Craig McRae has reflected on his five-year stint as Collingwood’s former Head of Development.
McRae served in the role at the Magpies from 2011 to 2015 before joining Richmond as an assistant coach prior to their flag dynasty. He also coached the Tigers’ VFL team, winning a premiership in 2019.
McRae is now back at Collingwood as the club’s senior coach, succeeding Nathan Buckley in the hot seat on a three-year deal, with the Pies in rebuild mode after a six-win season in 2021.
Speaking on SEN’s The Run Home, the new Magpies mentor revealed he sent Buckley a cheeky text message when he returned to the club’s Olympic Park headquarters.
“The last time I was at Collingwood, I sat in Bucks’ office on his couch, and he told me I was no longer needed,” a smiling McRae said.
“I laugh at it, the irony of it all.
“I’m really grateful for my time at Collingwood, and like everything, it comes to an end. They were going in a different direction with their Head of Development.
"I'm sitting in the seat that you sacked me in!"
— Andy & Gazey (@TheRunHomeSEN) March 10, 2022
Craig McRae discusses his return to Collingwood. #AFL pic.twitter.com/yOXg5i4lHb
“But without that opportunity, I don’t get to Richmond and then don’t get all the learnings and the success that happened there, and then get an opportunity to come back (to Collingwood).
“I did happen to text Bucks and say, ‘I’m sitting in the seat that he sacked me in’. I’ve got a good relationship with Bucks, and I feel comfortable to do that.
“I learnt so much off him in that time I was at Collingwood.”
McRae’s first official game in charge of Collingwood is against St Kilda at Marvel Stadium next Friday night.