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Soon, before the season closes, Collingwood are expected to announce that their two-time premier Steele Sidebottom is stepping down.
For weeks, signs pointed to Sidebottom finishing at Collingwood this year. After a stellar first half in 2025, which saw him close to an All-Australian standard, the outstanding 35-year-old’s on-field performance has gradually waned.
Big decisions: Collingwood needs to cope with the possible departures of club greats Steele Sidebottom and Scott Pendlebury.Getty Images
Sidebottom is said to be content with the prospect of finishing his career short of the 400-game mark (currently 370), according to sources familiar with his situation.
The positions of Scott Pendlebury – an AFL games record holder and one of Collingwood’s immortals – and remarkable veteran aerialist Jeremy Howe are yet to be decided by either the players or the Magpies as August approaches.
But the most logical scenario is that only one of Pendlebury or Howe plays at Collingwood in 2027. It’s entirely possible that neither of them will play.
Pendlebury or Howe could either retire or try to finish out their playing days at another club and then become an (assistant) coach there, as Sam Mitchell did at West Coast in 2017-18. Both are interested in coaching.
Lachie Neil has been heavily linked with a move for the Magpies this off-season.AFL photo
Collingwood recently played another meeting with Brisbane Lions champion Lachie Neale. The fact that the sides have met more than once can be seen as confirmation that the Magpies are the real frontrunners in the race for the double Brownlow medalist; they went beyond the first date.
To get Neil, space in midfield needs to be cleared. Uncertainty over who will arrive (Neill and Port Adelaide prospect Zak Butters) and who will retire explains Collingwood’s reticence in offering a contract to the improved Ed Allan, although they prefer to keep Allan.
Collingwood’s need to update their roster while remaining in finals contention means veteran exits must continue to stagger. Jamie Elliott, whose knee injury on Pendlebury’s record-breaking day ended his season, is contracted until 2027.
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To borrow from Meat Loaf (who performed far worse than any Collingwood player on finals day in 2011), two out of three (retiring) isn’t bad.
To reshape the squad and provide opportunities for younger players, the Magpies should ideally retain no more than one of their super-veteran trio, who are 38, 36 (Howe) and 35.
Howe could appeal to rival clubs if Collingwood does not want to continue his contract. Prior to his record-breaking match against West Coast, Pendlebury had played well and often enough for both he and Collingwood to continue their 21-year marriage in 2027.
He was even ranked in the top 20 AFL players by Champion Data earlier this season; Since then there have been some troubles and failures.
Always faster with a mind than his feet, Pendlebury seems to have slowed down even more recently, although his eyesight and intelligence remain exceptional. If he is adamant about continuing to play, the Magpies will find it difficult to stop him. It is not easy to insult a statue.
But Pendlebury’s final comment about his future was that he was undecided. “I’m not sure,” he told Seven. “I enjoy playing football and I do it every day.”
In terms of holes and roles at Collingwood, Howe looks like the man the Magpies might need most. They don’t have many tall backs, and with Darcy Moore sidelined, Howe, who retains much of his jumping ability, will provide a level of protection for a back line that has at times been forced to play with Brayden Maynard against tall opponents.
Rory Sloane opined on Nine last week that Howe would be an ideal recruit for Essendon as a veteran and mentor to a young back line. The same could be said for Richmond, who will lose Nathan Broad to West Coast or Gold Coast.
If Tasmania had entered the AFL a year earlier than 2028, Howe, as a Tassie player, would certainly have been on their radar as a foundation leader to join their coaching group after one or two years of playing.
Howe, who is due to return for this Thursday night’s game in Adelaide, will have options, as will Pendlebury. For the latter, his status as a club and AFL legend is an important incentive to remain a one-club player.
Sherrin is on Collingwood’s side, as are theirs.
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Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL columnist for The Age.Connect via X or e-mail.