Collingwood to review Copeland Trophy voting after Daicos runner-up finish

First it was the ‘cheeky’ Matt Rowell joke, then came the comments about Darcy Cameron’s Copeland Trophy win – but is the Craig McRae backlash fair?

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has revealed the Magpies will review their voting system for the Copeland Trophy to ensure it has the right processes in place.

He also stressed that he meant no disrespect to Brownlow Medal winner Matt Rowell with his cheeky joke about “16 disposal games” in his speech at the best and fairest count last Friday night.

Ruck Darcy Cameron upset Brownlow runner-up Nick Daicos to take out his first Copeland Trophy.

But while McRae insisted Cameron was “great winner”, he says Daicos “probably could have got more votes here or there.”

Nick Daicos fell short at the Brownlow Medal count. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images.

Speaking at the launch of the Caulfield Cup Carnival, McRae said his growth mindset meant he was always trying to look to improve on whatever processes the club had in place for a range of things.

“We need to live in a growth mindset, there is an opportunity for all of us to (keep striving) to get better,” McRae said.

“Look at our best and fairest … we have got to look at it ourselves … we have to keep improving all the time.

“The processes in place I always want to challenge them.

“I think Darcy Cameron is a great winner but I look at the process and think at times Nick probably could have got more votes here or there.

“I will make sure, (with) the position I am in, I will ask the right questions to the right people and make then necessary changes that we need to make.”

Darcy Cameron won the Pies’ best and fairest. Picture: Michael Klein

All of Collingwood’s coaches are asked to vote between 0-4 votes on each player to reflect their overall impact on the game.

Cameron won the Copeland Trophy with 328 votes, with Daicos in second on 315.

McRae raised eyebrows last Friday when made a cheeky reference to Daicos’ second place in the Brownlow.

He said the time: “Congratulations to Nick Daicos, he is now a three-time All-Australian at the age of 22 and he came runner-up in the Brownlow Medal again.

“Maybe a few more 16 disposal games might get you there next year.”

McRae appeared to be referencing Rowell’s 16-disposal against Sydney in round 7 this year where the superstar mid took home three votes, as well as three votes for his 17-disposal game against Adelaide in round 4.

But the Magpies coach said on Wednesday he was not intending to question Rowell’s win.

“Maybe it was taken that I was disrespecting Matty Rowell which is completely not where I was headed,” he said. “I think the AFL processes can be improved, maybe that’s where I was targeting the 16 possessions.”

McRae also laughed at suggestions rival clubs were targeting Nick Daicos, saying clubs had a better chance of winning the lottery than prising him out of Collingwood.

Originally published as Collingwood to review Copeland Trophy voting after Daicos runner-up finish