Collingwood Delistings and Free Agents Moves

Collingwood delisted Trey Ruscoe, Trent Bianco, Tom Wilson, Arlo Draper, and Cooper Murley. Sydney picked up unrestricted free agent James Jordon and West Coast added unrestricted free agent Matt Flynn.

Ruckman Flynn has joined West Coast from Greater Western Sydney. Flynn, 26, was drafted by GWS in 2015 and played 33 games. The Eagles believe will add size with the retirement of Nic Naitanui. List manager Rohan O'Brien said, “We prioritized adding to our ruck stocks this off-season so we’re really pleased Matt decided to join the club ... Matt has spent eight seasons in the AFL system and is physically mature so we expect he can come in and make an impact.”

Flynn, who toured the facility and some of the Eagle players prior to signing said he was excited by the opportunity, "I think I’m in a position now eight years into my career. I took five years to get into the Giants side and since then I’ve played some good football but I haven’t been able to cement my spot. The opportunity for me was to put myself into a position where I can compete to do that but at the same time you look at the West Coast list and you’ve got some very good bookends, some very good players through the middle still. The potential is there so the opportunity to play but then the opportunity to help build the club back up in a sense will be pretty good too.”

Flynn already has some affinity for WCE from his hometown club Narrandera Eagles with a photo doing the rounds on social media of him wearing Eagle colors during his his childhood. He was a strong performer against West Coast in the Eagles’ round two win over GWS last season, picking up 17 disposals and winning 39 hitouts, and was impressed by the atmosphere at the world-class Optus Stadium, “As an opposition player it was deafening when the Eagles kicked a goal and when we kicked one it was absolute silence. It was pretty amazing. That ground is phenomenal, so it will be pretty cool to call that home for the next few years.”

Ruscoe and Bianco were drafted in 2019. Wilson, from a basketball background was selected as a Category B rookie in 2019. Ruscoe played 18 games, Bianco 23 games, and Wilson eight games. Draper and Murley were drafted in 2021 but failed to play any senior games. Melbourne Demons midfielder James Jordon has joined the Sydney Swans as an unrestricted free agent. Jordon, 22, was drafted in 2019 and played 65 games, including the 2021 premiership. Sydney CEO Charlie Gardiner said the club is delighted to welcome Jordon, “James is a talented young midfielder who we think has a bright future ahead of him. We think he will be a valuable addition to our midfield group with his running ability and flexibility to play inside and out. He has had an impressive start to his career to date and comes with experience in a successful program at Melbourne, so we are confident he will make us better."

Source: Tash Lewis, Collingwood Media Release, Tom Chadwick, Sydney Media Release, Travis King, West Coast Media Release