‘Absolutely it hurt’: Adams talks out about Pies’ departure… and what drove him to relocate.
Taylor Adams, a Sydney Swans recruit, has opened up more about his departure from Collingwood, saying it “hurt” to feel like he didn’t have a role to play in the Magpies’ future.
Adams sensationally left the Pies in last year’s trade period following their grand final victory, a game he missed due to a hamstring injury earlier in the finals series. He had played 175 games over nine seasons.
The 30-year-old has already spoken about his decision following meetings late in the season with his manager, Winston Rous of Phoenix Management Group, as well as the agony he’ll never “fully get over” from missing the grand final.
Speaking on 3AW’s Wide World of Sports on Tuesday night, Adams revealed that he and Rous had some “spicy” words about the idea of a trade because he never saw his future away from Collingwood – despite being forced out of the midfield in 2023 – before the ex-Magpie “reluctantly” became open to considering other options.
However, after consulting with key Collingwood executives like as senior coach Craig McRae and football manager Graham Wright in the days following the grand final, Adams said it became evident to him that he needed a new start somewhere, as the club was heading in a different direction.
“After the season was over, I had a few talks with several of the football club’s senior figures. It became clear that it was highly recommended to me, therefore I looked into another football team,” Adams told 3AW.
“By that point, it was Monday after the grand final, and Sydney had shown an interest through my management. I answered, ‘Alright, we’ll have to go see what this is all about now. On Wednesday, I boarded a plane and arrived in Sydney to meet with ‘Horse’ (Swans coach John Longmire) and management.
“I had a couple chats with Graham Wright and Craig McRae. I just didn’t feel that Collingwood was the ideal fit for my future.”
When asked if it hurt, Adams replied, “Yes, totally. I could see it evolving over the last 24 months. I still felt like a highly valued member of the club, more so than the squad. I could see the football squad was heading in a different way.
“That’s what happens in football; I’m a realist.” Collingwood Football Club has several very promising young players. That was the way they intended to go, and regrettably, it meant my job may be jeopardised.
“There was a football club that showed great interest in wanting to play me in my primary position and help an upcoming group up here in Sydney, so I jumped at that.”
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