Collingwood has poached former Essendon assistant coach Hayden Skipworth.
It is believed by The Age the 36-year-old, who played 55 games for Adelaide and Essendon, has been earmarked by the Magpies to lead their academy, a role previously held by 227-game former Pie Tarkyn Lockyer, who has been appointed by the AFL to lead the NAB Academy.
The shift to Collingwood represents Skipworth's first coaching appointment away from Tullamarine, where he played 11 games for the Bombers in 2009.
Skipworth leaves the Bombers having spent the last two seasons as the club's midfield coach. He has also spent time coaching Essendon's forwards, as well as its VFL team.
