Ex-Fremantle Docker and state-league "older statesmen" Brady Grey says he is looking forward to leadership responsibilities after joining Collingwood in both on and off-field roles.
Fresh from a WAFL premiership with Freo-affiliate Peel Thunder, the 29-year-old arrives at the club as both a recruit to their VFL side and Indigenous Player Development Manager.
The Palawa man and Burnie Dockers product played 21 senior games at Fremantle between 2014-2018.
Grey joined West Coast's WAFL playing setup in 2019, then crossing to Perth for two years before his first move east to Hawthorn in an off-field role.
A return to Freo followed, where he spent 2023 and 2024 in development duties while again running out with Peel.
"I was at Hawthorn for a year as the Indigenous PDM and coached in the women's space and then the last two years a dual role at Freo with some development coaching in the AFL program," Grey said, via Collingwood.
"It's something I've been doing, balancing both for the last few years so I get enjoyment out of crossing over lots of different programs and getting to know lots of people."
Grey said he was assessing his options on a personal front before the chance to arrive at a "big club" in the Pies came up, following a period of progressing towards life post-footy - in a playing sense.
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"It's happened pretty organically and I'm pretty grateful that the opportunity has popped up here where I can keep playing and also look at off-field development through the player development space as well as coaching," he said.
With 120-plus state-league games on his CV, Grey will add plenty of experience to Collingwood's VFL team.
"I finished last year with a flag so to finish the WAFL side of things with a premiership was pretty special," Grey said.
"Coming over here you're going to be playing with a bunch of guys just starting their career whether that's the VFL guys trying to get on a list or the AFL guys still coming through the VFL system, so there'll be a lot of young guys running around so I'll try keep myself young.
"I am only 29 so I can bring my experience and it's just great for me to be able to play VFL footy and try and pass on a few things that I've learnt over my time.
"Everyone loves winning games of footy and I'm certainly not going to shy away from winning as many games as possible but also help develop people on and off the field."
Collingwood finished the 2024 VFL season in 20th spot with four wins.
Grey's father, Guy, is a Cricket Australia Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cricket Advisory Group member and Cricket Tasmania Aboriginal Cricket Advisory member.
