Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Craig McRae says Collingwood are armed with a “healthy bank balance” as they chase off-season recruits to bolster an evolving team led by superstar Nick Daicos.
A near-unbackable Brownlow Medal favourite, Daicos was outstanding again in the Magpies’ heartbreaking wildcard final defeat to the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.
But the 23-year-old gun needs more support if McRae’s side is going to climb back into premiership contention next year and beyond.
Collingwood have been linked to Lachie Neale and Ben King but are out of the race for Zak Butters, while Steele Sidebottom has retired and there is doubt over Scott Pendlebury’s playing future.
“We’ve got players in our building that will make us better already, so there’s a level of comfort in that,” Pies coach McRae said after the 14.12 (96) to 14.9 (93) loss to the Bulldogs ended their season.
“We’ve got Harry Perryman, Brayden Maynard, Darcy Moore, Jamie Elliott to name a few that didn’t play, but we’re just in the business of getting better and we’ll be pushing hard.
“We’ve put ourselves in a position to have a salary cap for the first time that’s got a healthy bank balance, for want of a better term, and we’re in the business of improving ourselves.”
McRae said there was little more Daicos could have done for Collingwood this season in a remarkable individual display.
Daicos has already won the AFL Players Association MVP and AFL Coaches Association champion player of the year award, and is almost certain to add the Brownlow to his list of accolades next month.
“At the appropriate time, I hope he actually gets a breath and appreciates what he’s done over the season,” McRae said.
“There’s not too many in the history of the game that have played a season as good as he has.
“Even tonight, he just wants to win so bad and he’s trying so hard to drag us to places.
“We are where we are but his season’s been exceptional.”
McRae expects a decision on AFL games record holder Pendlebury’s future “reasonably quickly” and got emotional when asked about Sidebottom’s contribution to Collingwood.
He was on the bench with Sidebottom when Tim Membrey’s set shot after the siren drifted wide, sealing defeat against the Bulldogs.
“I was with Steele on the boundary line and you just realise how quickly it just ends,” McRae said.
“I just told him I love him very much and we’re forever indebted for what he’s been able to do for this Collingwood jumper.
“But more than that, he’s a quality person that will be missed around the locker room.”
McRae said he was “immensely proud” of the Magpies’ second half of the season, when they banked seven wins and a draw in 10 games to secure a wildcard berth.
“There’s an overwhelming sense of pride in what we’ve been able to do in this last period,” McRae said.
“We don’t get the job done but the ability to fight right to the last second is something that we’re really proud of, and whoever puts the jumper on plays that way.”
