Anthony Seibold Joins Collingwood in AFL
Anthony Seibold, the former coach of the Manly Sea Eagles, has made a significant move in his career by joining one of the most prominent teams in the Australian Football League (AFL), Collingwood. This transition marks a shift from rugby league to football, highlighting Seibold’s versatility and experience in different sports.
Seibold, who is 51 years old, was dismissed in March after a challenging start to the 2026 season with the Sea Eagles. The team struggled with a 0-3 record, leading to his removal from the position. He was subsequently replaced by Kieran Foran, who has since led the team to a fifth-place finish on the NRL ladder as they prepare for the Magic Round this week in Brisbane.
On Monday, Seibold confirmed his new role with Collingwood during an appearance on Channel 7’s Agenda Setters program. He shared that he has been working with the Magpies for the past few weeks and expressed his familiarity with the head coach, Craig McRae.
“I’ve been doing a little bit of work for Collingwood over the last couple of weeks. I know the head coach very well,” Seibold said. “I’m going to have a small role there for the rest of the season.”
Mitch Cleary, a respected AFL reporter, shared on X that Seibold will be working part-time with the club’s coaching staff and football department. His responsibilities will include assisting with off-field development, which could involve player support, strategy, and other non-playing aspects of the team.
Seibold also reflected on his time at Manly, expressing relief that his departure was handled swiftly rather than dragged out. After a game against the Roosters in round four, he had a conversation with Manly’s CEO, Jason King.
“I spoke to Jason King after the Roosters game and I just said, ‘Look, I feel like there’s a lot of commentary and a lot of noise around my role,’ he said. “I felt as though either the club needed to come out and back me and support me, or the club needed to make a decision to move me on.”
He added that he sensed the possibility of being let go after the game. “Rather than a long, slow death, I actually respect that it was a quick kill in many respects.”
Despite the difficult end to his tenure at Manly, Seibold expressed fond memories of his time there. “I’ll remember my time at Manly fondly, although you never want to go through what I had to do at the end.”
Before his stint with the Sea Eagles, Seibold served as the head coach for South Sydney in 2018 and Brisbane in 2019 and 2020. He also had a brief period as a rugby union defence coach for the England national team under Eddie Jones.
This move to Collingwood represents a new chapter in Seibold’s career, showcasing his adaptability and commitment to the sport. As he steps into his new role, fans and analysts alike are watching closely to see how he contributes to the Magpies’ success in the upcoming season.
