Cap not the only issue, says Magpies CEO

COLLINGWOOD chief executive Mark Anderson made no apologies for the decision to offload three key players during a messy trade period, but conceded the club could have sold the message better to its agitated supporter base.

Anderson said pressure on the club’s salary cap played a role in the departure of contracted players Adam Treloar, Jaidyn Stephenson and Tom Phillips, but suggested the moves were part of a broader strategy.

He said the playing group won‘t be “spooked” by what has happened.

Addressing the supporters’ backlash that saw an online petition launched to push the board to explain their moves in a public forum, Anderson said on 3AW: “One of the things we did over the trade period — rightly or wrongly — was to not comment as the process unfolded.

“Our members therefore have not had that communication as the trade period has unfolded.

“You get to the last day and these decisions come and you want to understand that.”

Anderson said the club “clearly” had salary cap issues, but said there were other reasons behind the move.

“We need to make the hard decisions to make the next step and that is getting to the pointy end of a draft both this year and moving forward.

“It is all about making us better … it is really tough around saying goodbye to people we really like and rate. We haven’t done that lightly.”

He disputed Stephenson’s claim that he hadn’t been given the appropriate feedback from coach Nathan Buckley and the club.

“Jaidyn was given feedback across the season, this didn’t come out of the blue in trade week,” he said.

“There was feedback throughout the season and his coaches and other people had spoken to him about that, and a good level of communication to his agent.”