Craig McRae has admitted there is a "sense of pride" amongst the club despite their preliminary final defeat at the hands of Sydney.
The Pies came ever so close to yet another nail-biting comeback during the Saturday evening affair, but couldn't get over the line with a one point deficit at the final siren.
A 17th place finish in 2021 laid the groundwork for a monumental climb up the ladder for the Magpies this year, a season in which the Pies all but mastered the art of close finishes.
Speaking to media post-game, first year coach McRae said that he was "proud" of his team.
โIt is difficult because you get so close, but just an overwhelming sense of pride, though,โ McRae said.
โYou catch yourself with your emotions because you look at the players in the eyes and how much theyโre hurting and how much theyโve given for the year to fall short. Iโm extremely proud of what theyโve been able to do this year.
โIt comes down to little moments, itโs been a long year of trying to better ourselves and push for new opportunities and new discoveries. Weโve fallen agonisingly short.โ
McRae's determination to instil a winning mentality into the club was on full display in their prelim loss, coming back from 36 points down in the third term to make a tight contest in the dying minutes.
โI put โwinners onlyโ and โwhat if?โ and โif onlyโ (on the whiteboard), because winners donโt think โif onlyโ. They just use it and it fuels you for more. There would be a lot of people lying in bed thinking โwhat if?โ or โif onlyโ. You just donโt want to live in that space. Winners pick themselves and get better and use it for motivation. Thatโs what we will do,โ McRae said.
โThere is something special in this group, but the reality of this sport is you donโt start where you finished; I donโt even know where we finished but we donโt start in that position. We start 18th again.
I just wanted to thank the entire Magpie Army for all your support in 2022. You have helped inspire us to rise to new levels, achieve amazing things and we are so grateful to all of you. So proud of this Club @CollingwoodFC our players and staff, a year we wonโt forget ๐๐ป
— Craig McRae (@flybags4) September 18, 2022
โThere is a lot of stuff that has been built and is starting to become a foundation again. There is a pattern of behaviour that has been consistent that suggests why weโre in that position. I know our game plan doesnโt have to be to re-invented. Most of it is all there. The growth in the group has been outstanding. But again, you donโt start where you finished.โ
