Collingwood’s emphatic 56-point win over Carlton might have thrilled the fans at the MCG, but for Craig McRae, the triumph came with a bittersweet undertone.
As the Magpies soared further atop the ladder, McRae’s thoughts drifted to the man in the opposing coaches’ box, his close friend and former teammate, Michael Voss.
The pair lifted three premierships together at Brisbane and remain tight, which made the circumstances of Saturday’s win all the more difficult to process.
“For all our excitement, there's a level of 'I hope my mate's OK',” McRae said after the 17.13 (115) to 8.11 (59) win.
“It’s a hot seat”
While McRae’s side is flying, Voss finds himself under increasing pressure with the Blues sitting 11th and finals hopes slipping. But the Collingwood boss was quick to shift focus from rivalry to empathy.
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“As much as we want to beat our arch-rival, that's done now, and I just go into love and care and support for a guy that I've got enormous love and support for,” he said.
“So I hope he's going OK. It's a tough industry, we know. We sit in this chair – it's a hot seat – and when things don't work out, we know what the job sometimes puts across your desk.”
While Carlton president Rob Priestley has confirmed Voss will see out the season, speculation continues to swirl around his long-term future. For now, McRae knows there’s little he can offer beyond a listening ear.
“I'm not sure whether I can do anything, other than just be there for him so he can maybe have someone to chat to through this period,” McRae said.