Collingwood coach Craig McRae breaks down on Unfiltered
Premiership coach Craig McRae has revealed the emotional pain and family trauma behind a famous speech that he delivered, regarded — by those who heard it — as one of the most inspiring of all time.
In a compelling interview on Channel 7’s Unfiltered, the Collingwood boss broke down when explaining his family connection to war, and the Anzac Day address in 2023 that some players still describe as “life-changing”.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.In an extraordinary TV moment with gun interviewer Hamish McLachlan, McRae was asked if the speech — and the war medals that he brought in — was a “well-planned” event.
“No, no, it wasn’t, McRae said.
“It was well planned in the thought that I’d bring my grandfather’s medals with me. I never got to meet my grandfather. And yeah, I thought I’d get the medals. My dad gave the medals to my my daughter, Chelsea, and I thought, ‘Oh, I’m gonna bring them in.’ It’s a pretty big day, Anzac Day, and we’re all on the calendar looking forward to it.
“And I’m trying to give (the day) some context and I thought, ‘Yeah, I’ll just take the medals and tell a story.’ And when I stood in front of the players, it just, yeah, it just all came back.”
McRae’s voice started to crack and tremble as he recalled the moment.
“I just remember having this feeling of these thunderbolts through my arms,” he said.
“I’ve got the medals in my hands, and I’m trying to tell the story about the importance of the day, and I just had this emotion that just came straight through me, and umm ...”
McRae again paused.
“War changed my grandfather, which then changed my dad, and then there was a flow-on effect of that,” he said.
“So, yeah, I just, I just shared the story about how we decorate our soldiers, and we glorify (them) to some degree, but, you know, there is a side of war that is hard for families.”
McLachlan asked McRae if his father ever spoke to him about it.
And it was at this moment tears welled up in McRae’s eyes.
“Yeah, I heard some of the stories, and they’re not ... they’re not great stories. They’re horrible stories. And umm ...,” he paused again and gulped.
“They’re horrible stories.”
McLachlan gave McRae a chance to compose, and the coach took a deep breath, before trying to lighten the moment.
“Heavy start, mate,” he smiled.
“But I think I just feel for my dad and my grandma.”
Originally published on 7NEWS Sport
