AFL 2024: Craig McRae adamant Collingwood has not over-celebrated premiership

The Magpies have locked in changes to their premiership side as Craig McRae disagreed with an AFL great’s criticism of their celebrations.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has rubbished criticism of his team’s prolonged premiership celebrations after his former mentor Leigh Matthews urged the club to “stop revisiting what happened six months ago” in response to the timing of its premiership documentary release.

It came as he confirmed debutant Charlie Dean and John Noble would face GWS in their Saturday night season opener among a raft of changes from last year’s premiership side.

McRae said it was important to keep a grasp of the premiership success to help the Magpies launch another flag tilt, as he disagreed with Matthews’ call for his side to “leave it behind”.

The Brisbane Lions three-peat coach said he was concerned by the Magpies’ attitude towards the new season after the cinematic release of the club’s Take the Steps documentary and a series of other media projects reflecting on the grand final.

“You don’t want to be just enjoying and celebrating the grand final … I’m talking players and in-club people – you have to get back in the here and now,” Matthews told 3AW.

Think Charlie was a little bit caught of guard by the news 🤣 pic.twitter.com/95qgdxUSFD

— Collingwood FC (@CollingwoodFC) March 7, 2024

“You have to get your mindset back to what it is, which is starting again ... everyone starts afresh and that’s the attitude you’ve got to have going into the new campaign.

“Revisiting what happened six months ago ... to me, that’s never helpful.”

McRae said he understood Matthews’ criticism but it was fine for the Magpies to take a different approach to their win compared to the Lions under his former coach.

“I’ve loved Leigh for a long time, and I played a long time under Leigh and I know how he works – he always thinks about tomorrow,” McRae said.

“I think over time I’ve learnt to smell the roses a bit more, and it’s OK to be a bit different to Leigh, but huge respect for him.

Craig McRae (left) is congratulated by his former coach Leigh Matthews after the 2023 grand final win over the Lions. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

“I don’t think anything’s changed from what we’re doing. There’s lots of stuff from the premiership that ... why would you let (it) go? Because we’re going to need it again, we’re going to need it for this next journey ... things around connection, spirit, these things you want to carry with you.”

McRae repeatedly referred to his players’ pre-season GPS numbers as evidence they were hungry to contend for another premiership.

“We measure (hunger) through our workloads, and our GPS (numbers) are miles ahead of what it was this time last year, we’ve done more work,” he said.

“If that’s a measure of hunger, the players have come back ready to get back to work.

“We start the season in good shape, that’s it, that’s all it guarantees ... still like everyone, we need to go run the marathon.”

McRae says John Noble (pictured climbing over the Kangaroos’ Toby Pink for a big mark in pre-season) has put on ‘four or five kilos’ after a disappointing end to 2023. Picture: Daniel Pockett / Getty Images

He said a bulked-up Noble had earnt his spot back in the side, which could mean Oleg Markov or Will Hoskin-Elliott is relegated to the sub role.

“John will play – I haven’t had a chance to tell him that. We want our players to keep coming back and getting better.

“He clearly didn’t get what he wanted at the end of last year but the way he presented himself, he’s now fitter and stronger, he’s put on about four or five kilos and I think you can see that.

“You need guys like Johnny to get us back where we want to be.”

The coach indicated namesake Finlay McRae had not been able to force his way into the Magpies side despite an impressive pre-season, while Billy Frampton and Ash Johnson were set to vie for a final key spot in the Pies’ forward line.

Scott Pendlebury moved well throughout training on Thursday and looked set to take his place against the Giants.