Collingwood coach Craig McRae has acknowledged that tough discussions with veteran players may be necessary before the 2025 season, given the uncertainty surrounding Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom’s futures with the club. Despite their premiership win last year, the Magpies face a challenging task to secure a finals spot this season.
McRae’s team, having lost their last four matches, is set for a crucial clash against last-placed Richmond this weekend. Following a recent defeat to Hawthorn, the oldest team in the league, McRae faces significant decisions regarding his veteran players as the season concludes.
With the possibility of having 11 players over 30 next year, questions loom over the futures of Pendlebury (37 in January) and Sidebottom (34 in January). McRae has begun discussions with both players about their roles moving forward, emphasizing the need to respect their contributions if they need to leave the club or retire.
“I’m in regular contact with Steele and ‘Pendles,’ discussing not just the future but also the present,” McRae said before the Richmond game. “We’re not there yet, but we want to honor our veterans, especially those two, who are particularly esteemed.
“It’s interesting how a premiership team can seem invincible, but when it’s not performing, the issues become apparent. We need to adopt a forward-looking approach and will work collectively to ensure the club moves in the right direction.”
Craig McRae remains optimistic about a Collingwood revival in 2024. Despite the reigning champions currently languishing in 13th place due to a series of underwhelming performances, McRae is not overly concerned about his team’s prospects.
“We didn’t discuss finals last year,” McRae explained. “Our focus is on winning, but not just on the outcome of individual games, which is largely beyond our control. Instead, we concentrate on the behaviors needed to become winners. Our goal is to be the best version of ourselves and get things moving in the right direction, rather than fixating on finals.”