Craig McRae, originally from Adelaide in South Australia played his junior football for Glenelg in the SANFL before being drafted to the Brisbane Bears in the 1994 National Draft. McRae made his debut the following season and had an immediate impact going on to play every game that season. Known for his ability to rove, find goals and tackle, the respected forward played a key role in Brisbane’s 2001, 2002, and 2003 premierships and retired at the end of the 2004 season. During his time playing McRae was selected for South Australian in the 1999 State of Origin side, the Australian squad in the 1999 International Rules Series and the Brisbane Lions Team of the Decade 1997-2006. Following his retirement, at the end of 2007 McRae stepped in as a Development Coach at Richmond which saw him promoted within 12 months to the Senior Coach of Richmond’s VFL team, Coburg. In 2010 McRae went back to Brisbane as a Development Coach with Brisbane’s QAFL team the Suncoast Lions, however returned to Melbourne 12 months later taking up the position of Head of Development at Collingwood. McRae remained at Collingwood for five years, before returning to Richmond in 2016. McRae was a large part of Richmond’s successful period between 2017 and 2020, acting as an AFL Assistant Coach and the VFL Coach including overseeing the club’s 2019 VFL Premiership. McRae has won a number of awards such as AFLCA Development Coach of the Year (2012), VFL Coach of the Year (2019) and AFLCA Assistant Coach of the Year (2019). Ahead of the 2021 season, McRae has crossed to Hawthorn to be an Assistant Coach under Alastair Clarkson.

McRae was drafted to the then named Brisbane Bears in the 1994 draft and had immediate impact in his debut game in 1995 where he kicked two goals and went on to play every game that season. Known for his ability to rove, find goals and tackle, the respected forward played a key role in Brisbane’s 2001, 2002, and 2003 premierships and retired at the end of the 2004 season. During his time playing McRae was selected for the South Australian 1999 team in the state of origin, the Australian Squad in the 1999 international rules series and the Brisbane Lions Team of the Decade 1997-2006. His Coaching and Development career after his playing career was just as successful. In his time at Richmond, Coburg, Brisbane and Collingwood McRae coached a premiership side in the 2019 VFL season and won a number of awards such as AFLCA Development Coach of the year (2012), VFL Coach of the Year (2019) and AFLCA Assistant Coach of the Year (2019). It was this illustrious coaching and development career that has kept McRae in high regards and since working as Richmond’s forward line coach he has since been recruited by Hawthorn to be a part of their coaching and development team.