Veteran Tim Membrey has been delisted by St Kilda, paving the way for the key forward to join Collingwood as a free agent.
The 30-year-old forward is likely to move to the Magpies as a delisted free agent when the AFL’s free agency window opens later his week.
Tim Membrey has been delisted by the Saints and is poised to join Collingwood as a delisted free agent. Credit: Getty Images
Membrey has already passed a medical test at Collingwood and is poised to join the club as support for the forward line which struggled for periods this year for depth when injuries struck key players.
Collingwood has also looked closely at Membrey’s St Kilda teammate Jack Hayes, who is younger and has the versatility to play in the ruck or as a key forward, but two sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the Magpies were likely to favour Membrey, who played 178 games for the Saints after starting his career with a solitary game at Sydney.
Membrey has booted 293 goals in his career, including 30 goals from 19 games this season. It was the seventh time in his 10 seasons with the Saints that he had kicked 30 goals or more in a season.
He was the Saints’ leading goalkicker in three of his seasons at the club, and finished 11th on the club’s list of all-time goalkickers.
Saint Tim Membrey started his career at Sydney.Credit: Getty Images
Interestingly, this will be the second time Membrey has moved as a delisted free agent.
He began his career at the Swans, where he made his debut in 2014; his second year at the club.
He came out of contract at the end of that year, and the Swans and Saints couldn’t agree on a deal to trade him. So with St Kilda holding the first pick in the pre-season draft, he was delisted by the Swans and moved to Moorabbin as a free agent.
Aside from 2023 when Membrey had knee surgery pre-season, restricting him to just seven games, the key forward has otherwise been durable and played most games.
A strong kick and reliable shot for goal, Membrey will offer depth at Collingwood, where his style will be comparable to hard-working key forward Brody Mihocek. The combative Magpies forward turns 32 in February and begun to struggle with injuries this season, playing just 11 games.
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