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Collingwood crisis deepens with coach to leave struggling club

ABC News Australia •
October 27, 2026 • 12:56 AM
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Coach Sam Wright becomes another casualty in Collingwood's horror AFLW season, saying he will leave the club after the final-round match against  Essendon.

Collingwood crisis deepens with coach to leave struggling club

Fri, 23 Oct, 7:15 pm, Final score, Power 52, Magpies 4

Sat, 24 Oct, 1:05 pm, Final score, Saints 23, Lions 75

Sat, 24 Oct, 3:05 pm, Final score, Cats 64, Dockers 34

Sat, 24 Oct, 5:05 pm, Final score, Suns 54, Tigers 50

Sat, 24 Oct, 7:15 pm, Final score, Bulldogs 20, Demons 37

Sun, 25 Oct, 12:35 pm, Final score, Swans 78, Eagles 56

Sun, 25 Oct, 1:05 pm, Final score, Kangaroos 38, Crows 29

Sun, 25 Oct, 3:05 pm, Final score, Hawks 25, Bombers 20

Sun, 25 Oct, 5:05 pm, Final score, Blues 38, Giants 23

Fri, 30 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, Cats versus Bulldogs

Sat, 31 Oct, 1:05 pm, Game not started, Saints versus Power

Sat, 31 Oct, 3:05 pm, Game not started, Tigers versus Kangaroos

Sat, 31 Oct, 5:05 pm, Game not started, Lions versus Blues

Sat, 31 Oct, 7:15 pm, Game not started, Eagles versus Hawks

Sun, 1 Nov, 12:35 pm, Game not started, Giants versus Suns

Sun, 1 Nov, 1:05 pm, Game not started, Bombers versus Magpies

Sun, 1 Nov, 3:05 pm, Game not started, Crows versus Demons

Sun, 1 Nov, 5:05 pm, Game not started, Dockers versus Swans

Sam Wright will end his three-year stint as Collingwood AFLW coach at the end of this season. ( Getty Images: AFL Photos/Sarah Reed )

Collingwood's AFLW coach Sam Wright will leave his post at the end of the season.

The Magpies have already lost captain Ruby Schleicher, while there are reports of disharmony among players over list management, development coaching, and medical treatment.

Collingwood faces Essendon in the final round on Sunday, with both sides on the bottom of the ladder.

Collingwood's AFLW crisis has deepened, with coach Sam Wright another casualty in a horror season.

Wright will leave his position after the Magpies' final-round match against Essendon at Windy Hill on Sunday, ending a three-season campaign.

The Magpies have managed just one win from 11 games to anchor the AFLW ladder alongside the Bombers and St Kilda.

The match will also be the last for Essendon coach Natalie Wood, while St Kilda is already looking for a replacement for Nick Dal Santo.

Wright's news comes after skipper Ruby Schleicher announced last week she would leave the Magpies to head home to Western Australia, with other players believed to be also planning a departure.

Tarni White, Lauren Butler, Bri Davey, Sarah Rowe and Mattea Breed are all out of contract, while vice-captain Jordyn Allen is contracted but is expected to seek other opportunities.

Players and staff are reportedly frustrated with list management, development coaching, and medical treatment at the powerhouse AFL club.

Wright backed Collingwood's commitment to the women's football program.

"I look forward to coaching the group this Sunday and I wish them all the very best for the future — I leave knowing Collingwood is committed to driving its AFLW program forward," he said in a statement on Tuesday.

"It has been a privilege to serve the AFLW program at Collingwood.

"I will always look back on my time at the Pies with gratitude, and I want to thank every player, coach, staff member and supporter I've shared this journey with.

"While these decisions are never easy, I know it is the right one for my family and the football program as we move forward."

The Magpies haven't made the AFLW finals since 2022 when they were semifinalists, after ending the regular season sixth.

Despite their resources, they have finished outside the top 10 in each of the following seasons.

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