The Collingwood Football Club (CFC) has recently undertaken a fire sale stocktake, trading away some of its star players in an effort to free up salary cap space and rebuild the team. The most notable of these trades was that of Adam Treloar, who was sent to the Western Bulldogs in exchange for a future first-round pick. While this move was made with the intention of improving the team’s long-term prospects, it has raised questions about the impact of trading away such a key player.
Adam Treloar was one of CFC’s most important players, having been a key contributor to the team’s success in recent years. He was a prolific ball-winner, averaging more than 30 disposals per game in 2019, and was also a reliable goal-kicker, kicking at least one goal in all but one game last season. His departure leaves a huge hole in the team’s midfield, and it remains to be seen whether the team will be able to adequately replace his production.
The fire sale stocktake has also seen other players depart, including Jaidyn Stephenson, Tom Phillips and Atu Bosenavulagi. While these players were not as important to the team as Treloar, their departures still leave CFC with a weakened squad. The team will now have to rely on younger players to step up and fill the void left by these players, which could prove difficult given the inexperience of some of these players.
The impact of CFC’s fire sale stocktake is yet to be fully seen, but it is clear that the team has taken a risk in trading away some of its best players. It remains to be seen whether this gamble will pay off in the long run, but it is certain that the team will have to rely heavily on its younger players if it is to remain competitive in the future. Only time will tell whether CFC’s fire sale stocktake will prove successful, but it is certain that the team has taken a risk in trading away some of its star players.