Craig McRae

Craig McRae
Personal information
Full name	Craig McRae
Date of birth	(1973-09-22) 22 September 1973
Place of birth	Adelaide, South Australia
Original team(s)	Glenelg (SANFL)
Draft	No. 22, 1993 Pre-season Draft, Brisbane Bears
Height	176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight	72 kg (159 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1995–1996	Brisbane Bears	039 0(56)
1997–2004	Brisbane Lions	156 (176)
Total		195 (232)
Representative team honours
Years	Team	Games (Goals)
1999	South Australia	1
International team honours
1999	Australia	2
Coaching career3
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
2010	Suncoast Lions (QAFL)	18 (6–12–0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2004. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2010.
Career highlights
Brisbane Lions premiership player 2001, 2002, 2003
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Craig McRae (born 22 September 1973) is a former Australian rules footballer.

Originally from South Australian National Football League club Glenelg, McRae was drafted by AFL club Brisbane as the 22nd pick in the 1994 draft and had an immediate impact, kicking two goals in his first game in 1995, and played every game of that year. McRae was renowned for his ability to kick goals from not only beyond the fifty metre line, but also for his scouting of the ball spilled from the hands of taller players.

McRae was known for his determination and fierce tackling. The respected small forward/goalsneak retired from professional football after the 2004 Grand Final loss to Port Adelaide, which included playing in Brisbane's 2001, 2002 and 2003 premierships.

McRae also served as the Development Manager of the Collingwood Football Club. On 15 October 2015 McRae departed Collingwood after five years at the club.

Statistics

Season	Team	No.	Games	Totals							Averages (per game)
				G	B	K	H	D	M	T	G	B	K	H	D	M	T
1995	Brisbane Bears	4	23	28	22	231	113	344	47	38	1.2	1.0	10.0	4.9	15.0	2.0	1.7
1996	Brisbane Bears	4	16	28	19	181	49	230	38	18	1.8	1.2	11.3	3.1	14.4	2.4	1.1
1997	Brisbane Lions	4	18	19	16	172	70	242	42	27	1.1	0.9	9.6	3.9	13.4	2.3	1.5
1998	Brisbane Lions	4	16	13	15	150	79	229	48	17	0.8	0.9	9.4	4.9	14.3	3.0	1.1
1999	Brisbane Lions	4	24	41	32	267	73	340	69	37	1.7	1.3	11.1	3.0	14.2	2.9	1.5
2000	Brisbane Lions	4	16	9	11	164	69	233	48	28	0.6	0.7	10.3	4.3	14.6	3.0	1.8
2001	Brisbane Lions	4	19	21	20	145	64	209	52	28	1.1	1.1	7.6	3.4	11.0	2.7	1.5
2002	Brisbane Lions	4	24	29	27	193	108	301	61	66	1.2	1.1	8.0	4.5	12.5	2.5	2.8
2003	Brisbane Lions	4	20	26	17	132	79	211	34	62	1.3	0.9	6.6	4.0	10.6	1.7	3.1
2004	Brisbane Lions	4	19	18	17	124	58	182	38	41	0.9	0.9	6.5	3.1	9.6	2.0	2.2
Career			195	232	196	1759	762	2521	477	362	1.2	1.0	9.0	3.9	12.9	2.4	1.9

Career highlights

• Premiership side 2001, 2002, 2003
• SA state-of-origin representative 1999
• International Rules representative for Aus v Ireland 1999
• Played in the 2004 AFL Grand Final
• AFLCA Development Coach of the Year 2012

Post football career

Until the end of the 2006 season, McRae was involved in a sports administration business and various football broadcasting roles including radio station Triple M, where he hosted a football programme with former Brisbane teammate Jason Akermanis.

In October 2006, McRae was appointed to the newly created position of Player Development Coach with the Richmond Football Club, necessitating a relocation to Melbourne. In the middle of the 2009 AFL season, McRae took up the head coaching position at Richmond's VFL affiliate club, the Coburg Tigers, when former coach Jade Rawlings became caretaker coach at Richmond. McRae took up a development coach position at the Brisbane Lions. He is currently the development manager at Collingwood.

McRae is also a qualified primary school teacher.

External links

• Craig McRae's playing statistics from AFL Tables