In a deeply emotional and unexpected development, former Collingwood premiership player Héritier Lumumba has expressed his desire to return to the club he once called home—not only to reconnect with the current squad under coach Craig McRae but also to seek healing and resolution over the painful past that divided him from the Magpies.
**“Collingwood’s always home for me,”** Lumumba said in a recent interview, marking a significant shift in tone from his earlier public criticisms of the club’s handling of racism and cultural insensitivity during his playing days. Now, after years of separation and strained relations, the former defender is extending an olive branch—one rooted in reconciliation, growth, and a shared commitment to the future.
Lumumba, who played 199 games for the Magpies and was a key member of their 2010 premiership side, has long been vocal about the systemic issues he faced during his AFL career. His departure from Collingwood in 2014 was clouded by controversy and later intensified by a public fallout with the club over its internal culture.
However, with a new era underway at Collingwood under the leadership of McRae and club president Jeff Browne, Lumumba says he feels the time may be right to revisit the club—not as a critic, but as a former player seeking honest engagement and closure.
**“I’ve never stopped caring about the club,”** he said. **“My criticisms came from a place of love and a desire to see Collingwood do better—not just for me, but for every player of colour who comes through its doors.”**
Lumumba’s proposed return isn’t merely symbolic. He has expressed interest in joining a training session or two with the current squad, not to revive his playing days, but to show his support for the new culture being fostered by McRae. He also hopes the visit could open the door to meaningful dialogue about the club’s past and how far it has come since the release of the 2021 “Do Better” report, which acknowledged systemic racism at the club and called for comprehensive reform.
While there has been no official confirmation from Collingwood about whether Lumumba’s return will proceed, early responses from fans and former teammates have been cautiously optimistic. Many believe that welcoming back one of the club’s most dynamic and outspoken former players would send a powerful message about accountability, maturity, and healing.
For Craig McRae, who has spoken frequently about building a strong, inclusive culture, Lumumba’s return could be another step in the club’s broader transformation—one that seeks to honor past contributions while also learning from past mistakes.
As the AFL continues to grapple with its own reckonings around race and identity, Lumumba’s potential homecoming stands as a poignant reminder that real change involves uncomfortable conversations—and that, sometimes, the path forward starts by returning to where the journey began.
