The Collingwood Football Club wishes to advise Executive General Manager of Football Graham Wright will take extended leave for a period of six months from March to September in 2024.Graham, 55, has spent over three decades in the elite AFL system – first as a player for Collingwood and then as a much-respected and successful administrator.Graham Wright said he was looking forward to having a break before returning to work in September next year.“I have been in discussions with our President Jeff Browne, CEO Craig Kelly and our Senior Coach Craig McRae about the possibility of taking an extended break and I appreciate the support from them to be able to do so,” Wright said. “Having extended leave and spending some time travelling overseas during our winter has been on the cards for me for a few years and now is the right time for my wife and I to do that. “It has been a great few seasons at Collingwood so far and to reach the ultimate success with our men’s program this year is a real credit to everyone involved at our Club.“Through my discussions with Jeff, Ned and Fly, we agreed that I will stay connected to the Club in a consultancy role providing advice to the CEO and wider club during my time away with a plan to return to full-time work in September. “Our football department is well-placed into next year with key leaders steering our AFL and AFLW programs.”CEO Craig Kelly said:“Graham has been an instrumental part of our Club over the last few years and when he approached Jeff and I about wanting to take leave in 2024, we supported that.“Wrighty and I have been discussing this for some time now and while he will be away for a six-month period travelling overseas, he will continue to provide assistance to me and the Club as a consultant where required.“He has ensured the football program is well-placed during his time away – we have great leaders internally with the skills and capability to step up in Graham’s absence and through this period, it will allow others inside our Club to gain experience, broaden their skill set and develop further.“More broadly, as a Club, we want to ensure that there is opportunity for senior leaders at Collingwood to have a work-life balance and normalise this type of leave for our key people.”President Jeff Browne said:“As President, I support Graham’s choice to take a sabbatical and travel overseas next year with his wife Tracey and we look forward to him returning to Collingwood post that. “Graham has developed the Club’s football strategy for 2024 and has ensured our football department is in a strong position ready to progress and build on the last couple of years. “Since returning to Collingwood in 2021, Graham has played such a pivotal role in progressing our Club and achieving success both on and off the field. In addition to steering our football programs and better balancing our salary cap, he also served as our Club’s Acting CEO for a period of time – a role he excelled in.” Graham will be on leave between March to September, 2024 with Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly to support key leaders in the running of the football department during this time.A further update on specific roles within the football department will be provided in the new year.