Craig McRae says he doesn’t address “winning” with his players, nor the now genuine prospect of reaching the final.
But in the midst of a big external hype, small wins are a big problem for the Magpies, like when a veteran hits a PB in the gym during the week.
As he enters his mid-season farewell, Collingwood is right in the final mix after evoking a 48-point turn on Monday to eliminate Melbourne and finish the round in the top eight.
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The Magpies have now secured four straight victories, including victories over flag contenders Carlton, Fremantle and, more recently, Melbourne.
McRae after the game said he acknowledged the importance of his team’s recent victories, but added
“I just mentioned there that we’re trying to grow,” McRae told reporters.
Max Gawn gives Pies the bench 01:12
“A lot of things are lost … now we have guys making the best personal marks in the gym. Steele Sidebottom, laughs jokingly, but this week he did a PB in the gym; I mean this is a guy at the end of his career.
“We are trying to improve every day we are at the club and now it is starting to equate to performances in the field of which we are very proud.
“We are not a finished product, but this is the kind of thing we are really proud of the way we do it week by week.
“We just wrote on the board about acting as winners. At the moment we just want to live the moment.
“We have a chance to breathe, a little coma in our season and restart. We had no idea where we were sitting in the grand scheme of things, we don’t have it yet, but now we’re breathing.”
Step Sidebottom of the Magpies celebrates it with daughter Matilda. Image: Michael Willson Source: Getty Images
Although the young Collingwood Brigade has turned heads during the club’s resurgence this season, McRae said veterans like Sidebottom and skipper Scott Pendlebury were thriving in the new-looking environment.
“There’s a freshness that’s gone through the place … and change brings it,” he said. “New coaches, new style of play.
“Pendles and Steele are two older statesmen; hopefully they’re saying we’re learning a lot. The teaching of Brendon Bolton and Justin Leppitsch is teaching: it’s a different voice and the way we educate. There’s an energy between that “.
Asked if he would now focus on the finals, McRae said, “Not if you’re driven by prosecution like us.
“What I’m going to talk about is that I can only see our players believing. They’re growing and believing in what we’re doing. Belief can be really powerful, which can be a motivator.”
Just over 76,000 fans attended the Queen’s birthday blockbuster production. That means the Pies have now played in all three games with the most assists so far this season, following their victories over Essendon and Carlton.
Craig McRae, Collingwood Senior Coach. Image: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
The loudest roar of the game was saved for the final quarter when Jack Crisp threw a running goal that sealed the Magpies victory with less than two minutes to go.
“It simply came to our notice then. I don’t know who scored, but I was a little excited, “McRae said.
“It simply came to our notice then. We have players who have played a minimum of matches with the fans, so our fans can hear them roaring and screaming; it is a privilege to play in front of large crowds and we do it regularly. We don’t lose sight of that and we are grateful to all our fans. “
The Pies have conceded an average of 61 points in their last four games.
McRae was praised for his defensive drive, saying people like Darcy Moore, Jeremy Howe, Isaac Quaynor and Nick Daicos were building “good chemistry.”
“We wanted to make sure that it was difficult for us to play and that the last month was very difficult for us. We held on to the top eight last year with eight goals, “McRae said.