Collingwood Football Club’s head coach, Craig McRae, has stepped down amid a significant error, sending shockwaves through the AFL community. McRae, who led the Magpies to a remarkable premiership win in 2023, tendered his resignation letter to the Collingwood board late last night, citing “a significant professional error” that compromised the standards expected of a Collingwood senior coach.
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The nature of the error hasn’t been fully disclosed, but it’s reportedly not related to on-field performance, match integrity, or criminal behavior. Instead, it’s described as a serious internal judgment error that conflicted with club governance, process, and trust. McRae took full responsibility for the situation, emphasizing that his decision was made in the best interests of the players, the club, and the wider Collingwood community.
McRae’s departure marks the end of an era for Collingwood, where he transformed the team into a powerhouse club within a short time frame. Under his leadership, the Magpies embraced connection, belief, and fearless football, winning the hearts of their vast and passionate supporter base. McRae’s coaching style, which emphasized psychological resilience training, transparent leadership, and attacking gameplay, became trademarks of a Collingwood side that not only won matches but also won back the hearts of its fans.
The club has announced an interim coaching arrangement, with senior assistants expected to guide the team while a comprehensive review and selection process begins. Speculation is rife about potential candidates, including Brendon Bolton and Justin Leppitsch, both highly regarded in football circles.
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