Collingwood’s footy department shake up has continued, with Brendon Bolton moving to St Kilda to take up an assistant coaching role under Ross Lyon.
The Saints have added both Bolton and former Magpies assistant Jared Rivers to their coaching team for 2025 as part of a recapture that includes Brendon Goddard assuming VFL coaching duties.
Bolton arrived at Collingwood alongside fellow ex-AFL coach Justin Leppitsch at the end of 2021 to support Craig McRae in two key moves for the club’s 2023 premiership triumph.
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Bolton, 45, stepped into Graham Wright’s role as Collingwood footy boss this year after Wright took extended leave before ultimately departing to become Carlton’s new CEO.
Pies list manager Leppitsch and Bolton shared roles throughout 2024 amid reported friction between the two. The club is still searching for a permanent footy manager following failed bids for Port Adelaide’s Chris Davies and Brisbane’s Danny Daly.
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Collingwood has already welcomed back Matthew Boyd to its coaching staff for 2025 after a two-year stint as Fremantle as an assistant.
Bolton was Carlton’s coach from 2016 to 2019 after serving as an assistant under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn during the club’s golden era in the 2010s.
“I’d like to thank the coaches, players and staff who I have worked closely with during my time at Collingwood,” Bolton said.
“Working alongside so many talented people really energised me and serving in a couple of different roles has allowed me to gain experience I otherwise wouldn’t have.
“While I am incredibly grateful for my time at Collingwood, my passion right now remains on playing a role as a coach in an AFL program which I am looking forward to getting stuck into.”
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