There’s a lot of reasons one can look at as to how Collingwood have got themselves in this position, going from 17th on the ladder last year to a finals campaign, rising the rungs through the slimmest of margins.
Collingwood are playing finals after finishing 17th last year.Credit:AFL Photos
A top-four finish and second chance in the finals is much to the credit of the systems coach Craig McRae has built and the belief they all have in each other and their ability to win, even if it’s with a kick after the siren.
But key defender Nathan Murphy says it’s something else, too: the culture created at the club under McRae everyone working through the doors are encouraged to be their true selves – and everyone is treated as an equal.
“You can just be you,” the 22-year-old told The Age.
“I’ve grown up with two sisters, so I’m a massive like feminine guy and the first couple of years coming into a football club where it’s very like, probably a men’s culture, it’s hard to fit in. So, it’s really nice to know you can just be you and make mistakes and it’s very relaxing, which is good.”
Murphy said McRae promotes the players bringing their strengths not just as footballers but also as people, which has worked because the group have bought into that side of things too.
“I think the best thing is everyone’s kind of bought into it,” said Murphy.
Nathan Murphy.Credit:Penny Stephens
“The coach can come in and do all this, but it’s hard if people don’t really buy into it but I think all the boys and the coaches and the staff have bought into it, which has been nice and really refreshing.
“Everyone can just be who they are, it doesn’t really matter what you bring or what you do, like everyone is equal.”
Collingwood winger Josh Daicos agreed with Murphy, telling The Age: “Everyone has the confidence to be themselves and not be like anyone else, feel really comfortable in your own skin and be who you are.”
Speaking about the media attention heaped onto young small forward Jack Ginnivan, Daicos added he’s glad his teammates true self is encouraged at the club.
“We’re so happy he continues to be himself and doesn’t let anyone else change the way he thinks he has to act,” said Daicos.
“You don’t want everyone being robots, you want different personalities and that’s what makes the game so special.”
Murphy added that the connection developed between the playing group and bonds formed through getting to know each other on a deeper level has meant they have been able to wholeheartedly trust each other when the pressure is on – especially at three-quarter time.
Magpies coach Craig McRae.Credit:Getty Images
“[It’s] just crazy the belief we have just in each other, like we just trust each other so much.
“I know Beau McCreery is probably not going to kick four or five – he might in some games – but we know he’s going to tackle the house down, and we know he’s just going to bring that every week.
“Boys don’t have to have 40 odd touches to get amongst the game, everyone just needs to do their share.
“We just have a great belief … I think we’ve been down four or five times this year at three-quarter time and the belief just to look each other in the eye and be able to back ourselves and just trust our system.
“We know our system works when the going gets tough and we know teams won’t be able to keep up with that if we can just keep going.”
Murphy said the playing group had been doing a lot of work with the club psychologist Jacqui Louder on promoting positive cohesion.
“Just staying present and using each other, I think that’s been a massive thing as well. We’ve had some big issues and it’s easy to get caught up with that but we just keep coming back to each other and just keep smiling and communicating with each other.”
Murphy said he also doesn’t mind going into finals as underdogs, especially as they trust each other.
“I don’t think many people really back us and I think we just get excited by that and we just really love being around each other during those times because we know we’ve all just got each other’s backs,” he said.
