Collingwood football boss Graham Wright quits club amid links to new role at AFL headquarters

Collingwood have confirmed football boss Graham Wright has quit the AFL club, as revealed by 7NEWS Melbourne’s Mitch Cleary on Monday.

Wright’s future has been up in the air since he announced last December that he would take leave through almost the entire 2024 season.

The 56-year-old’s looming return to the Magpies at the end of his European holiday looked increasingly unlikely in recent weeks.

His departure has now been settled, with the news emerging the morning after the defending premiers were all but knocked out of finals contention.

Wright, one of Collingwood’s 1990 premiership heroes and a key figure behind Hawthorn’s 2013-15 hat-trick, has been heavily linked to a role at the AFL.

He had initially sought to resign from the Magpies late last year but was instead urged to enjoy his holiday with a plan to return.

“Thank you to the players, staff and supporters for making my time at Collingwood an enjoyable period of my career,” Wright said in a club statement confirming his departure on Monday.

“I am grateful to have been able to serve the Collingwood Football Club.”

Wright, who contributed as a consultant while away, had his role with the AFL team replaced by Brendon Bolton, while Justin Leppitsch contributed on the list management side.