Collingwood coach Craig McRae on new tackle rule, Magpies injury crisis
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has raised doubts about the AFL’s new holding the ball rule after getting his first look during his side’s loss to Western Bulldogs.
AFL
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Collingwood’s decimated line-up needs to harden up in the coming weeks in order to be able to run out full matches, according coach Craig McRae.
The Magpies fielded their most depleted line-up yet on Friday night when they took on the Western Bulldogs without Scott Pendlebury (arm), Jordan De Goey (abdomen), Tom Mitchell (foot), Brody Mihocek (hamstring), Jamie Elliott (vascular), Mason Cox (concussion/knee), Will Hoskin-Elliott (hamstring), Joe Richards (foot), Reef McInnes (concussion) and Dan McStay (knee).
But despite getting overrun in the final quarter for the second week in a row – losing on this occasion rather than drawing as they did against Fremantle – McRae was optimistic that no matter which players were going to run out for the Magpies in the next few weeks, they would be much more resilient.
“I feel like we’re not quite there hardened-wise to play 120 minutes this group in particular,” McRae said post-match.
“That’s two weeks in a row … I don’t know if you go back to when we’re in front last week and this week, maybe 15-minute mark, or whatever it was, in the last quarter, or close to it.
“Not quite able to do it for four quarters at the minute for this group, but I think we’ll gain a lot out of this.
“What we are now I guarantee we’ll be different in three weeks’ time – not personnel-based, we’re learning a lot. We’re hardening up.
“We’ve got guys that in certain phases of the game aren’t quite delivering on it, but I know they’ll learn and this group won’t stand still.”
McRae said all of the injuries they’re dealing with has given good opportunities to other players, and the youngsters were discovering exactly what it takes to play at the top level regularly.
“You saw Harvey Harrison last week. It’s a tough game, this one. You’ve got to do it six days later or seven days later and repeat it,” McRae said.
“Three hundred and ninety-three games ‘Pendles’ (Scott Pendlebury) has played. Oh my God. How has he done that so often?
“They’re learning on the job.”
Meanwhile, McRae had mixed feelings about the new stricter interpretation of holding the ball being implemented by the umpires.
“A lot quicker, aren’t they? They’re a lot quicker to pay holding the ball,” McRae said.
“It’s almost like don’t fight the tackle or you’re gone. I’m not sure if I’m a fan of it, but I know we tackle a lot and we got a lot more holding-the-balls.
“I think we’re all learning on the job. Tonight looked a bit different to last night, I thought. Really hot.”
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