How Craig McRae Changed The Landscape For AFL Coaches and Experienced The Best Day of His Life.

The full video version of the powerful episode of the Empowering Leaders podcast with Craig McRae, who takes us on his journey to becoming Senior Coach of the 2023 AFL Premiership winning Collingwood Football Club.
Throughout this conversation, you'll gain a deep insight into Fly's leadership approach - he's values-based, he empowers players and staff and he reveres collaboration.
You'll hear him talk about being drafted to the Brisbane Lions in 1994 and winning three back to back Premierships before entering an 18-year coaching apprenticeship that led to him being appointed Collingwood coach in 2022.
A bit of a 'cheeky' coach, Fly, as he's affectionately known, swears by keeping things fun and relaxed on game day, putting family first and always supporting players through their mistakes.
It's a privilege to listen to and learn from this man, and, of course, to get the full story about his newborn baby, Maggie, gracing the world with her presence at 7:45am on the day Craig and his team won the 2023 AFL Grand Final!
A big thank you to Collingwood Football Club and their supporters for the fantastic images you see in this video!
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[@glenscholes9213]

Also Luke well interviewed lots of listening rather than interrupting

[@laurencetilley9194]

Very interesting interview with Craig. I have been a supporter member for 60 years. One thing that has been obvious throughout 2023 season was the way our leadership group on the field stood up and lead from the front, particularly in decisive moments. Steele, Crispy, Pendles, Bruzzy, Darcy, and Howie, you could see how those decisive moments brought out the brilliant winning performances by the entire team. Years ago I attended a seminar on 'Gravitas'; 4 points that really stuck with me were, in no particular order, Kindness, Empathy, Observation, Communication, (verbal and non-verbal). GoPies

[@gerardfletcher1203]

well said sir the team has changed views on the pies for the better everyone on the same page. go pies

[@benstephens3433]

100% correct Lauren... I'm 50 and I loved this interview so much. But the most profound thing I took from it was that, it's not so much about the leadership on the ground, but the potential for everyone at the club to have their moments to make a big impact and also be appreciated. An army has zero chance winning a war without great leadership and a great support network. Not everyone needs to know how to fire a gun, but everyone needs to know their roll and how important and appreciated it is.

[@glenscholes9213]

Craig is a class act in many ways thank god he coaches Collingwood

[@noelroberts8199]

Amen......

[@Kodkody]

We've got Craig 'Fly' Mcrae! He knows exactly what we need! Darcy at the back, Bobby in attack, on the way to another premiership!!

[@bruceanderson5618]

Thank you all involved in selecting Fly👏👏we are so so lucky.Go Pies.

[@ordinaryman2299]

he won a grand final in his second year and only missed playing in a grand final on his first year by a point the year before, he sure hammered his playing group into a system that work, cant wait to see how he goes next year ??? letting players make mistakes is good, all players do it, it happens to the best of them, i notice when a collingwood player makes a mistake the other players get around him and let him know it's ok, thats the way to go, nobody makes mistakes on purpose and like i said mistakes happen to the best players from time to time !!! he has good psychology in his method !!!

[@blackdogRexy]

He has the perpetual positivity and enthusiasm of Ted Lasso. Like the song says, accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, latch on to the affirmative. Probably should add, don't mess with Mr McRae.

[@Mirrorgirl492]

I haven't stopped smiling. Thanks for this great interview.

[@ordinaryman2299]

when collingwood were in the hunt for a coach i assumed they would get a big name, even though that would be rehashing the same characters from the same selection pool, they came up with someone i never heard of i thought badly of it at first but it turns out to be an inspired choice !!!

[@Joe__007]

Incredible isn't it. But the more you look into his history, Fly has always done it his way. He has taken time to work on his coaching compared to others who flew through the ranks. And he's been part of such success in most of what he did. So while not a big name to start. He is now the BIGGEST name. GO PIES :)

[@camdee2449]

Love listening to Fly such a positive inspiring human being. Lets go Back to Back 🖤🤍🖤👊👊👊🏆 Great Podcast Darce 👏 👌

[@metal.head.]

