FOOTBALL
AFL EXPORTS
By TOM HAYES
DAYS after St Kilda delisted key forward Tim Membrey, his move to Collingwood was confirmed on the first day of the delisted free agency period.
The Traralgon local has signed a two-year contract with the Magpies, seeing him through until the end of the 2026 season.
Membrey spent 10 years at the Saints, playing 178 games, kicking 293 goals. He was drafted to Sydney in 2012 National Draft, spending two seasons with the Swans, playing one game.
Membrey reportedly completed a medical assessment with Collingwood toward the end of last month.
He joins fellow Latrobe Valley local from Morwell, Tew Jiath, at Collingwood.
DELISTED Maffra pair Max Knobel (Fremantle Dockers) and Coby Burgiel (West Coast Eagles) will hope to secure their AFL futures before the delisted free agent period concludes on Friday, November 8.
Knobel was delisted with the intention to be re-drafted as a rookie with the Dockers, as the ruckman continues to develop in the Western Australian state league. Knobel could be picked up by another club, if they beat Fremantle to it.
Burgiel has struggled with constant injuries throughout his two years in the system. Without playing an AFL game, nor a consistent run in the WAFL, it appears unlikely that he will be offered another chance at the top level, unless he can prove some sort of fitness.
Burgiel told the Express that he has been offered to train at West Coast as a supplementary player, with hopes of earning another contract for the coming year.
“If worst case I didn’t get offered a contract then I would most likely look to play either WAFL or VFL next season to get myself back onto a list whenever that would be,” he said.
“I’m keen to put my head down this preseason and hopefully earn my spot back here at West Coast.”
