Collingwood enters the 2025 season as an older team pushing for another premiership after missing the finals in 2024, despite winning the flag in 2023. While their experienced veterans dominate the lineup, opportunities for younger players may be limited unless injuries or form open the door. From an AFL Fantasy perspective, there’s still plenty of potential to explore. With the likes of Harry Perryman and Dan Houston joining the squad and younger players like Edward Allan pushing for midfield roles, we break down some undervalued players, breakout candidates, and stash options who could play a significant role in the Magpies’ fantasy landscape this season and beyond.
Undervalued Players
Harry Perryman
Harry Perryman was traded to Collingwood at the end of the 2024 season. He’s a player I can see having a fantasy impact at Collingwood, not just next season, but into the future. Justin Leppitsch has said that they want to use Perryman in a variety of roles, including across the halfback line and in the midfield, both of which are generally fantasy-friendly. Combined with the ‘new club bump’, I think we could see him average over 80 this season and into the future. As Collingwood’s ageing midfield gets on, I think he could fill a permanent role in the midfield in the future.
Patrick Lipinski
I’m not sure if he’s undervalued, because I don’t see him averaging too much better this season. But looking to the future, with Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp, and Tom Mitchell all in their final years of football, they’re going to have to look towards the next generation of midfielders at Collingwood. I think Patrick Lipinski could be part of that. Given he has forward status, it gives him that little bit of extra value. There might be a year in the next few years where he transitions into a full-time midfield role, and this could see him get a little bump.
Breakout Candidates
Edward Allan
We saw what Ed Allan could do when he was given a full game in the midfield at the end of last season. He had good underage numbers, and we’re all waiting for him to make that transition to the senior team. He spent a lot of time on the wing at VFL level over the last couple of years, but Collingwood using him in the midfield in the seniors last year probably gives us a bit of a sign that he could transition to an inside midfield role. I think there’s a chance that he overtakes one of Collingwood’s ageing midfielders and becomes a permanent fixture this season. He’s one I’ve got my eye on.
Stash Options
Jakob Ryan
He had a lot of injury issues last season, which kept him off the park for most of the year, which meant he didn’t end up playing an AFL game. That said, he was an underage fantasy star and even earned a debut in his first season in 2023, where Collingwood went on to win the flag. So we know he has some potential. However, with the arrival of Houston and Perryman, I think he’s a long way off securing a regular spot in Collingwood’s lineup. He’s one to stash for future years when some of their older players drop off, or if he requests a trade eventually.
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