Fly is pretty bloody inspirational. Some of his one liners and mottos are extremely profound. We could all live by his mantra. What a human, reflected in his 44 boys! Go Pies

[@noelroberts8199]

Go Pies....

[@quantum_man]

The Great Tom Brady once privately remarked the following powerful quote... "The Bigger the Game, The Calmer I get." This is the kind of attitude and disposition McRae and Collingwood have adopted and is what sets them apart from previous Collingwood sides, and is now what truly sets them up to go on and build a Dynasty in AFL History.

[@JohnnyB321]

Best thing to happen at Collingwood getting Fly in.

[@noelroberts8199]

I am so glad Collingwood selected Fly as our coach, at the time I was hoping they would go for Alistair Clarkson or Ross Lyon. But to Collingwood's credit they selected an unkown coach and boy have we been rewarded with a coach who is different but inspiring. I am 73 and I reckon I would love to pull on the boots and play for him he is that inspiring. Go Graig and Go Pies........

[@774CISCO]

So happy. Craig brings an edge and great inspiration. Fortune favours the Brave. Hot Pies. Thank you for this.

[@janineconn1047]

I was told l had cancer the week before the granfinal l was in shock ... But Collingwood wining the granfinal ... Brought a smile and l had to try and be positive..,go pies

[@jamestheodore5292]

Being humble and powerful; winning combination - Congratulations to all of them

[@tracywalters7206]

Fabulous interview, Fly is such a beautiful human…. 🖤🤍

[@michaelcipriano1713]

Gone are the days of hard nut coaches that punch walls, throw chairs, abuse players and spit the dummy. This man, Craig McCrae has truely revolutionised coaching. This is truely awesome. I have a strong suspicion there will be more to come. Go Pies.

[@glenscholes9213]

Lets bloody hope so 🎉

[@victorsalmon2109]

Love to hear how he “Steals with his eyes and ears “, something taught to me by a mentor.

[@mattspencer-mumme-sc8ty]

What astute discernment from a new coach at a new club recognising the playing group suffered from some performance anxiety. No doubt the build up of unfulfilled expectation of almost a decade of having to carry the legacy of their former coach on their shoulders who replaced a successful 3 times premiership coach and as a player how the ultimate lack of success built up an unfair pressure on the playing group and a club during his tenure. For the new coach to cleanse all of that expectation and create a new club culture so quickly is nore remarkable the more you examine where he found this club and where he took it to a new era of selfless success and team sacrifice. Great Interview!

[@richardoconnor_photography]

Luke Darcy loves the way Craig McRae goes about it. And what he brings to the table. He's a genuine superstar of the competition. One of the absolute best in the business. Extraordinary coach.

[@jamestheodore5292]

Great interviewer !

[@MrPerko22]

Great interview enjoyed every minute 👍

[@ianjames242]

At last! Footballers and coaches not ashamed of having a brain and valuing their interpersonal skills. This could be the start of a dangerous trend. Great stuff .... thank goodness the 21st century has finally arrived at least at one level of the AFL. The mercantile AFL mandarins might benefit from a bit of 'values-based leadership'. Well done Fly and Darce - intelligent discussion

[@tp9386]

Great interview

[@BillSaltbush]

Interesting about the affirmation as a opposed to criticism. I played our game at a reasonable level and like many coaches do, I got screamed at and denigrated when I made a mistake. It happened at three VFL clubs that courted me as a kid. I only ever had one coach who had the key to me. He worked out that I performed far better when I was encouraged and backed in - no matter what. I would have died for that man and I achieved far more, for my teams and for me, than what I would have ordinarily. I went the other way when criticised. A terrific conversation. Thank you.

[@kelstra1997]

Collingwood have done a lot of things right in the last few years but the two standouts are the appointment of Graham Wright and the appointment of Craig McRae. I believe that Graham Wright was at least partly responsible for selecting Craig McRae. Absolutely excellent foresight and that alone justifies his position. Unfortunately we will be without him for most of the year but he will be back and what he has arranged will see them through. Go Pies!

