"It just doesn't happen": How Collingwood's off-field turmoil will impact their trade period hopes

Justin Leppitsch believes Collingwood’s off-field drama will impact their ability to recruit players in the trade period, if it’s not quickly resolved.

The Magpies are going through a period of change, with a new president, a coach out of contract and change in the list management department.

On top of that, a potentially presidency spill is looming, with Jeff Browne considering a coup.

“After the calamity of last off-season, this year and this off-season is so important,” Leppitsch told AFL Nation.

“I’m sure they will want to attract new talent, apart from draft talent, to their organisation.

“It’s very difficult for player managers to hand over their players when this stuff is going on in the background.

“You don’t like to say ‘yeah I’d like my player to come to your football club’ when they’ve got all these off-field issues.

“You’re definitely not going to get an A-grader under these circumstances.

“You might get somebody who needs the career change. You’ll still get people come to your club, but it’s very hard to recruit the big fish when these things are bubbling around in the background of your football club. It just doesn’t happen.

“You’ve got to change the narrative of that very quickly and I think Collingwood are in a position to do that.

“Once this is done, I think they’re a football club that can change that narrative quickly.”

Collingwood hosts Port Adelaide at the MCG on Sunday afternoon and currently sit 16th on the ladder with two wins.