Collingwood coach Craig McRae has opened up on the all-consuming nature of being an AFL head coach, admitting he hasn’t found the right balance between work and family yet. McRae has been Magpies coach since 2022 and famously led the team to the flag in 2023.
The premiership success came on the same day that wife Gabrielle gave birth to baby girl Maggie – their first child together. But McRae, who has two other daughters from a previous relationship, is finding it a bit tougher in 2024.
The Magpies have been ravaged by injuries and were ninth on the ladder heading into Monday’s clash with Melbourne. As well as trying to help his team recover from a disappointing start to the season, McRae revealed this week that he’s struggling to find enough time for his family.
The biggest thing I’ve realised… is the relentless nature of the job. It doesn’t stop, it never ends,” McRae said on SEN radio. “I go to Bunnings and I’m working. I go to my daughter’s football, I’m umpiring and I’m working, it’s just the job. I’m representing, taking photos and greeting people. The job never stops.”
As a club, Collingwood have made a point of highlighting that family comes first for all players and staff. It was epitomised by the fact Oleg Markov was allowed to miss the Round 11 game against Fremantle to attend his brother-in-law’s wedding – a match that Collingwood ended up drawing after a fourth-quarter collapse
“I definitely want my family to be first and I say that to our players as well,” McRae said. “Oleg Markov goes to a wedding a couple of weeks ago. (We say) ‘family first mate, if you think this is important to you, you do it’.
“I think that stuff pays you back. We talk about winning on the scoreboard, we’ll be criticised or rewarded. That scoreboard is our feedback and the industry wants us to win.
“But I and we at Collingwood want to win at all levels, so we have better husbands, better fathers, so Oleg becomes a better brother for his brother-in-law, whatever it looks like. There’s always a line – performance versus family – I get that. But when there is an easy choice, we’re choosing family.”
When asked if he’s managed to strike a good balance between work and family, McRae responded: “No, I’m working through that. Whether escape is the right word, but finding an ability to not be the Collingwood coach for five minutes, I’m still looking for that.”
McRae announced the news of Maggie’s arrival to the whole world after Collingwood won the grand final last year. After initially promising Gabrielle he wouldn’t say anything, he blurted it out on stage after accepting his medal.
“I’m such a private guy, and my family are really private,” he said last year. “I said ‘I’m not telling anyone today that we’ve had the baby’. And then I started to go, ‘oh maybe I’ll tell the players’. I told the players and there’s footage of me going a bit silly in the rooms.
“And then after the game I’ve told the world and she’s going, ‘what happened?’ There was a moment and (the baby news) did fill the room full of energy and a bit more joy. That was just a perfect opportunity to share it.”
Melbourne star Christian Petracca’s season is over in a massive blow to the out-of-form side’s AFL finals hopes.
The 28-year-old midfielder is recovering in hospital after surgery to repair four broken ribs and a lacerated spleen, sustained in a marking contest during the King’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.
He has been moved out of ICU and is expected to be discharged from hospital in the coming days.
But the Demons on Thursday confirmed doctors have advised Petracca won’t be able to return to contact training “for a minimum of 12 weeks”, ruling him out of action for the rest of the 2024 campaign.
Petracca first revealed his season was over in a social media post.
“Thankful for all the love and support I’ve received these past few days,” he posted earlier on Thursday.
“While my season may have come to an end, I’m grateful I still have the opportunity to give it my all again in 2025.
“In the meantime, I’ll be cheering the boys on from the sidelines and making some tasty meals in the kitchen.”
Melbourne on Thursday said Petracca “remains in good spirits despite the unfortunate news”.
It comes after the Demons expressed “full confidence” in their medical team over its handling of the star midfielder’s injuries.
The club came under fire for allowing Petracca back onto the field against the Magpies after he was hurt at the end of the first quarter.
He played on during the second term but was eventually substituted out of the match. He underwent surgery on Monday night.
“I want to make it clear that we have full confidence in how our medical team responded and the procedures they followed,” Demons football boss Alan Richardson said in a club statement on Wednesday.
“Their expertise and swift actions have been crucial in managing Christian’s injury and subsequent recovery.”
AFL chief medical officer Dr Michael Makdissi spoke with Melbourne’s medical team on Tuesday, with the league “comfortable” with how the Dees handled Petracca’s injuries.
Petracca also backed the club’s doctors and revealed after the match he had pushed to return to the field.
Melbourne (7-6) have lost four of their past five matches, slipping out of the top eight in the process.
They have a bye this week before facing North Melbourne at the MCG on June 22.
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