AFL 2024: GWS free agent Harry Perryman chooses Collingwood

October 1

Collingwood coach Craig McRae’s strategy to prioritise established players in the off-season has delivered its first win with GWS free agent Harry Perryman choosing the Magpies.

The Giants utility will play for Collingwood in 2025 after knocking back strong interest from both Port Adelaide and Adelaide following another consistent season at AFL level.

GWS was unable to match Collingwood’s offer to Perryman, because the 25-year-old was an unrestricted free agent.

The departure of the former No. 16 pick means the Giants have now lost all four of their first-round picks in the 2016 draft after taking Tim Taranto (Richmond) with pick 2, Will Setterfield (Carlton and Essendon) with pick 5 and Isaac Cumming, who last week chose to join Adelaide as a free agent, with pick 20.

In a brief statement on Tuesday, the Giants confirmed Perryman’s decision.

“Giants defender Harry Perryman has informed the club of his decision to explore his options as an unrestricted free agent,” it read.

AFL Melbourne v GWS — Unrestricted free agent Harry Perryman has elected to join Collingwood after playing 129 games for GWS between 2017 and 2024. Mark Stewart Credit: News Corp Australia

“The Riverina product played 129 games in the orange and charcoal across eight seasons.

“Perryman has selected Collingwood as his club of choice.”

Perryman spent most of his time at GWS playing at halfback or on a wing, but was reportedly searching for more midfield opportunities as he explored his free agency options.

The Giants also have a trade request from untried key position prospect Wade Derksen to Victoria to respond to, and could still lose out-of-contract midfielder James Peatling.

Perryman fits an important age profile for Collingwood as McRae tries to keep his side in flag contention despite entering next season with nine players over 30 years old.

The 2022 premiership coach told SEN last week he had little interest in trying to get a stronger draft hand.

“That’s true, I’m a coach that wants to bring players in,” he said.

“I said that at the end of the season and it’s hard such a hard market fishing from the same pond, but I don’t want picks.

“I say to the list mismanagement, ‘I don’t want picks, I want players, let’s bring players in and make us better, not just any player, but players that are going to make us better’.

“We’re somewhat deliberate on that and we think Harry (Perryman) can make us better and we’re hoping we can put a case to him that he thinks Collingwood is the place for him.”

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