Rawlings, McRae join Lions
15/09/2009 8:58 PM
The post-season cleanout at Richmond has continued with assistant coaches Jade Rawlings and Craig McRae both leaving Punt Road after three seasons.
The pair have both accepted jobs with the Brisbane Lions - the club which McRae played in three consecutive premierships with.
Rawlings took over the Tigers senior coaching reins on an interim basis in the second half of the 2009 season following Terry Wallace's sacking.
He also made it to the final four candidates of possible replacements for Wallace but was ultimately beaten by two-time premiership defender Damien Hardwick for the gig.
Before replacing Wallace in the top job in Round 12, Rawlings had coached Richmond's VFL affiliate Coburg Tigers for one-and-a-half seasons.
Rawlings and McRae, who replaced Rawlings as Coburg coach midyear, will now be assistants under Michael Voss in 2010.
"We are really pleased that Jade and Craig have decided to join the Lions because we strongly believe that they will be a terrific asset for our playing group," Voss said.
"Although he is only 31, Jade has already spent a few years in the coaching system and has gained invaluable experience this season in a senior AFL role."
"Craig will obviously be no stranger to the club and I'm sure our members and supporters will be rapt to have him back in the Lions den."
The news comes on the back of Richmond assistants Brian Royal and David King being shown the door as well as forward scout Gordon Casey.
However, the purging hasn't solely occurred off the field with veterans Kane Johnson and Joel Bowden retiring, Nathan Brown, Mark Coughlan and Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls being delisted and Shane Tuck and Andrew Raines both requesting to be traded.