AFL 2024: Collingwood will search to replace football boss Graham Wright

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has revealed the biggest challenge facing the Magpies after a key figure’s departure.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae (right) says it will be extremely difficult to replace departed Magpies football boss Graham Wright. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Collingwood coach Craig McRae says the Magpies will reflect on whether not immediately replacing Graham Wright was a costly decision in their failed premiership defence.

The Magpies need to beat Melbourne by about 100 points and have Carlton or Hawthorn suffer a loss of the same size to secure a miracle finals berth after entering the final round with an 11-2-9 record.

McRae said coaching directors Brendon Bolton and Justin Leppitsch had “probably done two or three jobs” each this season to fill the void left by Wright.

The Collingwood football boss took a sabbatical after the 2023 premiership but confirmed last weekend he would not return to his role at the club.

McRae said the club would “delve deep” into how the football department reshuffle may have affected its on-field performance.

Departed Collingwood football boss Graham Wright (left) with coach Craig McRae last season. Picture: Michael Klein

“I think he’s been missed a lot, just me personally. I’m a really good friend with him, his wife and my wife are really close too, and we catch up socially a lot and talk all the time,” McRae said.

“I’ve missed his friendship … we’ve had terrific experience taking over from Wrighty – Brendon Bolton standing over on the side has stepped up big time and taken on a lot of extra responsibilities, he’s probably done two or three jobs, same with Justin Leppitsch.

“These are the things that we’ll reflect on and go, ‘how do you measure some of this stuff?’ “It’s hard to know (how it impacted results this season), but we’ll reflect on everything.”

McRae credited Wright with fixing the club’s salary cap woes that led to the painful offloadings of stars including Brodie Grundy and Adam Treloar.

“I want to take the opportunity to make sure everyone understands how good Graham Wright was for this footy club,” he said.

“Well and truly before I got here, he put a lot of things in place to make this place better.

“He did a lot of work on the list and the salary cap to get that into a place where we can be really competitive, and on a personal note, he was an incredible mentor for me in my early stages of becoming a senior coach … the other fact is he employed me, so that was good too.”

McRae indicated Ed Allan was a strong chance of being recalled for a second senior game against Melbourne on Friday night. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

The Magpies coach ruled out Daniel McStay from Friday night’s clash after he pulled up sore from the win over his former club Brisbane.

He suggested Scott Pendlebury could also be rested, with Ed Allan due for a selection reward after a strong month in the VFL.

“We may (rest a few players) … Dan McStay won’t play, he’s a bit sore, and we think what an incredible story it is to get back and play AFL footy after seven, eight months from a knee reconstruction.

“We just thought, ‘why would we push him to the line?’ Let’s look after him, and he’s one who won’t play, I’m not sure if there will be many (changes).

“There won’t be any ‘giving’ players games. There will be a couple of young guys who will be heavily spoken about because their form is really, really strong at VFL level.

“Ed Allan in particular, his form the last four weeks has been well and truly above the level.”