Collingwood have confirmed a suite of VFL list changes, with 15 fresh faces set to join new VFL Senior Coach Matthew Lokan's squad for the upcoming 2026 campaign.
Three former North Melbourne AFL players are amongst the inclusion who will don the black and white this season, with Will Phillips, Eddie Ford and Brynn Teakle committing to the Pies’ VFL program for 2026.
An inside midfielder with a strong tagging ability, Phillips was taken with the third pick in the 2020 National Draft by the Kangaroos, going on to play 50 games for North Melbourne across five seasons.
The 23-year-old made seven appearances at the top level in 2025, including a 20 disposal, four tackle performance against Melbourne in Round 18.
Ford joins Phillips, a fellow 2020 AFL draftee, in arriving to the Pies’ VFL program for 2026.
Playing 40 games and kicking 31 goals for the Roos, the 189cm lively forward earned himself a Rising Star nomination in the final round of the 2023 season after notching 19 disposals and three goals in North’s 35-point win over the SUNS.
After beginning his AFL career with Port Adelaide, Teakle trained with Collingwood for an SSP spot in the 2024 pre-season before being selected by North Melbourne in the Mid-Season Rookie Draft that same year. Teakle’s pre-season journey then went full circle, with the 203cm ruck/forward making his Club debut against Collingwood a week later.
The West Australian went on to play 15 games for the Roos across his two seasons.
Former Melbourne father-son selection Taj Woewodin will also join the Pies, with the 22-year-old midfielder/defender set to don the black and white in 2026.
The son of 2000 Brownlow medallist Shane, Woewodin has already tasted VFL success, having won the VFL Premiership with the Casey Demons in their 32-point win over Southport in 2022.
The famous Millane name is also set to return to Collingwood, with 20-year-old Zai Millane, nephew of late Club great and Hall of Famer Darren Millane, poised to pull on the black and white.
Millane, a 191cm hybrid player who spent his juniors with the Gold Coast SUNS Academy and made his VFL debut for the SUNS last season, will follow in the footsteps of his famous uncle who helped bring the Club their famous 1990 Premiership win.
Key defender Charlie McCartin has signed with the Pies, having spent last season with Geelong’s VFL side.
The brother of former No.1 pick Paddy and Sydney defender Tom, McCartin will also join Collingwood in an off-field capacity, working under National Recruiting Manager Shane O’Bree as an underage talent scout.
2023 VFL premiership player Oskar Faulkhead joins the fold, with the former AFL-listed SUN joining the Pies after spending 2025 with North Adelaide in the SANFL.
Faulkhead isn’t the only SANFL player to cross the border in 2026, with Faulkhead’s North Adelaide teammate Zavier Maher joining him at the KGM Centre along with Robert Varcoe (Norwood U18s) and Hamish Collins (North Adelaide U18s).
Former Carlton VFL player Michael Lewis has traded the navy blue for black and white stripes, while Talent League graduates Nick Thompson (Bendigo Pioneers), Josiah Landy (Eastern Ranges) and Rod Ali (Eastern Ranges) have all signed with the Pies.
Ali is no stranger to the Collingwood’s VFL program, with the defender having played two games as the 23rd player – which allows Clubs to use players under the age of 20 from the Talent League as a top up player – before returning to the Eastern Ranges and going on to win the Talent League grand final last September.
Ed Perryman, the younger brother of Collingwood defender Harry, has also officially joined the Pies’ VFL list after spending 2025 playing for Laverton in the Ovens and Murray Football Netball League.
Xavier Laverty – also from the OMFNL – will trade the Wangaratta Magpies for the Collingwood Magpies, with the 20-year-old embarking on his first VFL pre-season.
