Star Collingwood midfielder Scott Pendlebury wants the AFL's new collective bargaining agreement finalised before he makes a longer contract commitment.

The man widely regarded as the Magpies' next captain signed a one-year deal on Friday.

Pendlebury's decision to sign a short-term contract means expansion team Greater Western Sydney can still try to sign him as an uncontracted player, because they have their recruiting concessions for two years.

"With the CBA yet to get sorted out it gives me the best opportunity to secure the best deal for myself next year," Pendlebury told the club website.

"We have been working through the contract for four or five months now.

"It wasn't like we sat down this week and signed this week - it's been in the works for a while."

With Pendlebury joining Dane Swan as a confirmed signing and Dale Thomas saying he is about to follow suit, Collingwood are set to keep three of the main GWS recruiting targets.

The trio, who topped Collingwood's best and fairest voting last year, were coming out of contract at the end of this season.

Swan put himself off the GWS radar by signing a three-year deal with Collingwood before the season started.

Thomas said on Friday he is likely to agree to a two-year contract.

"I have been open to offers, but I think at the moment I'd be hopeful to sign shortly with (Collingwood) for a couple of years," Thomas told Melbourne's Nova 100 FM.

"To 2013 I'd imagine, a two-year deal, I've signed two-year deals right throughout.

"I think that's enough to keep you on your toes, if you sign anything longer I reckon you can go a bit stale and lose a bit of hunger.

"So hopefully fingers crossed I will also be the next one to put pen on paper."

Asked how soon the deal might be finalised, Thomas said within weeks.

"My manager (Paul Connors) is speaking to the club next week, so it could be within a couple of weeks," he said.

Swan won the club's Copeland Trophy last year, with Pendlebury second and Thomas finishing third.

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