Collingwood coach Craig McRae has thrown his support behind Opening Round after rescheduled start to season

Craig McRae says Opening Round is a boost for AFL in the northern states, but an old teammate and now rival coach doesn’t see it the same way.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae is behind the Opening Round concept, saying “any promotion of the game in the northern states is good”.

McRae’s backing comes as his former premiership captain and now Carlton coach Michael Voss conceded he wasn’t in support of Opening Round.

Collingwood is one of four teams now featuring in Opening Round after the AFL rescheduled two matches due to Cyclone Alfred.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has thrown his support behind Opening Round. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

“Yeah, I love Vossy but I don’t always have to agree with him,” McRae said with a laugh.

“I think any time we can promote the game in the northern states is a good thing, the right balance of that I am not sure.

“Whether it’s a couple of teams or all of them, I will let others decide that.

“Having lived in the northern states, it’s very different to here. Trust me, there’s not as many cameras up there right now as there is here.

“Any promotion of the game in the northern states is good, especially right now with what’s going on up there.”

Carlton took on Brisbane as part of the inaugural Opening Round last year but this season will return to its customary season opener against Richmond next Thursday.

Voss on Thursday said he would prefer to see the first round of the season played in every state instead.

“What makes us a little bit different is that we’ve got a national game and I don’t see why we don’t advertise it … launch it in every single state,” he said.

“WA, there’s two games we can play there, two games we can play in South Australia, two games we get to play in Queensland and NSW, (while) also launching it in Victoria.

“We’ve got 10 Victorian teams, eight could go travel to every single state and we could have two games in every state.

“I think it’s very unique for us in the national game that we can launch it Australia-wide.”

Originally published as Collingwood coach Craig McRae has thrown his support behind Opening Round after rescheduled start to season