Welcome to Collingwood, Coach Craig McRae

[Take_a_Screamer]

When does the pre-season start?
Roll up your sleeves guys and pull up your socks

You wonder what the players are thinking about their new coaching team...

[Hiss]

The new Board might overturn the appointment and choose their own Coach. It would certainly be their right to do so.

[bally12]

Great selection Pies. I like it.
I too was going to give footy a miss if they went with some of those other guys being talked about.
Fly mentioned he wanted to teach an exciting brand of footy. He gets it. And he even coaches kicking skills!
New team, fresh start. Bring on 2022. Go Pies!

[BazBoy]

We’ve had the ceremony
The speech,s

Now the work begins

Kids come back some time late October I think

Then some time Nov old godgers ( ain’t too many of them)

Think December they wind down for Xmas

I’m interested in the draw the first five games and who we get

[Jezza]

Transcript of today's presser.

Excluding the questions directed to Wright, Korda and Anderson.

Opening statement from Craig McRae

"I'm pretty pumped, this is a significant part of my journey and it's been a long one. I'd like to thank Graham [Wright], Mark [Anderson] and the sub-committee of Paul Licuria, Luke Ball and Peter Murphy, and the board for believing in me to take this club forward.

It was an extensive process, it went for about 6-8 weeks. It did allow me to reflect on my journey. It's been a long one. This one has been 15 years coaching and the ability to be resilient and struggle and get up, fall over and get up again. I was only sharing a story just before our sliding door moments of leaving one club and getting an opportunity at others has been significant in my journey. I bring that all here and I'm looking forward to taking this club forward as I said.

I want to take the opportunity to thank the Richmond Football Club for 5 great years of my life. The experiences there I gained have clearly put me in this position. I'm really grateful for Peggy [O'Neal], Brendan [Gale], Tim Livingston, Damien [Hardwick] and all the staff, particularly the players. It was a great time of my life. I feel like I'm a better person for being at that football club, a better dad and also a better coach so thank you to the Richmond Football Club.

In recent time, Graham [Wright] got me over to Hawthorn and again I'm not sitting here without that opportunity. The ability to work under Clarko was amazing. He's an incredible man and I learnt so much and he's someone I'm really keen to keep in contact with. To Rob McCartney and the other coaches, Brendon Bolton, Chris Newman, Andy Otten and Sam Mitchell we coached hard this year and I'm really confident we got the best out of that group we coached and the also to the playing group at Hawthorn. I will be cheering loudly from afar but also when you play against us we'll probably start a few fights and tag a few, but I wish you all the best and thank you to the Hawthorn Football Club.

I'll just finish by touching on our members. There's 82,000 members out there and not only with Collingwood, but also around the league who have been paying a lot of money to support their clubs and the industry when it's been a difficult time. I sit here and I'm really grateful and thankful for those people who continue to support our club without even being able to go to games. It's going to be difficult to please all of you at the same time but I want to make sure you understand that we're going to work really hard to develop winning habits and behaviours that you will be really proud of us win, lose or draw the way we go about it. I'm really grateful for this opportunity and thanks again for putting me in this chair and I'm looking forward to getting to work and making this club rise up the ladder like we want it to do".

Congratulations on the appointment and the elevation of your career, COVID is responsible for the understated appointment by Collingwood. Does that suit you as the calm character you are?

"To be honest, I'm not a star of the game, a retiring great, a big name if you like but I wouldn't want it any other way. This is my journey and my story. All the resilience along the way, the hardship and all the successes has shaped me to be the person I am. I sit here really comfortable in the seat to be the best person for the job".

Do you see this as a long-term project and how many seasons do you think it will be before this group are competing and pushing up the ladder?

"We're in the position to get as good as we can as quick as we can. We don't want to put a ceiling on that. The reality is we're going to get younger in recent times and we're looking forward to getting my hands dirty. I spoke to the playing group before and my appointment offers opportunity and possibilities and we're looking forward to whatever that looks like. The players now go away and comeback and they've got a choice and we get as good as we can as quick as we can. That's our goal".

Will the first season be a "development phase"?

"We're all aligned in knowing that we've got some work to do to get up the ladder. In terms of the language, we want to get as good as we can as quick as we can".

What style of coach will you be? What will your game plan look like?

"I'd like to think we're going to play a style that the fans will be proud of. In terms of watching recent games of the finals, everyone played a little different. I'm sitting back at the minute looking at the best versions of every team and seeing the things we can implement in our game plan. I'm certain we'll improve our contest, which is something I've been watching from afar that I am keen to implement. I want to play an exciting brand that the fans will come and watch and cheer us proud".

The relationship building side of your coaching, how did you acquire those skills?

