2022 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION AWARDS NIGHT - FULL AWARDS RELEASE
First-year Collingwood senior coach CRAIG McRAE has been crowned as the Monjon Allan Jeans Senior Coach of the Year at the 2022 AFL Coaches Association Awards held online on Tuesday night.
McRae was voted by his peers as the AFL Coaches Association Senior Coach of the Year with 249 votes, ahead of Grand Final coaches John Longmire (201 votes), and Chris Scott (174 votes), after an incredible first year in the hot seat. McRae bought a fresh energy and coaching style to lead the Pies rise up the ladder in 2022, including an 11-game winning streak and into the Preliminary Final where they missed out on a Grand Final appearance by the narrowest of margins.
McRae, or ‘Fly’ as he is known in the footy world presents an authentic, calm but upbeat, likeable and motivational approach to coaching which bred belief in his playing group throughout the 2022 season leading Collingwood’s rise from the bottom two in 2021 and back into flag contention, making him the coaching story of the season.
In an incredible highly contested season, McRae was deemed to be the best performed senior coach, up to and including the preliminary finals, taking into consideration the current season's performance, available resources, player talent and team management.
The award named in honour of coaching legend Allan Jeans was presented to McRae by AFL Legend and his former coach Leigh Matthews via zoom.
“I’m very grateful to receive this award by my peers,” McRae said.
“It is a reflection of the combined efforts of everyone involved in the football program and the wider Club this season and affirmation of their hard work and perseverance.
“I have enormous pride in our people and, as a Club, we will continue to strive to be better each and every day over the course of the pre-season and into 2023.
AFL Coaches Association CEO Alistair Nicholson congratulated McRae on his first season in the top job.
“What Craig has been able to achieve in his first year as senior coach of Collingwood is remarkable and he should be proud of being voted by his peers as the 2022 Monjon Allan Jeans AFL Coaches Association Senior Coach of the Year. Whilst there’ll be some disappointment after narrowly missing a Grand Final appearance, the belief and will to win he has instilled in his playing group in such a short time to see them rise back up the ladder this season has been thrilling to watch,” Nicholson said.
“This Award has been determined by his peers and we know it is held in high esteem. Congratulations Craig, what an honour to be recognised by your peers in this way, and well done to the assistant and development coaches and those around and above him at the Collingwood Football Club.”
McRae is no stranger to AFL Coaches Association Awards having won the 2019 AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year and the 2012 AFL Coaches Association Development Coach of the Year.
The 2022 AFL Coaches Association Awards announced throughout the night, included the Neale Daniher Lifetime Achievement Award, AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year, Career and Education Award, Media Award and included the reintroduction of Development Coach of the Year.
Neale Daniher alongside daughter Rebecca Daniher revealed the winner of the 2022 Neale Daniher AFL Coaches Association Lifetime Achievement Award was, ALAN McCONNELL. See below for background on Alan McConnell.
Jason McCartney, Dave Matthews, Alicia Eva and Ron Watt were part of the tribute package to McConnell speaking to how loyal, selfless and invested Alan has been over a long period helping shape many of the games greats. It was then over to former GWS GIANTS coach, Leon Cameron for an interview with McConnell reminiscing on their ten years at the GIANTS together and paying tribute to McConnell’s incredible contribution to football for nearly 40 years.
The AFL Coaches Association Assistant Coach of the Year Award went to TROY CHAPLIN for his work as Defensive Coach at Melbourne in the 2022 season.
Chaplin, who has been a key part of the success of the Melbourne’s backline, has been a part of the Demons coaching setup since September 2016, originally serving as the club’s offensive coordinator. Chaplin finished runner up in this Award in 2021.
Brisbane’s Murray Davis finished in second place, with Geelong’s James Kelly third.
This year, following feedback from members and consultation with the AFLCA Advisory Board the AFL Coaches Association Development Coach of the Year Award was reintroduced for the first time since 2013.
The 2022 AFL Coaches Association Development Coach of the Year Award has been won by Adelaide Crows Development and SANFL Coach, MICHAEL GODDEN.
Godden led the Crows SANFL team from eighth in 2021 to a Preliminary Final appearance this season.
Fremantle’s Joel Corey finished in second place, with Brisbane’s Scott Borlace third.
West Coast Eagles assistant coach DANIEL PRATT was awarded the 2022 AFL Coaches Association Career and Education Award, being recognised for furthering his coaching credentials through study and career development.
Pratt has shown significant commitment to his professional and personal development. He has eight units left in his Bachelor of Psychology Degree, has completed Level 3 Coaching, AFLCA’s Next Coach Program and a Certificate 4 in Education and Training, whilst off the field he has completing a range of self-development courses.
For a ninth straight year, GERARD WHATELEY was the coaches pick for the 2022 AFL Coaches Association Media Award for his work on Fox Footy’s AFL360 and SEN 1116 in 2022.
2022 MONJON ALLAN JEANS SENIOR COACH OF THE YEAR
1. CRAIG McRAE – COLLINGWOOD – 249 Votes
2. JOHN LONGMIRE – SYDNEY – 201 Votes
3. CHRIS SCOTT – GEELONG – 174 Votes
2022 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION ASSISTANT COACH OF THE YEAR
1. TROY CHAPLIN – MELBOURNE DEMONS
2. MURRAY DAVIS – BRISBANE LIONS
3. JAMES KELLY – GEELONG
2022 AFL COACHES ASSOCIATION DEVELOPMENT COACH OF THE YEAR
1. MICHAEL GODDEN – ADELAIDE CROWS
2. JOEL COREY – FREMANTLE DOCKERS
3. SCOTT BORLACE – BRISBANE LIONS
BACKGROUND ON ALAN MCCONNELL – 2022 NEALE DANIHER LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD WINNER
Alan combined fifteen years of teaching with his professional career, playing thirty-seven games with the Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football League.
Caretaker Coach at the Fitzroy Football Club in 1995 & 1996, he was the last coach of Fitzroy before it merged with Brisbane at the end of 1996.
Alan then went to Geelong Football Club as a Senior Assistant Coach for seven years.
Following that he went to the Australian Institute of Sport/AFL High Performance Coach from 2004 until 2009. As National Director of the AFL’s Football Academies until 2009, he was responsible for the development of Under 16 and 18 players. His assistant coaches included Nathan Buckley and Michael Voss. During this time he was awarded the Australia Day Achievement Medal by the Australian Sports Commission.
From there he was AIS-AFL Academy’s High Performance Coach before taking on the role of High Performance Manager with the GIANTS in 2009.
With 30 years of experience in the game, McConnell has been integral in the establishment of the GIANTS and was the first person appointed to the club in 2009.
After working with the forward line in 2013, McConnell became the Director of Coaching under Senior Coach Leon Cameron.
In 2018, McConnell took up the reins as Head Coach of the club's AFL Women's side which he coached until the end of the 2022 Season. He led them to their first finals appearance in 2020.
