The Collingwood Football Club can announce the appointments of Craig McRae and Matthew Lappin to its coaching staff.
McRae, a three-time Brisbane premiership player who spent the 2010 season working on the Lions' coaching staff and prior to that was a development coach at Richmond, is the Magpies’ new development manager.
McRae replaces Luke Beveridge, who after two years at the club decided not to continue and will return to his former vocation.
Lappin, who has spent the past three seasons as an assistant coach at Carlton, will be an assistant coach at Collingwood working under senior coach Mick Malthouse and alongside Nathan Buckley, Mark Neeld and Scott Watters. The club is yet to confirm the specific roles each coach will fulfil for the 2011 season.
Lappin replaces Paul Hudson, who left the Westpac Centre last Friday after two years, firstly as forwards/offensive coach in 2009, then as opposition analyst in 2010. St Kilda announced this week it has appointed Hudson to its coaching staff for 2011.
“Both Craig and Matthew bring great qualities to our coaching panel, and we are very pleased to have secured their services,” said Collingwood general manager of football Geoff Walsh.
“While we haven’t finalised the structure of our coaching panel, making these appointments allows the football department to move forward with our planning for the 2011 season.”
McRae is excited about the opportunity to come to Collingwood.
“I’m really excited to come to a club that has set the benchmark, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to work under Mick in 2011 and Nathan beyond that,” McRae said.
“I’m passionate about working in player development and looking forward to working closely with what’s an impressive Collingwood playing list, and helping the club improve further.”
Lappin believes it’s a great time to be a part of the club.
“It’s an exciting time at Collingwood and to be given an opportunity to come in and help the club maintain its high standards and improve further is something I’m very appreciative of.”
The club is yet to announce a replacement for Gavin Brown, who, after 26 years as a player and coach at Collingwood, resigned to take up an assistant coaching position with Carlton. Brown has been the Magpies’ VFL coach for the past three seasons.
Craig McRae
• Born 22 September 1973
• Drafted by Brisbane with the 22nd pick in the 1994 draft from SANFL side Glenelg
• Played 195 games and booted 232 goals for the Bears/Lions from 1995-2004
• Three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player (2001, 02, 03)
• Represented South Australian in State-of-Origin 1999
• Richmond development coach 2006-2009
• Brisbane development coach/forwards coach/Suncoast Lions coach 2010
Matthew Lappin
• Born 17 February 1976
• Drafted by St Kilda with the 40th pick in the 1993 draft from Chiltern in Victoria
• Played a total of 251 games and booted 247 goals in a 14-season career from 1994-2007 for St Kilda (1994-98; 55 games, 26 goals) and Carlton (1999-2007; 196 games, 221 goals)
• Carlton leading goal kicker 2001 (49 goals)
• All Australian 2004
• Carlton assistant coach 2008-2010
