Fly’s honour: From Glenelg long sleeves to SA coach

Craig McRae has officially been confirmed as the South Australian coach for next year’s AFL Origin clash with Western Australia.

The Collingwood premiership coach, who is an Adelaide native, will take the Croweaters’ role for the February 27 Optus Stadium meeting with the Sandgropers to be coached by Fremantle’s Justin Longmuir.

McRae spent time with Glenelg in his formative years and is now honoured to take the role as SA coach at the top level for the first time since 1999.

But did he ever think that his CV would have ‘South Australian coach’ on it?

“It’s a great honour,” McRae said on SEN Summer Run.

“If I looked back when I was playing at Glenelg wearing number 53 with the long sleeves on and 60kg you’d probably say no.

“It’s an incredible part of my life, being South Australian. My mum still lives there, my sister and all of my friends.

“Every time we go back and play the Crows or Port Adelaide it doesn’t quite feel the same as it did back at Footy Park when I was watching State of Origin in the 80s. That was real footy as I knew it.

“Before the Crows came in, SANFL footy was such a big thing, and that’s all we knew in Adelaide. To think now, turning the clock forward this many years, that it’s going to be coming back.

“We’re all super excited for it.”

McRae says he is eager to work with some of the game’s very best South Australian players.

“When the season finishes you get a breath and then you start to think forward,” ‘Fly’ added.

“It’s been 28 years since this jumper has been worn in competition (away from the SANFL and U18 State teams).

“Then I’m thinking of the players. You go to the Brownlow and walking past Nas (Wanganeen-Milera) going, ‘Oh, he’ll play’, and you start to think about all the other South Australians. It’s a pretty formidable lineup we’re going to have.

“The likes of Will Day, Brodie Grundy, Lachie Neale, Nas as I said, (Jason) Horne-Francis, all these guys that are super talented across the competition to be able to put it all together as one. Then it’s up to us coaches to make them play like a team and represent our state proudly.”

This year’s Origin return between Victoria and WA did bring about some injuries which derailed the seasons of some star players across the league.

McRae was quizzed on having any reluctance in allowing his Magpies stars to play, and did touch on the honour of representing your state as an overriding reason to make yourself available.

“I know there’s a lot of things learnt 12 months on now around player loads and even the game time will be lessened,” he said further.

“I know when it come across my table this time last year I was all in. Maybe on reflection, I’ve been lucky enough to play representative footy in the early part of my career and what that did for my confidence.

“Each club will have their own agendas, and we’ll have to manage those, but ultimately the players get a chance to play another level.

“There’s a difference between putting your jumper on weekly. You watch NSW-Queensland State of Origin and start to represent the jumper, you’re representing more than you.

“I now you could argue every week at Collingwood we want that to be the case anyway, for our fans and other parts, but it is a big thing. If you’re lucky enough to do it I think you’ll look back on your career and think that’s one of the better things I achieved.”

The Magpies recruited three-time Brisbane Lions premiership star and tow-time Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale in the trade period.

So, will Neale play for SA? Or will McRae keep him fresh for the Pies?

“Well, he is South Australian… He came over the other day with his family, he’s a great young man,” he said of Neale.

“I’m just trying to get to know him, really. He stayed for a couple of hours at my house, I couldn’t get rid of him! It was good to see his kids playing with my kids.

“We’re excited for what that looks like in our colours. We targeted him as a free agent for a number of reasons, for our clearances in particular.

“We’re looking forward for when that comes to life.”

McRae said his SA assistant coaches would be unveiled in due course.

Listen to the full chat with McRae below: