‘Want to be humble and gracious’: McRae apologises after Wilson criticism

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has apologised for a major omission after last Thursday night’s loss saw the reigning premiers fall to 0-3.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has apologised for not crediting St Kilda after last Thursday night’s loss saw the reigning premiers fall to 0-3.

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has apologised for not crediting St Kilda after last Thursday night’s loss saw the reigning premiers fall to 0-3.

McRae came under scrutiny from veteran journalist Caroline Wilson, who claimed the Pies boss’ post-match comments “reflected a ‘me, me, me’ mentality that has permeated that football club as it continues to celebrate that brilliant premiership victory”.

“I’m not sure I can remember the last time I saw a losing coach speak for more than 12 minutes and not pay one word of credit to the opposition,” Wilson told Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Monday night.

Watch every game of every round this Toyota AFL Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has apologised for not crediting St Kilda after last Thursday night’s loss saw the reigning premiers fall to 0-3.

“In fact, if there hadn’t been questions about the Jack Higgins goal and the relative lead-up of the two teams going into the game, you would have been forgiven for thinking Collingwood was playing itself. Perhaps there’s something in that.

“For the record St Kilda won the game, Spud’s Game, and perhaps applied some pressure that led to those Collingwood mistakes.

“There’s self-reflection and there’s sportsmanship.”

Speaking on Tuesday, conceded he should’ve given the Saints their due plaudits.

“Can I do that now then (credit St Kilda)? Caroline, I apologise, because that’s something I really want to do,” he said.

“I want to be humble and gracious and if I didn’t give St Kilda enough credit, I should’ve. That’s a good observation.”

The Magpies coach also defended Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom, saying they’re still physically “at the top of their game” amid question marks of the ageing champions ahead of a critical grand final rematch against Brisbane at the Gabba on Thursday night.

“I do believe that the competition is getting better, everyone’s improving, and I think physically everyone at the start of the year is at their absolute optimal (fitness),” McRae said.

“That’s real, and we are very conscious that the game is very high transition early on in the season – middle of June, (when it’s) wet and a little bit slower, experience is really important.

“Those two in particular, we look for things we can measure, and most of them are doing PBs, in the gym, out there for GPS, high speed, all the things we can look at to see that they’re at the top of their game.”

Having already managed Tom Mitchell and Will Hoskin-Elliott in the opening rounds, McRae admitted Sidebottom was another veteran they’d consider resting.

“We’ll go to match committee and he might be one of the ones we talk about, three days in 11 days might be a chance to give him a rest,” the Magpies coach said.

“I’m not going to change, we like to back people in. We believe in people and give them a chance.

“We’re very honest internally, things need to get busy or a couple. The whole footy world knows that. But we like to be loyal and back people in and allow them to make amends or show us what you’ve got.”

Asked about having a harder edge on the training track on Tuesday, McRae said he always has a competitive element, but was a ”positive guy” bv nature as the reigning premiers hope to avoid falling to 0-4 in a massive test on the road.

“I see the good in people and I like to reward behaviour and I’m not going to change,” McRae said.

“Maybe you haven’t seen that before (a harder edge), but that’s been there as well. I just want to demand high standards and I want the best for us, I’m not going to sit still.

“The only training not growing is my height right now, I want to get better. As a group, we want tot continue to improve and push and prod and promote and reward.

“Most things in life when you have adversity, you’re better for it. We live in a bit of that now, I’m sure we’ll be better for it.

“This is a great and exciting challenge. We look forward to gritting out teeth and seeing what we get.”

Originally published as ‘Want to be humble and gracious’: McRae apologises after Wilson criticism