Collingwood have made a desperate plea to AFL House ahead of a crucial meeting of club chief executives in Round 5.

After featuring in the AFL’s Opening Round this year and last (it was first trialled in 2024), the Victorian powerhouse — which has a huge supporter base across the country — now wants out.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Collingwood want out of AFL’s opening round.

Channel 7’s chief AFL reporter Mitch Cleary has confirmed the exclusive details, while sports presenter Rebecca Maddern said, “The Pies have had enough.”

Cleary revealed Collingwood have informed the AFL “they are done” with the round which only sees games played in New South Wales and Queensland.

He said the club was in favour of the concept, but it was now pushing to not be involved next year and therefore avoid travelling ahead of Round 1, much like Carlton did this year.

After the AFL experimented with playing a round of football entirely in one state in 2023, they then signed a deal with the South Australian government to keep holding its Gather Round in that state.

That didn’t sit well with the northern states, so the AFL then decided to create Opening Round, to shine a light on the code in New South Wales and Queensland.

The concept has received a lukewarm response from fans, as it is considered a soft launch to the season and only involves the four clubs in the northern states and thus four games.

“The Pies are the only team to travel in both years of Opening Round to date, losing both games,” Cleary said.

Collingwood have faced the Giants - a hot favourite to win the flag - in the round in both years.

This year’s Opening Round was also a disaster, with the two games in Queensland postponed due to Cyclone Alfred.

“Opening round and the structure of the fixture will be key talking points at the CEO’s meeting in Adelaide for Gather Round next week,” Cleary said.