After taking over the reins as Collingwood Coach at the end of 2021, when the club was languishing in second last position on the ladder, no one expected Craig McRae to take the Pies to a kick away from a Grand Final. Not even Collingwood fans expected it.
12 months ago, the club was in shambles.
Club legend Nathan Buckley had left the coach’s seat, long-term president Eddie McGuire had resigned from his role, there were challenges at board level and the club was lingering at the bottom of the ladder.
It was a daunting task for any experienced coach to take on, let alone a rookie.
So when the man affectionately known as ‘Fly’ was awarded the 2022 AFL Coaches Association Coach of the Year Award for his efforts, no one was surprised. McRae has won fans over, got the players to buy in to his game plan, and endeared himself to the public. And all within his first year.
They are now playing a more direct and daring style of footy. They’ve shown they can match it with the best sides in the competition.
McRae finished as the clear winner, 249 votes ahead of the two men coaching in Saturday’s Grand Final. Sydney’s John Longmire had 201 votes while Geelong’s Chris Scott finished with 174 votes. McRae won the 2012 Development Coach of the Year and the 2019 Assistant Coach of the Year. And now he can add this new accolade to his resume.
McRae’s Collingwood lost by a single point to Sydney in a nail-biting preliminary final last Saturday. They were one accurate kick away from playing in a Grand Final. It’s a remarkable achievement considering where they came from last year and considering it was his first year in charge.
And the humble coach was reflective of what he’s been able to achieve.
“I don’t take it lightly to be voted by your peers, particularly in this field of great candidates is something I’ll definitely cherish forever,” he told AFL 360.
And the modest 48-year-old was full of gratitude to his fellow coaches. He hasn’t lost sight of the support he received from his assistants. He knows it’s a team that works together to achieve success.
“I’m accepting this award on behalf of the whole Collingwood Football Club. You get an individual award in a team sport. It’s nice but clearly, I accept the award on behalf of everybody,” the former Lions premiership player said.
Wherever he’s gone, he’s had success.
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As a player, he starred in three premierships under the great Leigh Matthews at the Brisbane Lions. As an Assistant coach, he’s been part of success at Richmond and Hawthorn under premiership coaches Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson. McRae also had successful stints with the highly successful Melbourne Storm. He also filled the role of Head of Development at Collingwood.
In 2019, he led Richmond’s VFL side to a premiership and won the VFL Coach of the Year as well as the AFL Coaches Association Assistant coach of the year awards.
Not a bad apprenticeship. Now he’s making his mark at Collingwood as the senior coach. And so far he’s doing it with flying colours. The Magpies are flying high again.
The future will tell just how far ‘Fly’ can go.
George Apps
Roar Rookie
Are you a member of the inner sanctum of the AFL?
George Apps
Roar Rookie
I was just hoping the club hadn't made a mistake in McRae, considering the previous years stuff ups we had to endure!
Matthew Younan
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your response.
Matthew Younan
Roar Rookie
Hi Ghost, thanks for your comment. You could argue that the coach of the year is the premiership winning coach. It's a fair point you make - it's just an extraordinary job he's done taking them from 17th to one accurate kick away from the Grand Final. The other thing is that it's the AFLCA Coach of the Year Award so it's voted by the Coaches and Assistant Coaches across the competition.
no stats
Roar Rookie
hey ghost,valid point you make ,appears to be rewarding coaches who have made a significant difference to their team from their previous seasons and possibly taken and or improved team beyond reasonable expectations from the industrie before season underway but not winning the flag, i agree with you if none of the above criteria come into play then its the premiership coach, then its not mcrea( this year . )
The Ghost
Guest
Coach of the year is the premiership winning coach. This is a ridiculous decision. It’s bandwagon jumping.
Matthew Younan
Roar Rookie
Thanks for your comment. I agree he has been great for Collingwood. And he's played and coached under some of the best coaches in the AFL so has gained some great experience which showed this year. I also found his comments after the narrow elimination final loss to Geelong really interesting about players lying down on the ground and he talked about the winning mindset and attitude and how they may have lost the game but they're not losers. I could totally understand the players lying down after being exhausted from such a close game but he quickly changed their mindset to refocus and realise they still had a chance to pursue the ultimate success. I think the Pies are heading in the right direction. As a Hawks supporter, I just hope he doesn't coach you too well to beat us next year.
no stats
Roar Rookie
hi mathew,,, mcrea has been great for collingwood, early on after the appointment as a supporter you just hopeing that he gets some early wins on the board to stave off any inside doubt and outside negativity, he achieved that, but it was what he was saying and how he said it along the way that has had a big impression . knowing his playing record and coaches hes been under helped to see past the concerns early on believing if it turned bad at some point this season that hes learnt how to handle that situation, hanvnt enjoyed being a pies supporter this much since 2018 ,the football he has them playing but the club has got back some repect also,,, i think the industry has warmed to him as well as he comes across as very authentic,,, all of this doesnt mean a sucessfull season next year, no matter what eventuates in 2023 for collingwood i believe hes got what it takes and i look forward to him developing the team/club even more,, thanks