Collingwood officials and fans are paying tribute after four players were de-listed by the club on Tuesday, including premiership player Oleg Markov. And Richmond have announced the addition of Hawthorn flag heroes Luke Breust and Taylor Duryea to their coaching ranks.
The Pies are being urged to shake up their roster in the wake of their preliminary final loss, with many of the belief they need to cut some ageing veterans. On Tuesday, Collingwood announced the first wave of players who’ll depart.
Markov, Charlie Dean, Ash Johnson and Fin Macrae have all been de-listed, with Markov the big name. Markov played 41 games for the Pies, including the 2023 grand final win over Brisbane. He’s a cult hero at Collingwood, but struggled to crack the AFL side in 2025.
Oleg Markov (far left) was been de-listed by Collingwood, while Taylor Duryea (third from right) and Luke Breust (far right) are heading to Richmond. Image: Getty
Dean played a total of 12 games for Collingwood, including four in 2025. Johnson’s best year was 2023 like Markov, but was sidelined for the majority of 2025 with a broken leg. Macrae was also hampered by a shoulder injury in 2025, after playing nine games at AFL level in 2024.
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List boss Justin Leppitsch said in a statement on Tuesday: “This time of year is always difficult, but we commend the group on the maturity and respect they’ve shown throughout this process. We thank Oleg for his contributions to our club. He played a key role in the 2023 AFL premiership and has had a profound impact on our AFL program.
“Ash, Charlie and Fin, thank you for your dedication and commitment to the club throughout your time in the black and white. They’ve all shown great resilience and have all left a long-lasting impact on the playing group. All four individuals are quality people, and we do sincerely wish each of them the best with their next chapter, on and off the field.”
Charlie Dean and Ash Johnson are also leaving Collingwood.
Collingwood urged to part ways with premiership players
On Sunday, Essendon legend Matthew Lloyd urged the Pies to also part ways with Brody Mihocek, Tom Mitchell and Mason Cox. And Collingwood great Tony Shaw suggested it might be a good time to trade Bobby Hill, who didn’t play the majority of the second half of the season due to personal issues.
“That’s something they’ve got to look at now,” Shaw said on 3AW radio. “Bobby Hill, I’d be looking to see what you could get trade-wise. It’s a horrible situation, but he’s probably good fodder at the moment, you could get a couple of draft picks and it doesn’t look like it’s working for him (at Collingwood).”
Luke Breust and Taylor Duryea join Richmond
Meanwhile, Hawthorn’s triple-premiership hero Luke Breust has linked up with Richmond in an off-field role. Bruest’s playing career ended in devastating fashion earlier this month when he ruptured his ACL and MCL in a VFL game for the Hawks, ruling him out of a possible return at AFL level in the preliminary final.
On Wednesday, Richmond announced that both Breust and premiership teammate Duryea have signed on as development coaches. “We are investing in putting the best people around our young players to ensure that they have every chance of success in their AFL careers,” Richmond’s EGM of Football Performance Tim Livingstone said in a statement.
“All of these guys are driven, experienced and successful in their own right and will be great assets for our football department. We welcome Luke and Taylor and their families to Richmond.”
Breust won three premierships at the Hawks, while Duryea won two before joining the Western Bulldogs. Both played under current Tigers head coach Adam Yze when he was an assistant at Hawthorn.
Breust is one of Hawthorn’s favourite sons, winning premierships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. Hawthorn’s football boss Rob McCartney paid tribute to the retiring star in a statement last week after his injury was confirmed.
“Despite the abrupt and unfortunate ending, Luke should be enormously proud of committing himself completely across his incredible career, on and off the field, right up until his final moment,” McCartney said. “Having played his 308th game in the brown and gold just a few weeks ago, Luke’s legacy as one of our club’s true greats has been etched into the history books, sitting behind only Michael Tuck and Leigh Matthews for most games played at Hawthorn.”
Luke Breust was a chance to return to Sam Mitchell’s Hawthorn side for the AFL preliminary final. Image: Channel 7/Getty