First-year Collingwood senior coach CRAIG McRAE has been crowned as the Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year at the 2022 AFL Coaches Association Awards held online on Tuesday night.
McRae was voted by his peers as the AFL Coaches Association Senior Coach of the Year with 249 votes, ahead of Grand Final coaches John Longmire (201 votes), and Chris Scott (174 votes), after an incredible first year in the hot seat. McRae bought a fresh energy and coaching style to lead the Pies rise up the ladder in 2022, including an 11-game winning streak and into the Preliminary Final where they missed out on a Grand Final appearance by the narrowest of margins.
McRae, or ‘Fly’ as he is known in the footy world presents an authentic, calm but upbeat, likeable and motivational approach to coaching which bred belief in his playing group throughout the 2022 season leading Collingwood’s rise from the bottom two in 2021 and back into flag contention, making him the coaching story of the season.
In an incredible highly contested season, McRae was deemed to be the best performed senior coach, up to and including the preliminary finals, taking into consideration the current season's performance, available resources, player talent and team management.
The award named in honour of coaching legend Allan Jeans was accepted by McRae via zoom.
“I’m very grateful to receive this award by my peers,” McRae said.
“It is a reflection of the combined efforts of everyone involved in the football program and the wider Club this season and affirmation of their hard work and perseverance.
“I have enormous pride in our people and, as a Club, we will continue to strive to be better each and every day over the course of the pre-season and into 2023.
AFL Coaches Association CEO Alistair Nicholson congratulated McRae on his first season in the top job.
“What Craig has been able to achieve in his first year as senior coach of Collingwood is remarkable and he should be proud of being voted by his peers as the 2022 Monjon Allan Jeans AFL Coaches Association Senior Coach of the Year. Whilst there’ll be some disappointment after narrowly missing a Grand Final appearance, the belief and will to win he has instilled in his playing group in such a short time to see them rise back up the ladder this season has been thrilling to watch,” Nicholson said.
“This Award has been determined by his peers and we know it is held in high esteem. Congratulations Craig, what an honour to be recognised by your peers in this way, and well done to the assistant and development coaches and those around and above him at the Collingwood Football Club.”
McRae is no stranger to AFL Coaches Association Awards having won the 2019 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2012 AFL Coaches Association Development Coach of the Year.
