Magpies ready to go next level in 2027: McRae

With the oldest current list in the AFL, Collingwood are keen on continuing their consistent success under Craig McRae.

And with some brand new additions, the coach thinks the side is capable of bettering their 9th place finish from 2026.

Like previous seasons under the newly appointed coach of South Australia, for next year’s Origin clash against Western Australia, the Magpies have gone to the Trade Period to add more experience to their list.

Despite a failed attempt to bring in premiership Tiger Jayden Short and trading the V/AFL games record holder Scott Pendlebury to the Suns, Collingwood has brought dual Brownlow Medallist Lachie Neale, 2024 Coleman Medallist Jesse Hogan to Victoria alongside young ruckman Flynn Riley from Carlton.

But the proof will be in the pudding when the pre-season is in full gear.

“I think every year you'd wanna think so,” McRae told SEN’s The Summer Run.

“Going in last year, we made a lot of transitional changes. There was a significant amount of change in our list. That was met with opportunity. Mason Cox moves on, and Oscar Steene gets chances, and those decisions are made.

“But I think this year we ended the year with energy and we haven't started our pre-season yet, so it's hard to forecast too much, but we wanna take ourselves to the next level of what we're capable of.

“I don't know where that takes us, but I think, list-wise, we made some strategic decisions around getting things that make us better, and I think everyone does. If you go through the trade period, a lot of teams got better.

“But getting better on paper versus getting better with goals and the way we defend is a whole different story.”

Collingwood fans will have to wait until March 20 to see the black and white in action as they begin their season against St Kilda at the MCG.