In-demand free agent chooses to join Collingwood despite huge Port Adelaide interest

GWS free agent Harry Perryman has chosen to join Collingwood, reports AFL Media’s Cal Twomey.

The 25-year-old was being chased by Port Adelaide and Hawthorn but has chosen the Magpies after they joined discussions late.

Twomey joined AFL Trade Radio where he stated that he’s set to sign a six-year deal and select the club he grew up supporting in Collingwood over Port Adelaide who had been chasing his signature since 2020.

“Harry Perryman has picked Collingwood, so he will be playing for Collingwood in 2025 and beyond on what we believe is a six-year deal,” Twomey said.

“Port Adelaide has had all the running on this one for the best part of the season, but this Port Adelaide chase has actually gone longer than that, this dates back to 2020.

“In the end though, his boyhood love of Collingwood has won out and he'll play for the Pies, that's the team that he grew up barracking for.

“He's spoken about this in previous interviews across his time as a Giant, how he grew up barracking for the Magpies and loving Dane Swan, that’s why he wore number 36 at the Giants.

“Now he'll get a chance to don the black and white stripes.”

Twomey added that GWS also had a six-year offer in front of Perryman to stay and that the Hawks pulled out of the race leaving just the Giants, Power and Magpies in the race until the decision was made.

He expects Collingwood to use Perryman both as a midfielder and at half-back after he played in a variety of roles across his 129 games in orange.

“You have to pay that much these days for the free agents, and he's been the free agent willing to wait it out throughout this year,” Twomey said.

“As well as the offers to go. There was the offer to stay as well, which was a six-year deal and a pretty strong first five years within that.

“That one built up across the year, but in the end, the interest from Port Adelaide to begin with and Hawthorn as well were in this race, they flew up to meet him mid-year … but they sort of became the outsider and pulled out as they really focused on getting the Tom Barrass and Josh Battle deals done.

“Perryman is off the pies, they will use him in the midfield, they'll use him off half back. His strength is his versatility, isn't it?

“I think getting him adds another string to their bow and really allows them to do whatever they want with Nick Daicos as well, whether it's full-on midfield or a little bit of half back here and there.”

Perryman played 21 games for GWS in 2024 primarily in defence, averaging 18.0 disposals, 5.6 marks and 4.1 rebound 50s a game.