AFL: Collingwood forward Beau McCreery on growth, form and midfield time
It's starting to click for Collingwood pressure machine Beau McCreery.
The premiership forward is in a patch of brilliant form and one of the unheralded weapons keeping the Magpies two points clear on top of the AFL ladder.
McCreery says his elevation is off the back of gaining a greater understanding of his own game and his role is more complex than hitting the scoreboard.
'It's my fifth year and I've only started to figure out I don't need to kick goals to be happy with how I go,' McCreery told NewsWire.
'It doesn't have anything to do with me kicking any goals, it's just putting that pressure on. I feel like when I am at my best my pressure is there.
'People get nervous when us boys are hunting, especially us small forwards.
'If you've got me, Bobby (Hill), Shooter (Lachie Schultz), Jamie (Elliott) chasing, even Timmy (Membrey), Checkers (Brody Mihocek) – people get nervous.'
McCreery is modest in his self-assessment, grading his first half of the year as 'up and down'.
But the 24-year-old is recording greater numbers in almost every statistic important to a player in his position.
McCreery's clearance numbers are included in that growth, which bodes well in his pursuit of becoming a more regular option in the middle for coach Craig McRae.
'When I get that midfield time I feel like I've been beasting in there,' he said.
'If I can keep getting some of that time in the mid, keep exposing myself to mid time, but I still do love playing forward.
'I love the craft of it, I love my group I am down there with, it's so enjoyable – playing for this team is just so enjoyable.'
McCreery pinch hit in the middle during Friday night's dismantling of Hawthorn at the MCG.
The 88-gamer is learning how challenging a transition up the ground will be but knows what he needs to do to earn more opportunity.
'Keep showing up, keep training well and when they do give me an opportunity … I figured out pretty quickly it's pretty tough in there,' he said.
'I need to take my chances when I go in there … use my speed, catch people off guard. I don't think people think I can close down space as quick as I can.'
Collingwood has Melbourne in the annual King's Birthday clash before its mid-season bye.
Originally published as AFL 2025: Collingwood's Beau McCreery on his form and evolution as a pressure forward
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The Advertiser
4 hours ago
- The Advertiser
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"You have to find the courage to take responsibility, not to pass the buck, not to procrastinate, not to make excuses. You have to summon something from within you, from the better side of your character, and let it help you rise up." Who inspires you? Who do you think should be our next Australian of the Year? If you see them or hear about them, nominate them before July 31 for the 2026 Australian of the Year Awards at
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Tassie Devils CEO Brendon Gale responds to AFL club's ‘giant mess'
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'There's an acceptance that an early election spells the end of any stadium, including alternate proposals, and the Devils.' He earlier reported there was a widely held view the 'Devils will be dead' if a state election is called. Gale spoke at length about the difficulties in convincing Tasmanians of the stadium proposal, describing them as 'always big, they're expensive and there's always a whole range of other priorities'. He also said existing stadiums in Hobart and Launceston aren't 'fit for the purpose of providing a sustainable, commercial business model to underpin a team in the big league on a sustainable basis'. But the former Richmond player and chief executive reiterated his confidence in the project moving forward. 'Recent events might create some more uncertainty, but no I think parliament is very supportive,' he said. 'Even this motion brought in the last 24 hours, wasn't about football or about the stadium, it was about some budgetary concerns, but I guess it sparked this chain reaction. 'So I'm confident the more people in the community understand the importance of the stadium, how it's critical to meet the commercial, financial requirements of a team in the biggest sporting competition in Australia, the more they understand how it will unlock a whole range of other financial, economic, social, cultural benefits, the more people are open to changing their minds and supporting of it.
News.com.au
7 hours ago
- News.com.au
Simmo & Horse analyse Dogs' midfield
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