[@jackiek4159]

Such a great interview! Absolutely love Craig and his positive mindset! 🖤🤍🖤🤍

[@julieandrew]

What an insightful podcast loved every minute 😊

[@philliponeill1473]

Outstanding podcast, thanks

[@JoshuaBallinger]

Lol the pressure that the Collingwood managment apply is wild. loosing 3 games in a row and the board say this better not continue. FUCK mate give it time lol! We not gonna win every game and go on an undefeated season.

[@Michael_Michael]

never thought i would hear that fly makes memes of the players and then shows it to them to life their sprits effective but not in a million years would i have thought that

[@Russell-c9s]

😂we Love Fly and the the players will do anything for you. Winners. You'll only get better.

[@sonjakozman1699]

Geez... Clayton Oliver took the windscreen wiper analogy to a dark place.

[@TAW856]

Exactly my thoughts when he was talking about it 😂😂😂😂

[@tp9386]

😂 Gold

[@nevmat1595]

That the bad side of goldfish. Not learning bcoz it is washed away without reflection

[@BlooBagger]

@@nevmat1595They have a review ever week, they definitely address it

[@seanlynch1185]

The Collingwood victory lap is breaking records for being the longest, loudest, most back slapping... in AFL history.

[@nathanchurch5907]

It's been 3 weeks settle down

[@Jonathan-Sund]

Winners are grinners , next year will be even better 😂

[@JCStorm76]

And isn’t it glorious. The word karma comes to mind. Especially after the carry on from non Eagles fans after 2018 GF

[@richardmc7201]

awwww

[@ianjames242]

Fly's approach reminds me of Barty's mind coach - process driven, winning mind set, growth approach, etc.. Have they communicated?

[@MurakamiFan]

i am also that old man 😭

[@nevmat1595]

2010, after being at the MCG for 8 loses and 2 draws. Missed 90 away working. I was surrounded by tough looking, heavily tattooed Pies fans and I was a blubbering mess. So many of those fans gave me hugs and said this is your day.. then handed me a 🍻 or 10. Go Pies.

[@benstephens3433]

Love Buck's and will til I die bcoz no other pies player has given his all like he did, leading a team for so many years, lacking talent, but filled with heart. And nobody in my 50yrs loving our great club has come close in ability to nathan and that includes so many champions...But it was time for a change and the game and our club needed a different approach, from a military style of perfectionism... Fly has been the best decision we have made for a long time and that is no disrespect to Buck's. It's just a flick of a coin and 5yrs ago with 2 minutes left Buckley is a gf coach... But life doesn't stand still and it was time for a new age style and both will now be legends of our club eternally

[@cunninglinguist182]

I hope Ross Lyon views this interview.

[@EL-be8qn]

🐐🐐

[@nevmat1595]

There is just NO NEGATIVE in anything about Fly. It is a unique style of coaching, leadership and being human. The key is WE ARE WINNERS, not just in football, but in their lives. That is how you build a complete environment to bring out the best in everyone. Not just the players. This is what inclusiveness really looks like. Not the rhetoric of a narrative or an agenda. IN LIFE WE ARE WINNERS…… Go Pies 🖤🤍🖤🤍🖤🤍

[@craigpresnell8197]

Ctaig is a great name Craig Preßnell

[@jimpikoulis6726]

Yes Craig... the movies were an all male boding session...😂😂😂

[@TheLaughingMagpie]

Which means McRae’s youngest daughter shares a birthday with Diesel Williams, Max Verstappen and my brother and sister

[@jimpikoulis6726]

Craig, the club already traded Ginni 😅😅 so he will be free to party when he likes and where he likes

[@mrduuud]

Really inspiring video. There are some great gems in there. I love how Fly really walks his talk and is not afraid to own his vulnerabilities and work on them. And great interviewer who asked good questions and flowed with where the interview took them, and really listened to the responses. Refreshing!