Right here is extra from McRae’s post-match press convention…

Q: What are your ideas on heading to the SCG?
A: We’re higher for the expertise, we performed there three weeks in the past. Jordie (De Goey) advised me we didn’t play, so we’re a lot better for it. A lot of good classes. There will probably be time to speak in regards to the classes we’ve got realized. Tonight we are going to have a good time that we’ve got made right into a prelim.

Q: Fremantle’s ball use was stagnant. How did you see the defensive effort of the Pies?
A: That was one thing we labored on in the course of the week, we scouted, they are going to attempt to possess the ball by foot and we took that away from them and pressure them down the road and our aerial guys set to work. That could be a actual energy of ours, intercept marking, I feel we’re primary within the comp. We needed to pressure it in that type of the sport and choked them across the uncontested mark specifically.

Q: Do you assume the 2 finals of Darcy Moore have been barely underplayed?
A: He has been sick all week, so I’m simply going to name it for what it’s. On specific gamers. However I assumed he was fairly good tonight. In case you look again and look how he performed intercept, the man has been in mattress for a few days fairly in poor health. I like what he does. I’ll arise for him.

Q: There may be the inexperience you have got in your crew, however so many are so spectacular in what has been their first finals collection. How proud are you of how they’ve been in a position to deal with the event?
A: Two weeks in a row we appear to be we may deal with the massive stage. That is what we play for and our recreation plan stacks up. All 12 months we predict we’re getting ready for a finals-type gameplan, and simply honing our craft and getting higher. I feel individually has appeared extra at house. 90,000 individuals there and most of them black and white, thanks to the Magpie Military for coming. We appeared prepared for the event. It’s thrilling.

Q: You handle to get extra out of Mason Cox within the second half of the 12 months, actually good within the contest and the ruck.
A: Like everybody, we wish Mason to get higher. He’s over 30 now, and simply asking him to get busy in your craft. When he marks the ball, he’s a presence. He’s one other one which ignites the group when he’s up and going. I feel he is a crucial cog, as many are.

Q: How necessary was Darcy Moore not lacking the sport, given what you stated there?
A: I hate it when the physician rings me on match day. He rang me on match day. So there was some concern. Stage of confidence was nonetheless there, however some concern.

Q: Chilly and flu like signs?
A: Don’t wish to give an excessive amount of away.

Q: Taylor Adams and Brodie Grundy, two very senior gamers not on the market tonight, are you able to clarify the function they’ve had in and across the membership, not having the ability to play?
A: Brodie is working with our rucks and analysing what’s coming. And ‘Tay’ was within the field tonight doing centre bounces. So it was actually exhausting for Taylor after the sport. He’s in, however then as I stated final week he’ll battle match day. We have now to attempt to maintain these guys near us. That is 22 taking part in tonight, 23, and there’s many extra that contributed to why we’re on this place, so we are going to maintain them alongside for the journey.

Q: Are you extra comfy, given what number of shut wins you have got had on the again half of the season?
A: We’re getting higher and discovering methods. The final quarter, simply making an attempt to handle the clock a bit, which makes it tougher to attain. So doubtlessly we will go for it and rating extra targets however we didn’t really want to attain too many extra. They needed to kick six targets at one stage. These issues maintain the sport a bit bit tighter which we study our classes about. However as I maintain saying, I feel our greatest is in entrance of us. And looking out ahead to the problem of what comes this week.

Q: The change from final week, how did you see his recreation?
A: I used to be actually happy with Trent (Bianco), he got here in and did what he wanted to do. He will get caught up in making a few errors, come on, it’s OK. We’re allowed to make errors so I assumed his self-discipline to activity… And he allowed others to shine simply by doing his job. I did learn a few feedback once we picked him, I assumed, they don’t see the belief we’ve got on this younger child and credit score to him, he performed effectively.

Q: The finals, all through that complete streak and so they had been in a preliminary remaining, can Collingwood win a premiership?
A: We’re right here to win it. Yet one more recreation and you’re in a Grand Last. We’re right here to win this factor. We’re going to work our butts off to get higher and provides ourselves each likelihood. We all know it’s developing in Sydney, however we are going to give it our greatest shot. We’re able to go.