Collingwood’s Leppitsch on Neale, Hogan, De Goey, Houston & more

Collingwood are active in the trade space this year with two star veterans set to join the club.

Justin Leppitsch, the Magpies’ General Manager of List & Talent Strategy, touched on a number of current and potential Pies.

From Lachie Neale and Jesse Hogan’s impending arrivals to Scott Pendlebury’s exit, Jordan De Goey and Dan Houston’s futures, plus much more, Leppitsch answered all the questions on AFL Trade Radio with Sam Edmund and Kane Cornes.

On Lachie Neale arrival:

“I guess when they're unrestricted like Lachie is it's just a matter of handing the paperwork in and all that sort of thing,” Leppitsch said.

“So we'll lodge that at some point today.”

On landing Jesse Hogan:

“We’re at a good understanding with the Giants that it's going to require one of our later picks, so on Monday I guess we'll be able to do that one as well.”

On the overall list strategy:

“As a club we've been openly saying that we want to win for now but also plan for tomorrow.

“So grabbing unrestricted free agents or deals like Jesse's, which are later picks, we’ve still been able to keep our first rounds, and also have a little bit of cap space as well to target some really high-end (talent) when we need.

“We think we've struck a nice balance. I guess you're talking about those players specifically.

“Lachie is probably a simple one really. We're 17th for clearances and he's probably the best clearance player of the last 10 years, up there with Patty Crips and guys like that.

“So it's a good immediate fix for us. And as you know, if the ball goes forward from stoppage and not backwards, you're a much better chance of getting field positioning and scoring. So I think he's an obvious one.

“I think everyone saw we had some key position issues when Brody (Mihocek) left last year. We had some younger types and now we're really still bullish on those guys for the future.

“But Jesse will help with his experience in that part of the ground as well.”

On Scott Pendlebury's exit:

“I think the club was really open to say that was Scott's decision on what he wanted to do.

“What is unprecedented is having a record-breaking champion like Scott coming into the twilight of his career and what he wants to do.

“We were all very sensitive to what the right thing to do was. He's always had a passion to coach and always wanted to work under Damien Hardwick. So that's the decision they chose to go with.”

Will Jordan De Goey be on your list next year?

“Oh, we hope so. You always want to sit here and say, ‘He’s not going anywhere’, or anything like that.

“But we’ve also got to be open for business as well at this time of the year. Obviously, there's always one or two players - I could probably sit here safely and say Nick Daicos isn't going anywhere.

“We’ve had really mature conversations with Jordy and (manager) Ryan (Vague). Jordy is really after, to finish his career, getting that last contract and probably go into the next phase of his life.

“So he's very much looking at it from a business perspective and we're the same. So at this point in time nothing will happen, there's no movement and no options for either party.

“So we're expecting him to be with us next year.”

Has the club had chats with De Goey about what's next?

“Definitely with Ryan, who ironically is his brother-in-law as well, so he's got a bit of skin in the game.

“He's he's been brilliant to deal with and we know where we sit. If something happens this year that suits both parties, then great. If not we go into next year and we look to re-contract Jordy.

“We all know Tasmania's coming next. I think we all have a good idea of what's going to happen, but then there's other times you're thinking, ‘Geez, this is a bit unprecedented in some ways, where we know what could happen to some players on your list’.

“So who knows what's going to happen when Tassie comes in as well.”

On Dan Houston rumours:

“That's the confusing part for us because it’s been one of the ones who have been sort of constantly batting away.

“You want to be open for business, but there's actually nothing to talk about. There is not a club that's spoken to us about Dan.

“I can’t see him going anywhere.”

On pursuit of Jayden Short:

“No, we haven’t got to that point with Richmond.

“Jayden is active and that's why he's conscious from Jayden's end particularly to say he wants a fresh start, but not necessarily join Collingwood.

“It’s going to be one of those deals that at this point in time is in a bit more of the harder to do.

“That doesn't mean it doesn't happen, but there's a bit of work to go with that one.”

So you're in competition with other clubs for him?

“The managers don't give you all those bits of information. I’d love to know all that stuff but they tend to hold certain bits themselves.”

On Harry DeMattia looking elsewhere:

“Yeah, that's correct. Harry is a first-round pick for us a few years ago, but he's watched some players go past him like Sam (Swadling) and Ed (Allan).

“So he's looking for greater opportunity and we just said to him that at the selection table we’ve not selected him on numerous occasions when we could have, so we understand that you might be better off in a new environment.

“So we'll support whatever that looks like.”

On the Bobby Hill situation:

“I’m the bean counter so of course I want to maximise every piece of asset we’ve got.

“The other part too is you’ve got to be a little bit sensitive to what he’s gone through. The hardest thing is putting yourself in other people’s shoes. You don't really understand the full picture and what it is.

“If I had the choice, I'd like to see Bobby out there playing some sort of footy again and getting his life back on track. I'd probably take that over the value we do or don't get out of it.”

On luring Flynn Riley from Carlton:

“It’s funny because we really wanted Flynn in the pre-season draft, and we weren't even aware Carlton were going to have the pick until very, very late.

“But he's a Collingwood supporter and he wants to play for the club. He made that pretty clear to us from the get-go.

“The draft finished, and with him and his management, they were still very keen to continue the conversations with us. So that's how it came about.

“We just think he and Oscar (Steene), whenever Darcy (Cameron)’s time comes, will be a great combination together in the future. You know what rucks are like, they take a bit of time. He and Oscar are both 22.

“Darcy has still got some great footy left in him, so we’re not kicking Darcy out anytime soon, but you’ve got to plan ahead with rucks.”

Listen to the full chat with Leppitsch below: