Mcrae a new start for Pies

FOR the first time since 2012, Collingwood has a new fulltime head coach in the form of Craig Mcrae and according to defender Jack Crisp it’s “just the fresh start we need”.

The vacancy opened up after Nathan Buckley left his post midway through the season, nine years after becoming head coach, having spent 2010-11 as an assistant to Mick Malthouse.

The Pies could not deliver a premiership under B u c k l e y ’ s watch, going down by five points in an agonising grand final loss to West Coast in 2018.

Now that Collingwood has officially hit the reset button with the appointment of Mcrae (pictured), Crisp says he cannot wait to get to work.

“Since he’s (Mcrae) come on board, I think it’s a great fresh start for the club,” Crisp said.

“Having Leppa (Justin Leppitsch) come in, who I’ve worked with, is great.

“I’ve never met (former Carlton coach and Hawthorn assistant) Brendon Bolton, but he’ll be great for the club as well.

“It’s just the fresh start we need, a lot of guys are really feeling optimistic.”