MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 10: Jack Crisp of the Magpies celebrates kicking a goal during the AFL First Semifinal match between the Collingwood Magpies and the Fremantle Dockers at Melbourne Cricket Ground on September 10, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has his sights set on the premiership as the Magpies continue to build on a historic 2022 campaign.
The coach himself wasn't planning to place among the final four sides of the season, but the black and white army are relishing every moment as they prepare for a preliminary finals against Sydney next week.
McRae took over the Magpies position just over 12 months ago, with the club having been thrown into an off-season of change following their 17th place result last season.
Seemingly destined for a bottom-third finish to this year, Collingwood and McRae have been able to stun the predicted storyline to remain in the flag race with three matches remaining in the year.
Now just needing one win to sew up their spot in a grand final, McRae isn't buying into any fairytale topic, with the Collingwood coach stating his club is in it to win it.
Speaking after his side's 20-point victory over Fremantle on Saturday night, McRae said his side's best football is yet to come.
"I suppose just a little bit of reflection mode we're one of the last four teams left in the competition," McRae said.
"You could have got pretty big odds for that thought i would've thought.
"I'm just really proud of tonight in particular, just the growth. I said to the playing group the best is in front of us. I just feel like we're growing before your eyes, whether it's individually and guys stepping up and getting more used to the occasion or as a group just getting better.
"It's a bit of a theme for us, it's something we wanna do, but I strongly believe that our best is in front of us."
"...We're here to win to it. One more game and you're in a grand final. We're here to win this thing.
"We're gonna work our butts off to get better every day to give ourselves every chance. We'll set ourselves up and we know what's coming up in Sydney, but we'll give it our best shot."
Playing without star midfielder Taylor Adams, McRae expressed his delight for the rest of his engine room to rise to the occasion, with Jordan De Goey again prolific in another finals performance.
Josh Daicos, Pat Lipinski and Jack Crisp were also formidable, with the club's 'next man up' mentality on show.
"Tay Adams is hard to replace. We haven't got another one waiting in the wings, but everyone else had to just grab a little bit," McRae said.
"Jordy was outstanding. For him to just be at his best and others take to take up the slack."
The Magpies were influential in their ability to prevent attacking options for the Dockers, while their own clinical inabilities were costly at times.
After beginning the match with six goals and no behinds, the Magpies ended the evening with a score reading 11 goals and 13 behinds.
"Big part of the game was getting the ball forward and we won the territory battles which was going to be a critical part of the result," McRae added.
"We were just dominating that part of the game. We just couldn't quite finish it.
"Part of our growth is that, taking those moments.
"The way the game we wanted to be played, we were excited. You take confidence in that and executions, part and parcel as well."
The Magpies will now turn their attention to next Saturday's preliminary final clash with Sydney at the SCG.