Toast Formula for success - Craig McRae

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ThePhantom777

Norm Smith Medallist
Apr 2, 2014
7,878
13,135
Canberra
AFL Club
Collingwood
Craig McRae has said he knows the formula for success and its been proven true so far.
What do you think is in his formula?

I love:
  • Better every day.
  • Including friends and family of players in the journey mid-week and gameday.
  • Pointing to the history of the club with past players involved throughout the season and coaches (pic on the wall of his office of previous premiership coaches).
  • Empowering leader. The line coaches and other coaches take responsibility on match day and mid-week.

I asked ChatGPT results below:

Craig McRae's approach to coaching and his formula for success at Collingwood is rooted in several key principles and practices:

1. Delegation and Empowerment: McRae is known for delegating responsibilities to his assistant coaches, allowing them to gain experience and develop their skills. For example, he let his assistants Jordan Roughead and Hayden Skipworth take charge during pre-season matches to fast-track their development [[❞]](https://7news.com.au/sport/afl/craig-mccrae-lauded-for-rare-gesture-at-magpies-training-ahead-of-2024-afl-season-c-13527256) [[❞]](https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/teams/collingwood-magpies/afl-2024-craig-mcrae-coach-collingwood-pre-season-games-stepping-back-who-is-coaching-how-to-watch/news-story/3db3e2f3908d91d43a8c0975f11380af).

2. Humility and Perspective: McRae values humility and often speaks about his humble beginnings. He believes in maintaining a grounded perspective, which helps him stay focused on what truly matters, such as family and long-term goals beyond just football [[❞]](https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1490392/craig-mcrae-on-the-flag-his-future-and-the-player-who-bought-him-flowers).

3. Team-Oriented Mindset: He has fostered a strong team culture at Collingwood, emphasizing that everyone on the team is equal and important. This approach has contributed to a cohesive and motivated team environment [[❞]](https://www.afl.com.au/news/806702/barrett-craig-mcrae-the-man-who-made-most-hated-collingwood-magpies-likeable-again).

4. Learning and Development: McRae emphasizes continuous learning and development for both players and coaches. He has restructured the coaching team to provide greater opportunities for growth and innovation, such as promoting Justin Leppitsch to Director of Strategy and Innovation and Brendon Bolton to Director of Coaching, Learning, and Leadership [[❞]](https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1459073/pies-confirm-2024-afl-coaching-structure).

5. Connection and Communication: McRae places a high value on connection within the team and clear communication. This involves building strong relationships and ensuring that players and staff feel supported and understood [[❞]](https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1459073/pies-confirm-2024-afl-coaching-structure) [[❞]](https://www.afl.com.au/news/1074770/collingwood-magpies-coach-craig-mcrae-to-address-the-afl-commission-meeting).

6. Mental Wellbeing and Joy: McRae stresses the importance of mental health and the joy of playing football. He aims to create an environment where players enjoy their game and maintain a healthy balance between professional and personal lives [[❞]](https://www.collingwoodfc.com.au/news/1490392/craig-mcrae-on-the-flag-his-future-and-the-player-who-bought-him-flowers) [[❞]](https://www.afl.com.au/news/1074770/collingwood-magpies-coach-craig-mcrae-to-address-the-afl-commission-meeting).

Through these principles, McRae has successfully transformed Collingwood into a cohesive, motivated, and successful team, as evidenced by their 2023 premiership win and ongoing strong performance [[❞]](https://www.afl.com.au/news/1074770/collingwood-magpies-coach-craig-mcrae-to-address-the-afl-commission-meeting) [[❞]](https://www.afl.com.au/news/806702/barrett-craig-mcrae-the-man-who-made-most-hated-collingwood-magpies-li keable-again).
 

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I asked Chatgpt and it came up with another set of criteria. Nothing about delegation. Has anyone told chatgpt about the importance of a consistent message?


