Four re-sign and rookie commitments for 2025

Collingwood is pleased to announce Charlie Dean, Ned Long, Reef McInnes, and Lachie Sullivan have signed new deals with the Club.

Collingwood is pleased to announce Charlie Dean, Ned Long, Reef McInnes, and Lachie Sullivan have signed new deals with the Club.

Each have signed a one-year contract that will see them in the black and white stripes until the end of 2025.

Dean was selected at pick two in the 2021 AFL Rookie Draft and has made eight appearances at AFL level since his debut in Opening Round this year. The defender returned from being on the AFL’s Inactive List due to a foot injury the year prior.

After playing six games with Collingwood’s VFL program, Long was elevated to the Pies’ senior list through the Mid-Season Rookie Draft this year. He was selected for every AFL game bar one since making his debut in Round 17 against Essendon.

McInnes was selected at pick 23 in the 2020 AFL National Draft and the forward has played 20 AFL games and kicked 19 goals.

Sullivan was selected through this year’s Supplementary Selection Period after spending the summer training with the AFL program. The 27-year-old sparky kicked a goal with his first kick during his AFL debut in Round Eight against Carlton. He has gone on to play 10 games.

In other contract news, Ash Johnson and Oleg Markov have been delisted with a commitment from the Club to be selected through the AFL Rookie Draft in November.

A proud Gija / Jaru / Bunuba man, Johnson became Collingwood’s 18^th First Nations player to make his debut for the Club in Round 18 of the 2022 season.

Markov was picked up as a Rookie in February 2023 and within seven months became a Collingwood Premiership player. At his third AFL Club (Richmond and Gold Coast), the defender has played 86 games, with 35 in the black and white stripes.

“We are pleased to retain Charlie, Ned, Reef and Lachie for another season,” Collingwood Head of Football Strategy, Innovation and List Management Justin Leppitsch said.

“Charlie and Reef have had their own injury struggles, but their ongoing resilience has enabled them to easily slot back into our system.

“Since joining us, Ned and Lachie have shown great determination to learn our game plan and have seamlessly integrated into the team.

“All four players have added value to both our AFL and VFL programs and we look forward to seeing each of them take their football to another level next year.

“We’ve had to make a difficult decision around Ash and Oleg for 2025, but we are committed to re-listing them as Rookies in the upcoming draft in November.”