Collingwood has confirmed that Graham Wright will not be returning as their football boss after the club granted him leave for a sabbatical overseas with his family, which sparked criticism from some within the AFL community. Although Wright hasn’t officially resigned from his role, he has been in the United States and Europe with his wife, Tracey, since March.
At 56, Wright had sought a break and even offered his resignation to the club, but it was ultimately decided that he would take a year off to recharge. Wright played a key role in Collingwood’s premiership success last year and has been involved in the AFL for 35 years, first as a player and later in various off-field positions.
The Magpies had hoped Graham Wright would resume his role following his break, but the club confirmed on Monday that he will not be returning. “We have been in ongoing discussions with Graham during his sabbatical, and we mutually agreed that he should be free to explore new opportunities to further his already illustrious career,” said Magpies president Jeff Browne. “Everyone at Collingwood wishes Graham, his wife Tracey, and their children James and Ethan the very best and much success in the next chapter of their lives.”
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes was particularly vocal, condemning Wright for posting images of his vacation on social media while his club was struggling. Collingwood, currently clinging to a slim mathematical chance of making the finals, is set to become the third reigning premier in four seasons to miss out on finals.
Cornes expressed his disapproval on Channel 9’s ‘Footy Classified’ last month, stating that it was a poor look for Wright to draw attention to his holiday while still technically employed by the club. “If he’s out, he’s out,” Cornes said. “We’re essentially paying him to go on holiday and watch his Instagram clips while we’re sitting 12th on the ladder, fighting to qualify for finals.”
While acknowledging the demands of the AFL industry and the need for breaks, Cornes emphasized that seeing holiday images from Wright’s Instagram account wasn’t appropriate, given the club’s poor standing. “It’s not a great look when your head of football is on holiday, posting pictures, and your team is sitting in 12th,” Cornes remarked.
When the Magpies announced Wright’s sabbatical last December, Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly emphasized the club’s intent to “normalize this type of leave for our key people.” In Wright’s absence, the club underwent significant backroom changes, with much of his role being filled by assistant coach Brendon Bolton.
However, some believe these adjustments have affected Collingwood’s form. Last month, Essendon great Matthew Lloyd commented that the front office shuffle has impacted the team on the field. “The game stops for no one,” Lloyd said. “Collingwood changed everyone’s roles in Wright’s absence. Assistant coaches swapped positions, Brendon Bolton and Justin Leppitsch shifted roles — it’s too much change. It just goes to show how everything needs to go right to win a flag. They managed that last year, but they haven’t this year.”
As Collingwood faces the possibility of missing the finals, questions continue to be raised about the impact of Wright’s sabbatical and the subsequent adjustments to the club’s leadership.