Collingwood free up salary cap to fuel hunt of star quartet

Collingwood has freed up its salary cap ahead of an all-out assault on the 2026 trade period, with a quartet of stars in its sights.

The Pies have been paying Brodie Grundy since he joined Melbourne ahead of 2023, and then Sydney 12 months later, but have cleared their debt well before its due date, reported on Footy Classified.

The decision to offload Grundy's pay, coupled with completing its payment to Adam Treloar at the Western Bulldogs last year, has opened the door for the club to target out-of-contract guns Zak Butters, Zac Bailey and Ben King.

Renewed interest in Gold Coast forward Bailey Humphrey won't go away, who flirted with a move back to Victoria, despite being contracted until the end of 2028.

Butters is the hottest free agent in the competition, and is certain to receive offers of up to $2 million a season.

Port Adelaide, given the star's restricted free agency status, will have the capacity to match any deal thrown at Butters.

Bailey has already seen major interest from Essendon, while King has already been touted as Collingwood's main target.

Pies CEO Craig Kelly said last month on Channel Seven: "We're better prepared. We've got a very clean TPP (Total Player Payments).

"We're in a great position. We get to train and play in one of the great locations of global sport. We've got a great coach. We've got a great board.

"We're a humble club that wants to keep getting better so of course we need to go after those sort of free agents."

The Pies' salary cap will also be eased by the likely retirement of Scott Pendlebury, Jeremy Howe and Steele Sidebottom at season's end.

The trio are club legends, but have signed multiple one-year deals, and are tipped to hang up the boots at the end of 2026.