"Just by being myself. Create relationships, show respect for all people, got great values and high morals. I respect everybody the same regardless of your status in the game or your background. I don't particularly care. I'll treat the property steward the same way as I'll treat Mark [Korda]. That's the person I am. Build good relationships, have strong conversations and show a level of care. That's the person I am".

Are you confident that will translate into goals and wins on Saturday?

"It's worked okay so far".

When you look at Collingwood and determining to throw your hat in the ring, what was the biggest challenge you're facing to get them up the ladder?

"When Graham [Wright] rang me and asked me whether I was interested in going through the process, initially I was umming and ahing and whether that was a direction I wanted to go at that moment and just making sure everything was aligned in terms of my private life, work life and balance. Once I reflected, I thought this is an opportunity and this is an amazing football club and having been here for five years and seeing what this club is capable of being at its best I saw great possibility. When Graham sent me the brief, I just thought everything I am as a person and coach it just fit the brief so I thought I would have a crack at it".

What was Alastair Clarkson's advice. Did you have much of a discussion with Clarko about this?

"Yeah, he's been an enormous asset all year particularly when the process was starting to heat up. Having worked with Clarko I saw whole another level of care for his players and as I have sat here, I'm proud of the coach I've been and I'm always trying to evolve so I'm not a finished product and want to get better. Watching Clarko the way he cared about his people, just the family and the way he embraced my young family into his life and he's an inspiration. If I could be half the coach he is or was I would be really proud. I did have a joking conversation with him if he's not doing anything next year, I'm happy get him over to do our stoppages and he had a laugh at that so I don't think that will happen".

What's your initial assessment of the Collingwood playing list and what sort of players do you think you need to add?

"I went through that as part of the process. I think there's a couple of little holes in our structure but I won't go into those details now. We've got a period now where we can sit back. I've only spoken to the playing group only half hour ago so I don't know everyone intimately enough. We've got some work to do. We're not happy where we are on the ladder and we want to get better. We'll find some opportunities within that trade period or draft to get those areas amended as best as we can".

Who's the real Craig McRae? Are you always this measured or can the media expect some grumpiness from time to time?

"I'm going to get grumpy, don't you worry about that. Like I said, there's 82,000 members for our club, you can't keep everyone happy. One thing you know, I'm happy to take the blows and be accountable to our actions on the way we're playing. But when we start winning I'll be quickly passing the buck to others as it's a collective. It's easy to sit here and say it's a one-person job but that's just not reality. Football clubs are built on many numbers and many people. I'm a cultural builder, I'm good with people and that's the club we'll be forging forward with".

Those Lions sides you played in were ruthless. Is there an aspect of that in your coaching?

"Yes".

You were coached under Robert Walls and Leigh Matthews, is there an hard-edge to your coaching as well as the soft touch?

"Absolutely, I think that's the basis of building strong relationships. Those conversations become easy. When you've got a relationship to a level when you go 'mate, what you're doing right now doesn't suit the Collingwood Football Club, we need to get better in this area'. I'm a rewarder. I spoke to the playing group before about certain things we want to see in place straight away when we get back. Some of them put their hand up and said there's things they want to make sure they do when they get back and we will hold them to account to that. We will get them to honour their word".

You spoke about Clarko, how much did you speak to Leigh Matthews and Damien Hardwick?

"Leigh said some kind words about me in the press which I made sure to acknowledge. To be honest and I said this in the process, Leigh is like a father now and I know he probably won't like hearing that. He's just such a great mentor and he shaped me so much in my career as a player and then even the words he said the other day, I text him and he text back and he said if there's anything he can help me with he'll be there for me. It's nice to have someone of his calibre and to be honest a lot of my coaching stems from Leigh's principles and I think you'll see a lot of that, or at the least playing group will anyway".

From your time at Collingwood, a lot of the leaders such as Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom are still there, did you touch base with them throughout the process?

"No I didn't, I steered away from that initially. Pendles is the first guy I saw on the way in. He's got a big part to play. I mentioned in front of everyone that I would use Pendles as an example to all the other players that I coached at other clubs about the professionalism, the level of detail he puts into his game. He's going to be integral in developing this young group. I'm organising to catch up with all the players one on one in the next period and get to know them on a deeper level".

Collingwood's a big club, how will you deal with the noise that surrounds Collingwood particularly after a few losses?

"Yeah, it's all a part of the struggle isn't it. I think that's what makes winning so much more enjoyable. I was at the Richmond Football Club when there was a lot of noise when they weren't performing and they turned that around quickly. I think it's worrying about what you can control. I know it's an old cliche but that's reality. I'm here to coach the football club and make everyone better as quick as we can and that's where I put my energy".

