Collingwood have hit back at ‘completely false’ and ‘unfair’ rumours that have been circulating around Craig McRae’s private life, after speculation began to emerge that the Magpies boss was experiencing difficulties in his marriage.
The club said it was disappointed that the senior coach was forced to address his playing group about the speculation in recent days, after he had returned from a pre-planned extended period of leave.
The 52-year-old is understood to have agreed the time off with the club back in December and had received the approval of senior leadership and players, including captain Darcy Moore, to do so.
‘The rumours circulating are completely false and unfair on Craig and his family,’ the club’s CEO Craig Kelly said in a statement.
‘We should never be in a situation where a coach feels he needs to address his playing group over online rumours – everyone needs to be aware how this reckless and irresponsible speculation can impact people and we are not going to stand for it.
‘Craig’s leave was planned in December last year, and he was always going to return to work when he did, and there was never anything more to it.
Collingwood have blasted ‘unfair’ and ‘completely false’ speculation that Craig McRae and his wife Gabrielle (pictured) were experiencing difficulties in their relationship
Collingwood CEO Craig Kelly (pictured) branded the rumours ‘reckless and irresponsible’
It came after McRae had taken an extended period of leave during the off-season to spend time with his young daughters and wife Gabrielle
‘Since walking into the club, Craig has led the AFL program with authenticity, integrity and strong family-first values and we will continue to support him and his family.’
The Herald Sun says that the club released the statement after a reporter had inquired about why McRae had addressed his players.
The 52-year-old, whose contract with the club is due to expire in 2028, has also spoken publicly on the matter.
‘There’s a lot of fiction going on out there,’ McRae said to Channel 9 on Tuesday night, ahead of the AFL’s season launch.
‘Rumours have been spread about me that are just completely untrue.
‘It’s just been lingering around, but we’re here to celebrate tonight. I’m being inducted into the life membership of the AFL, which I’m really excited about and the season is just about to start.’
He added that the speculation had been ‘a bit annoying’ but hadn’t troubled him too much.
McRae married his wife, Gabrielle, in 2022. A year later, the couple welcomed a baby daughter, Maggie, on the morning of the AFL Grand Final.
The 2023 premiership coach has since dismissed the rumours branding them ‘fiction’
Later that day, the Magpies coach would go on to lead the club to snap their 13-year wait for a premiership, with his side sealing a four-point win over the Brisbane Lions.
He shared the incredible news to the 100,024 fans inside the MCG.
Gabrielle also rubbished the rumours around their marriage this week, saying to The Herald Sun: ‘It’s just one of those things.
‘People always tell stories. We just focus on what’s real.’
McRae is now entering his fifth season at Collingwood. He was present for the club’s training block in December but did not return to the Olympic Park until after Christmas. He had received criticism over the move, but had been spending time with his wife and three young daughters.
It comes as Collingwood have instilled a culture where staff and players are encouraged to take an extended period of leave if needed.
‘There was nothing untoward around it,’ he told the club website.
‘It was just about having a bit of extra time off because you go from a prelim final, then you’ve got the trade period straight away and then before you know it the draft, then you’ve got pre-season starting and you feel like there’s times – and I know I’ve only done it for four years – but it actually feels like sometimes you just haven’t had a break.
The couple, who have been married since 2022, welcomed their baby daughter on the same day as the Magpies won the AFL Grand Final in 2023
McRae is now entering his fifth season at Collingwood, with the side due to take on St Kilda on Sunday in their 2026 AFL season opener
‘So, there’s a build-up of all this stress and other layers of doing the job that you haven’t had a chance to move.
‘Then there’s the other part: I’ve got a young family, so I just crave family time and spending time with my three daughters and wife Gab; you crave that time. January just seems perfect because this industry shuts down for a few weeks.
‘You get that time and then take an extra couple of weeks. All of a sudden you’ve got a five-week holiday or five weeks off.’
McRae said that he wouldn’t be taking an extended break if this was his first year in charge or his second year, reasoning that was ‘because you haven’t built foundations of what you want to do in the building: environmentally, culturally, training standards and coaching. It’s all in place.’
‘I was able to disconnect for a couple of weeks and I have great energy,’ he added.
Collingwood get their season underway on Sunday against St Kilda at the Marvel Stadium.