Craig MacRae's success as a coach can be attributed to several factors:
  1. Expertise and Knowledge: He likely possesses a deep understanding of the sport he coaches, including strategies, tactics, and technical skills. This expertise allows him to make informed decisions and effectively guide his team or athletes.
  2. Leadership Skills: Successful coaches like MacRae often have strong leadership qualities. They can motivate their team, foster a positive team culture, and manage personalities effectively.
  3. Communication: Effective communication is crucial in coaching. Coaches like MacRae can convey their ideas clearly to players or athletes, ensuring they understand their roles and responsibilities.
  4. Adaptability: Sports environments can be unpredictable. Coaches who can adapt their strategies to different situations and opponents often find success. MacRae might be known for his ability to adjust tactics or training methods as needed.
  5. Player Development: Developing individual players or athletes is another hallmark of a successful coach. MacRae likely has a track record of helping players improve their skills, reach their potential, and perform consistently.
  6. Networking and Support: Successful coaches often build strong networks within their sport. This can include relationships with other coaches, mentors, sports scientists, or recruiters who contribute to their success.
  7. Success Record: Ultimately, results matter. Coaches who consistently lead their teams to victories, championships, or personal bests tend to be recognized as successful. MacRae's track record of achievements likely speaks for itself in terms of his coaching prowess.
These factors collectively contribute to Craig MacRae's reputation and success as a coach. His ability to combine technical knowledge with leadership skills and adaptability likely sets him apart in his field.
 
Craig’s emotional intelligence is off the charts. This enables him to get the best out of those around him. His assistants are charged with responsibilities and bouyed by his confidence in them.

This is best exemplified on game day, when Craig is on the bench, with no headphones, and occasionally checks in with Bolton who sits behind him and has headphones. Bolts is the conduit to the small army of assistants, line coaches and strategists (such as Leppa) who are monitoring and analysing the game as it unfolds and making adjustments accordingly.

Fly, being close to the fray, is both seeing it up close and ‘feeling’ it. He directly interacts with the players, and is their conduit to the assistants. He also remains calm and quiet on the bench - there’s no yelling, or dummy spitting, or obvious anger or frustration.

It’s a well-oiled machine that works because of our coach’s unique personality and attributes. And his emotional intelligence.😊
 
Probably should delete this thread. You’re giving away far too much intellectual property to the AFL industry 🤣


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com
 
Craig’s emotional intelligence is off the charts. This enables him to get the best out of those around him. His assistants are charged with responsibilities and bouyed by his confidence in them.

This is best exemplified on game day, when Craig is on the bench, with no headphones, and occasionally checks in with Bolton who sits behind him and has headphones. Bolts is the conduit to the small army of assistants, line coaches and strategists (such as Leppa) who are monitoring and analysing the game as it unfolds and making adjustments accordingly.

Fly, being close to the fray, is both seeing it up close and ‘feeling’ it. He directly interacts with the players, and is their conduit to the assistants. He also remains calm and quiet on the bench - there’s no yelling, or dummy spitting, or obvious anger or frustration.

It’s a well-oiled machine that works because of our coach’s unique personality and attributes. And his emotional intelligence.😊

The recent Nathan Murphy interview was enlightening. He said that around 60% of the time in footy meetings is spent on non-footy related stuff - having a laugh, doing things that create the ties that bind.

His quote “Fly probably figured out that footy players aren’t very smart, so we can’t hold an attention span for any more than 20 minutes”
 
The recent Nathan Murphy interview was enlightening. He said that around 60% of the time in footy meetings is spent on non-footy related stuff - having a laugh, doing things that create the ties that bind.

His quote “Fly probably figured out that footy players aren’t very smart, so we can’t hold an attention span for any more than 20 minutes”
Titch's Ball Magnets podcast has a lot of great insights.

In the Dan McStay chat they spoke about how at game day meetings Fly finds a social media clip or advertising thing a player has done they can all laugh at.

He's always telling the guys to smile and enjoy playing football. Dan and Tom said other environments they'd been in it had been more serious and they've enjoyed Collingwood culture Fly has built.
 

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Toast Formula for success - Craig McRae

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