2026.

“Yeah (it’s looking like Adelaide) because they probably can absorb his contract,” Rucci said.

“The nicest estimate I keep hearing is about $1.75 million for the next two years.

“But if you add three years onto it, it becomes a five-year contract and just smoothe it out and that's what will happen.”

The former No. 2 pick has played 116 games for Gold Coast since making his debut in the 2019 AFL season.

He hasn't locked in a spot in Damien Hardwick's best 22 after one season together.