Former Collingwood coach Leigh Matthews has labelled Craig McRae a “revelation”.
After the Magpies finished 17th last season, McRae has guided them to a Qualifying Final in 2022 courtesy of a fourth-placed finish on the back of 16 wins.
They have done it with 11 victories by two goals or less and by embracing their imperfections.
The Pies stormed home to beat Carlton by one point last Sunday, prompting McRae to speak of his ‘windscreen wiper’ analogy.
“I’m really big on, to use this windscreen wiper analogy, moving things to the side,” he told reporters.
“A lot of stuff was out of our control in the third quarter. I thought the rub of the green sort of went their way with decisions that were maybe not there.
“Oh well, that happens, wipe it away, stay present, move on. It was a bit of removing what was and then let’s get our eyes on hey, this is what we do, let’s be really aggressive with our ball movement and see what happens.”
Matthews, who coached McRae to three premierships at Brisbane, loved the terminology he used to get the message across to his players.
“You look at Collingwood under Craig McRae, the footy gods are definitely on their side, there’s no doubt about that,” he said on Sportsday.
“They’ve been unbelievable. I must say, Craig McRae has been a revelation.
“I know Craig well, but that windscreen wiper analogy he was talking about on the weekend, that you make mistakes or you do good things but very quickly you have to leave them behind. You have to wipe them off the windscreen.
“It was a fantastic choice of words because you can’t be too complicated with players. You’ve got to get the point across in a few words, not half an hour dialogue.
“I was just really taken with that windscreen wiper analogy for leaving the past behind and looking forward to the future with a clear windscreen.
“He’s a beauty, Craig, but it’s not only him I’m sure. It’s him and Justin Leppitsch, Brendon Bolton and a lot of other people.
“They’re the three (main) people who are new to the Collingwood coaching group and they’re getting outstanding effectiveness.”
It just goes to show that you don’t necessarily need a proven AFL coach at your club to succeed.
“I don’t know why you would be thinking you have to go with a guy who has coached before,” Matthews continued.
“You look at Chris Fagan and what he’s done, Craig McRae and what he’s done this year.
“You have to start afresh and that seems to be working currently.”
The Pies will meet minor premiers Geelong in the Qualifying Final at the MCG on Saturday, September 3.
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