Collingwood grant McRae extended leave

Collingwood granted Craig McRae extended leave as he prepares for his fifth season as coach.

McRae only returned to the club in the middle of last week after a longer-than-usual summer break to refresh and recharge.

Collingwood’s approach comes after it emerged Geelong coach Chris Scott had also spent more time away from his club over the pre-season.

Scott set the training program, but has otherwise only been in and out of the club and on-call.

It’s understood the Cats proposed a range of ideas in an attempt to ensure longevity for Scott, who has been in charge since 2011.

Like McRae, Scott recently signed a new contract, agreeing to stay as Cats coach until the end of 2029.

McRae last December recommitted until the end of 2028, but the Pies were eager to lighten the load on their coach over summer.

Instead, trusted assistants Hayden Skipworth, Matthew Boyd and Jordan Roughead have taken charge.

Similarly, James Rahilly, James Kelly and Nathan Buckley have been working with the players at Geelong.

The Cats and Pies approach is somewhat reflective of a shift in the industry, with some clubs moving to do things differently when it comes to their senior coaches.

While they carry an enormous burden as the faces of their respective clubs in-season, the extra break combined with upskilling assistants has seen some clubs increasingly mindful of playing the long game with their leaders.