AFL 2025: Collingwood's Beau McCreery on his form and evolution as a pressure forward
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.'
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