Collingwood coach Craig McRae’s off-season focus on signing experienced players has already paid off, as GWS free agent Harry Perryman has opted to join the Magpies. Perryman, a versatile player for the Giants, will move to Collingwood in 2025, despite strong interest from Port Adelaide and Adelaide after another solid AFL season.
The Giants were unable to compete with Collingwood’s offer for the 25-year-old due to his status as an unrestricted free agent. His departure marks the loss of all four of GWS’s first-round picks from the 2016 draft, with Tim Taranto (Richmond), Will Setterfield (Carlton and Essendon), and Isaac Cumming (Adelaide) also moving on in recent years.
GWS confirmed Perryman’s decision in a brief statement, noting his eight-season career where he played 129 games in the club’s colors.
Perryman, who primarily played at halfback or on the wing for the Giants, is reportedly looking for more opportunities in the midfield, a role he hopes to explore with the Magpies.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has made it clear that he is prioritizing experienced players to maintain his side’s premiership contention. With nine players already over the age of 30, Perryman, at 25, fits perfectly into the age profile that McRae is targeting. The coach expressed little interest in improving Collingwood’s draft picks, instead focusing on bringing in players who can immediately impact the team’s performance, believing that Perryman is one such player.
Meanwhile, GWS also faces potential further losses, with a trade request from key position prospect Wade Derksen and uncertainty around midfielder James Peatling’s contract status.