Collingwood’s so-called ‘Dad’s Army’ is showing that age doesn’t have to be a liability, forcing other AFL clubs to rethink how they manage their squads. In their commanding 16.11 (107) to 8.8 (56) victory over Hawthorn on Friday night, veterans Jamie Elliott, Scott Pendlebury, and Steele Sidebottom delivered outstanding performances. Their efforts proved that Collingwood’s aging list remains a formidable force, despite being the oldest in the league.
After a tough 2024 season, there was speculation that coach Craig McRae might need to move on from some of his older players, such as Pendlebury (37) and Sidebottom (34). Instead, McRae kept faith in these experienced campaigners, even elevating Elliott to the club’s leadership group. That decision is paying off handsomely, with the Magpies’ experienced players making light work of the younger Hawks lineup. Notably, Collingwood’s team entered the game with an average age of 28 years and seven months—well above the league average.
Sidebottom returned after a week off and put in a strong performance, finishing with 27 disposals and two goals, including a spectacular effort down the wing. Nick Daicos was also influential, but Elliott was the standout, kicking five goals and leading from the front. Now 32, Elliott is on track for a career-best season, sharing the Coleman Medal lead with Geelong’s Jeremy Cameron at 33 goals, and just six away from surpassing his personal best of 39 goals from 2023.
The strong performances by Collingwood’s veterans have prompted suggestions that rival clubs may need to re-evaluate their own strategies for managing older players. There are also growing calls for Collingwood to reward Elliott’s form with a two-year contract extension, which would be seen as a smart investment. As Daniel Cherny from Code Sports noted, the Magpies’ veterans are forcing the question of just how old is too old, and may well spark a shift in how AFL teams approach list management in the future.