Did you have any reservations about the role given the uncertainty at board level?

"Having spoken to Graham [Wright] it did make the opportunity come on board a lot easier in terms of what's going on. When you actually get some of the details of what's going on, I had comfort coming in and going for the position. I will use a Leigh Matthews phrase he used when he first got to Brisbane: "Players will play, coaches will coach and administrators will administer" and I'm here to the coach the team"

If there's a new board that comes in, are you confident that they will be just as aligned with you as the current board?

"Yeah I'm led to believe that's the case and I have great comfort sitting here that's going to be executed".

Can you confirm your length of tenure? The people around you such as Justin Leppitsch and what role he will play and how many remaining assistants will stay?

"At this stage, I haven't signed the contract. At this stage it's a 3-year offer and in terms of bringing other people in, this is one of the exciting parts of this opportunity is you get to build a really good team around you, not only the playing group and start and build a culture. But also build a great team around that can start together. Justin Leppitsch is a great friend of mine. I just want to say and make it pretty clear that I'm not going to bring just my best mates in, that's not how I operate. I want a diverse coaching group, I want the best people in their roles. Having said that, Leppa is the best I've seen and the best I've worked with in his defensive structures. He's an elite coach. I would like to start conversations with him and see where that goes. But again, there are 2 or 3 other additions that we'll find the best available in the country to make this group better".

Any concerns about the looming board battle?

"No".

That never came into calculations at all when you were weighing up about jumping on board with the club?

"No".

You don't want to elaborate on that at all?

"No".

You said Scott Pendlebury was a great example to follow. There are a couple of other guys putting their hands up in terms of the right time to hand the captaincy over. Do you see that as a symbolic way to start your journey at Collingwood?

"I'm not sure about that. I want to chat to Pendles. He's the first person I want to talk to and get a gauge of where he's at with this part of his career. We'll make a decision based around on what he wants to do. He's been an incredible player for this football club for a long time and he has the right to decide on what he wants to do around that space".

On your social media accounts, you've expressed quite a bit love for Mason Cox. Will that extend into a new contract for him?

"Well he's going back to the States on Friday. I'm keen to have a conversation with him. What's best for the football club is paramount and I need to talk with Wrighty and Derek Hine around what his contract status is and where that fits so there's a bit to play out on that".

Have you heard from Nathan Buckley? Any messages of congratulations?

"No I haven't. I worked with Bucks, and he was a terrific asset to me when I was developing my craft and I've got nothing but respect for Bucks and I look forward to catching up with him soon".

You spoke about contest being an emphasis in your game plan, how do you solve Collingwood's scoring woes?

"Well I'm remiss to question or challenge what was. This is a time for me to get all the information given to me by the other coaches in the coming days about what's worked and hasn't worked. There's been an extensive review done already so I will get all that information. What I will say is that 18th for inside 50s is not the team we want to be so we'll need to do some stuff in regards to that and then the contest is a big part of that. We want to increase our opportunity to get the ball inside 50 like everyone does and give us the best way to score from that".

Jordan De Goey had a great second half of the year under Robert Harvey. Have you worked with him or come across him on your travels?

"Yes only briefly when I was first here he started, so it was very brief. He's a quality player of the competition so we want to get the best out of all our players and finding the right balance of his midfield and forward. I need to have a conservation with him but he gets an opportunity to comeback like all other players and first day of pre-season and make a choice of what sort of player he wants to be for us".

https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/video/ ... Names=news

[piedys]

Transcript of today's presser [alternate version].

Opening statement from Craig McRae

"I'm pretty pumped, this is a significant part of my journey and it's been a long one - but hey, at least you aren't lumped with a recycled hack". ....

What's your initial assessment of the Collingwood playing list and what sort of players do you think you need to add?

"I went through that as part of the process. It sucks some pretty major arse at present; the cap leaks like a sieve, and a couple of players are getting traded out, but I haven't got around to telling them yet...
think there's a couple of little holes in our structure, probably all Madgen's fault, so I'll be up him at the first given opportunity; but I won't go into those details now.
I've only spoken to the playing group only half hour ago and they are totally shitting kittens about their spots on the list. Half the senior players were bawling their eyes out like the kid who just dropped his ice-cream...
I threw North Melbourne jumpers at a couple of them to try on for size, and said Happy Early Xmas on Behalf of Noble's old man. I think they got the picture...
We'll find some opportunities within that trade period or draft to get those areas amended as best as we can, with no money and no picks".

Can you speculate on who might be looking for a new home in 2022?

