Form no longer concerns McRae as Magpies return to top eight, but injury list grows

“Joey Richards looks like he’s more than capable to play at the level, which we thought he would based on his form, but you’ve still got to go and execute,” McRae said.

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Reef McInnes and Fin Macrae – in his first full game for the season after being subbed in or out of the team in his first three matches – booted three goals each, meaning all the young players brought into the Magpies team in recent weeks impressed.

“There’s an excitement about youth, when you are young you bring energy or [if] you are old you try to bring energy. We saw that today with Steele [Sidebottom] who went to half-back [and] looked really lively, did some really nice things for us,” McRae said.

Sidebottom admitted after the game it was the first time he had played in defence in his 318-game career.

“Will that prolong his career, I’m not sure, but it’s certainly a good step towards it,” McRae said.

Jack Crisp and Nick Daicos were the best players on ground, with McRae saying it was “clearly Crisp’s best game” for the year.

Collingwood dominated the centre clearances 16-6, and by half-time had a club record for scoring from centre clearances (seven goals, two behinds).

“That’s Jack’s best game by far. Everything that we want of Jack was there – high run, led the inside 50s, high pressure; second highest on the ground.

“And Nick, I think they tried to tag him in the second half [but] he’s just such an incredible worker. He led tackles for us and lead contested possessions – 17 contest possessions. Apparently, he gets the easy ball.

“Midfield coach Hayden Skipworth [deserves credit]. We learned some good lessons against the Bombers [on Anzac Day]. We got smashed around that phase and the next two weeks we were really positive with what that looks like.

Jordan De Goey and Tom Mitchell “will be a race to the line” to be fit for next week, according to McRae, but he insisted there was “some chance” they would play. Lachie Schultz will return from suspension.

McRae intimated that forward Jamie Elliott could miss an extended period with his back injury, saying the club would release further details early this week.

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“There’s just been some stuff that’s been grumbling, so it might be a bit more than one week (more he misses),” McRae said.

Beau McCreery will not clear concussion protocols and will miss another week.

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