Collingwood coach 2021: Coaching greats throw support behind McRae and Kingsley
Coaching greats Alastair Clarkson and Damien Hardwick have thrown their support behind who they believe should become Collingwood’s next coach. Here’s who.
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Coaching greats Alastair Clarkson and Damien Hardwick have thrown their support behind Craig McRae and Adam Kingsley in their chase to become Collingwood’s next coach.
While the Magpies stressed they have yet to make a final call on who will be Nathan Buckley’s replacement, a decision is expected in the next few weeks after the current Covid lockdown slowed the process.
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McRae, who is now an assistant coach at Hawthorn after previously building a strong record in successful programs at Richmond and Collingwood, has recently burst into contention.
The three-time Lions premiership player now leads the betting markets at several corporate agencies for the vacant role, ahead of Swans assistant Don Pyke, West Coast assistant Jaymie Graham and Richmond assistant Kingsley.
Clarkson reiterated on Saturday his plans to take a year off coaching.
The Magpies will also give caretaker coach Robert Harvey the chance to make a last pitch for the job after their season ends on Sunday.
Clarkson and Hardwick said McRae and Kingsley would be assets for Collingwood if the Magpies chose to go in that direction.
“He (McRae) is an outstanding coach in his own right, he is very well drilled and incredibly smart and articulates well,” Hardwick said.
“He and Adam Kingsley are two of the coaches both in the running for that job, and I think Collingwood would be well served with either of them.”
Clarkson said McRae and Kingsley had patiently built their coaching profiles, expressing his disappointment about what looked to be happening with David Teague at Carlton.
“I could have been sacked after my second or third year, and Dimma (Hardwick) was (almost sacked) at the end of 2016,” Clarkson said.
“That’s the unfortunate part we hear out of Carlton at the moment with ‘Teaguey’. You just wish clubs would hold their line on things a little bit because it is so difficult in this industry.
“What I like about those lads (McRae and Kingsley) … is they have been in the game for a long period of time and have been around two or three clubs.
“Both have stood the test of time in terms of sitting back and viewing AFL clubs and how they work, and also engaging in different roles across many clubs.
“They have been development coaches and assistant coaches … they are really well equipped to take the next step. I think they will be great AFL coaches.”
McRae, 47, coached the Tigers’ VFL side to a flag in 2019, and played a role as an assistant in Richmond’s three AFL flags. He had also worked at Collingwood for five seasons.
Kingsley, 45, previously worked as an assistant coach at Port Adelaide and St Kilda before moving to Richmond where he was an assistant coach in the club’s last two flags.
Pies skipper left hanging
Collingwood has left champion captain Scott Pendlebury hanging on a new deal.
In a move which has raised eyebrows across the competition, the Magpies have made the call to hold off on re-signing the skipper beyond this season.
The Magpies have put a pause on all contract dealings as the club zeroes in on a new coach from a shortlist of Don Pyke, Brad Scott, Craig McRae, Michael Voss, Jaymie Graham and Robert Harvey.
Harvey cannot be ruled out as he winds up an impressive stint as interim coach but Collingwood has lost fitness boss Kevin White to North Melbourne for next season.
Collingwood has undertaken a list rebuild this season but is banking on the premise another club doesn’t swoop on Pendlebury, 33, with a Luke Hodge-style deal.
There were whispers from across the Nullarbor last year Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir was keen on the champion midfielder as a player – coach on a long-term deal.
Longmuir was tight with Pendlebury from their time at Collingwood and the Dockers may yet lose midfielder Adam Cerra to Carlton or Richmond.
Pendlebury has made clear he wants to coach after his glittering playing career ends, having been lauded by former coach Nathan Buckley as one of the sharpest minds in footy.
Sydney Swans have already extended co-captain Josh Kennedy, Geelong has agreed on an extension with Joel Selwood and Fremantle has committed to David Mundy for 2022.
The Brisbane Lions successfully lured Hodge out of retirement in a move that was deemed pivotal in helping the young team make the big leap into finals in 2019 when Hodge played 22 games.
Pendlebury’s season was cut short against Port Adelaide in Round 19 this season when he suffered a hairline fracture in his leg.
Collingwood’s games record holder has played 334 matches, putting him within reach of an extraordinary 350-game milestone next year.
Pendlebury will be the second most-experienced player in the competition next season behind Fremantle’s Mundy after the retirements of Shaun Burgoyne and Eddie Betts.
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s search for its new coach continues, despite Melbourne’s Covid lockdown delaying part of the process.
The Magpies have yet to make a final decision on who will replace Nathan Buckley.
Highly-regarded Hawthorn assistant coach Craig McRae remains one of the leading contenders. He has been backed heavily in several corporate betting markets.
McRae, a three-time Lions premiership player, has worked in successful programs at Collingwood and Richmond in the past.
He also coached the Tigers’ VFL side to a flag in 2019, and played a role as an assistant in Richmond’s three AFL flags. He joined the Hawks as an assistant coach earlier this season
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