Akermanis helped McRae overcome Collingwood doubts
Jason Akermanis encouraged close friend Craig McRae to apply for the Collingwood senior coaching vacancy after McRae told his three-time premiership teammate that he doubted he had a high enough profile to land the job.
On that front McRae, 47, was wrong. The former Brisbane Lions goalsneak was confirmed as the Piesâ new coach on Wednesday, taking over the role left open after Nathan Buckleyâs mid-season resignation.
Akermanis, a 25-year friend of McRaeâs since the pairâs playing days at Brisbane, said McRae had questioned whether he was a big enough name to get the gig at such a storied Victorian club.
âWhen I said to him when Buckley stepped down, I said, âyou should go for that jobâ. And he said âIâm not high enough profile for that job, thereâs no way Iâll get it,ââ Akermanis revealed to The Age on Wednesday.
âI said âmate, youâre really good at what you doâ. As a friend, youâre always trying to help him out and give him a push along. He wasnât that confident in his profile yet within the industry, how well heâs regarded is probably the reason he was able to get the job. He deserves it.
âHeâs been part of seven VFL/AFL premierships. Itâs a really cool story.â
Craig McRae and Jason Akermanis were premiership teammates.Credit:Sebastian Costanzo
Akermanis and McRae built an instant rapport when they arrived at the Gabba in the mid-1990s and would remain tight until McRaeâs retirement at the end of 2004 and then beyond.
The Brownlow medallist said McRae had a somewhat unusual personality type, being outgoing and chatty but also exceptionally thoughtful and organised.
âHeâs one of the most popular players I would have played with because heâs just a very humorous guy,â Akermanis said.
âHeâs got a great balance between seriousness and the jovial nature he does have. He would run our Mad Mondays, he would run our overseas trips and just a great organiser.â
Akermanis added that McRae was âable to soften up bad newsâ as well as being good at instilling confidence in others and talking people through difficult situations.
âHeâs also got the subtle art of the velvet sledgehammer.â
Akermanis, these days living back in Brisbane and working in real estate, has long bemoaned his own inability to land a coaching job at an AFL club, and said he would entertain any offer from the Pies, but noted that Macrae had an abundance of strong candidates to support him.
âHe knows my footy brain. Itâs always been a shame that I couldnât use it because of the reputation that precedes me ... Iâd never say never,â Akermanis said.
âCraigâs got plenty of choice ... If he asked me, Iâd talk to him about it. In the end, the most important thing is heâs got the new role.â
Meanwhile, former Gold Coast, St Kilda and Richmond hard nut Maverick Weller lauded McRae, who coached Weller for a season at the Tigers where they claimed the 2019 VFL premiership together.
âHeâs an amazing person. Heâs a real relationships coach ... and is able to coach different personalities,â Weller said from Tasmania where he now coaches Penguin.
âI had a year with him and I just felt like I knew him for 10 years.
Mav Weller (left) played under Craig McRae (second from right).Credit:Getty Images
âHeâs a very empathetic coach, very caring. I havenât got a bad word to say about him. The belief that he had in me straight away, he made me feel like I had a real chance.â
Since retiring from playing, McRae has coached in two separate stints at Richmond, had a year on the Lionsâ coaching panel, was a development coach at the Magpies and spent 2020 working with Hawthorn. It means he has played under or worked alongside Leigh Matthews, Mick Malthouse, Damien Hardwick and Alastair Clarkson.
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