"Oh, you mean OTHER than Harvs and Sando...? Okay, not naming names, but... Fumblebottom is getting offloaded on the cheap to GCS, we are getting Fiorini and perhaps King too. I've told Sidey it's a big move, and he better pack some caps.
Grundy and his contract is most likely off to the Crows; the brains trusts on Nicks are still tableing the picks and players involved in the exchange, as we simply can't be trusted to calculate such complex negotiations any more..."

Those posters on Nicks are ruthless. Will they be part of your future plans?

"Oh, Absolutely Yes; they don't piss on your roof then tell you it's raining - they tell it like it is. They'll be stoked with the trades above, and that should effectively shut them up over the summer.
If things go to plan, I'll have a panel of Nickheads on live stream into team selection on Thursday nights - that'll ensure no debacles or other such positional mismatches come game day.
I'll be all about new innovations such as these; I simply can't afford to be getting them offside at such a critical point in the club's history".

Can you speculate on exactly which Nickheads might comprise the online selection panel in 2022?

"Oh, look - I've said enough already; they'll have to sort it out amongst themselves... And you reckon the club's boardroom coup is a bloodbath waiting to happen...".

Superb work Jezza!

[inxs88]

Not Tony Robbins with the vocals but probably what we need with less being more

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

"Nickheads"


There is one thing in the other transcript that made my ears prick up...

"At this stage, I haven't signed the contract"

Not saying he won't but really, we're having a press conference announcing our new coach and he hasn't actually signed? FMD. Not something I would do in either my personal or professional life and smacks a little of rednecks who buy monster trucks based on believing they've won the lottery

[think better]

"Nickheads"


There is one thing in the other transcript that made my ears prick up...

"At this stage, I haven't signed the contract"

Not saying he won't but really, we're having a press conference announcing our new coach and he hasn't actually signed? FMD. Not something I would do in either my personal or professional life and smacks a little of rednecks who buy monster trucks based on believing they've won the lottery

I thought the opposite - they obviously have a hand shake deal and he trusts Graham Wright and Wright trusts him to carry that through.

I like when trust is the starting point and the formalities of a contract come after that is established

[Rd10.1998_11.1#36]

I am talking about announcing it publicly

One would think after the last 12 months you would try to avoid further potential embarrassments like, oh I don't know, contract negotiations with your brand new head coach who was appointed after a lengthy and thorough process breaking down because terms weren't agreed and there's nothing in writing

Which is exactly what happened over how much of Treloar's salary we agreed to pay to Footscray

It's all well and good to say you like trust - there can be handshakes all round before the contract is signed. But this is supposed to be a professional organisation in charge of a $50 million annual revenue business, not amateur hour

I'm sure you wouldn't buy a house or a car on a handshake, why should a coach be any different

[daics aka the ruckman]

Thanks for all the info Nicksters.
And to Jezza for the interview transcript and to Piedys for the humorous version - a good laugh.
I think our new coach sounds great.
I am a little excited about next season now.

[BazBoy]

Take a bow all on Nicks.

[the fuzz]

Is this the first totally positive Nick's thread ever? (since 2010 anyway)
I think it just shows how much we all needed a fresh start after this bad year.
It also shows what a good job the selection comittee have done in selecting the new coach. No rushing in, no hype, no big name.
The right man for the job. I'm so glad we didn't get Lyon, Pyke or even Clarkson. Time to build our own legacy.
I instantly feel better about our future. Really excited to see what happens next year, even if we don't make finals.

[Mr Miyagi]

Best thing? No bullshit, no expensive cars being revved like they’re 18 year olds at a hoon meet. No expensive watches, no bling, no flash. Love it.

PS don’t worry, Nicks will be back to it’s negative best when we lose. Some of the usual suspects I reckon are opposition supporters anyway.

[MatthewBoydFanClub]

I’m still trying to get my head around how we could so totally screw up salary cap player payments last year, yet get the process right for selecting our new coach. Maybe it’s because when you’re so close to a flag you lose all sense of reality and you go for broke. If so it’s ended the fine football careers at the Collingwood FC of Nathan Buckley, Geoff Walsh, Ned Guy, Robert Harvey and Brendan Sanderson. I never want to go through that again. The whole fabric of the club is built on loyalty. Having to say to players like Treloar, Stephenson, Phillips and Atu that you’re no longer wanted at the club still pains me.

I want to wish McRae well. He has an incredibly difficult job to lift the team off the bottom of the ladder next year. I’m assuming the core of the team will be built around mostly new players like MaCrae, Nick Daicos, Poulter, Henry, Keane, McInnes, McCreery, Ginnivan and Bianco. None of these players have more than a handful of games, so much will depend on the stalwarts of the team in Pendlebury, Sidebottom, Crisp, Maynard and Adams holding the team together.