'We're winners': Pies coach's response to controversial umpire non-call

Collingwood coach Craig McRae has refused to blame a controversial non-call for his side's preliminary final loss to Brisbane.

Lions defender Brandon Starcevich appeared to either chop the arms of Jamie Elliott or infringe with front-on contact, or both, during the fourth quarter.

The Magpies had momentum at the time and an Elliott goal would have put them within six points of the Lions.

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No call was made and seconds later Charlie Cameron kicks a goal up the other end to put Brisbane up by 18.

They would break the backbone of the Pies from there, winning by 29 points.

Of course, if Elliott kicks that goal, maybe it's a different story. Maybe the momentum completely shifts Collingwood's way.

McRae, however, refuses to even consider the hypothetical.

"It looked like (front on contact). It did," McRae told reporters post match.

"There's no guarantee he kicks the goal though, is there?

"This is the world I live in. I never make excuses. I don't want our fans to see a coach that leads our group through excuses because it just doesn't get you anywhere.

"I think losers make excuses. We don't. We're winners. We didn't win today. We were clearly beaten by a better team. I think they would have beaten us anyway they way they were playing.

"So, you can say 'what if', but it's not the space we live in."

Star midfielder Scott Pendlebury was subbed out almost immediately with what was described as calf tightness.

McRae said the flow-on effect of losing the 37-year-old hurt their midfield.

"He did a calf early, which is really strange, but it sort of is what it is this time of year. We thought we were really well prepared for this game physically and emotionally and tactically and then you've got to pivot," McRae said.

"The plan was to tag Hugh McCluggage, but then you need Steele Sidebottom to play different roles and then there's a flow-on effect. It just happens this time of year."

McRae boldly declared 12 months ago that he wanted "players not picks" in the off-season in order to attack a premiership, despite having the oldest list in the competition.

They did just that, bringing in Dan Houston, Tim Membrey and Harry Perryman for this season.

The Collingwood coach remains aggressive in that mindset, but knows they need to bring in young talent as well.

"I'm not going to stand still trying to get better," McRae said.

"Last year I said it was players over picks. It won't be that extreme this year, there'll be a balance, but we want to bring talent into our organisation that makes us better.

"I won't stand still on that. I'm sure our fans want to hear that. Our players want to hear that we're not going to stand still and going to keep improving ourselves.

"As long as there's talent to bring in, we'll explore every part of that."

Collingwood still has numerous contractual decisions to make in the coming months.

McRae confirmed they have two-year deals in front of both Jamie Elliott and Brody Mihocek, but both have been linked with potential trade period exits. Elliott with the Suns and Mihocek with the Roos and Demons.

Mason Cox, Tom Mitchell, Ash Johnson, Lachie Sullivan, Finlay Macrae and Oleg Markov are a few of the players the Pies will need to make calls on in the coming weeks.