The Collingwood team, coached by Craig McRae, has come under fire for allegedly showing contempt toward their AFL opponents after Friday’s last-quarter surrender to the Swans. Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner gave Sydney a thrilling three-point victory after the Magpies had led by as much as 27 points in the last quarter at the SCG.
Furthermore, Kane Cornes has blamed McRae and his teammates for the fourth quarter fade because they disrespected the great players of the other team. According to Cornes, McRae should stop wasting time defending questionable umpiring calls and start taking responsibility for his team’s performance, especially the midfielders who let the Swans brigade run the show.
Pictured One on the left side and Kane Cornes on the right side are Darcy Moore and
Because Craig McRae and his men disrespect the star players of other teams, Kane Cornes has attacked them. Source: Getty
Cornes stated on SEN’s Sportsday that Collingwood boast what he believes to be the most irresponsible midfield in the league. “That’s their system, and they back their players in, and largely they show no respect to the opposition’s best players.
“Go back and look at how often the best opposition midfielder against Collingwood gets ridiculous numbers. Collingwood is the kind of team that would be fun to play against in midfield because they treat midfielders like dirt. 14 (disposals) each for Warner and Heeney, and a goal each when the game was on the line, ultimately cost Collingwood their season.”
Was Dan McStay unlucky to miss out on a late 50m penalty here?
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Following Friday’s close defeat, McRae vented his fury at Dan McStay not being paid a 50m free kick after Swans star Tom McCartin seemed to intrude on the mark taken by the Pies player just inside the middle square. McCartin made several extra strides forward before McStay chose to play on but the Pies weren’t awarded a free kick that would have given them an easy set shot to win the game.
And the Collingwood coach couldn’t help but voice his disgust with the non-call from the umpire, with McRae claiming things would have been considerably different if the contest was staged in Melbourne. “I reckon if it was at the MCG it would have been paid,” McRae remarked in a post-match press conference.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 09: Isaac Heeney (left) and Chad Warner of the Swans celebrate during the 2024 AFL Round 22 match between the Sydney Swans and the Collingwood Magpies at The Sydney Cricket Ground on August 09, 2024 in Sydney,
Isaac Heeney (left) and Chad Warner guided the Swans to an incredible fourth-quarter comeback triumph over Collingwood. Source: Getty
Discussing the incident on SEN radio, Cornes said while in his opinion it should have been a 50m free kick to Collingwood it was “a bit rich” for the Collingwood coach to harp on about favourable home team calls when the Magpies play so many games in front of their fans at the MCG – including last year’s grand final. “I’m not sure Craig McRae needed to go down this path,” Cornes added.
“C’mon Craig. 14 (games) at the MCG, 17 in Melbourne, you get to play the grand final on your home ground. So 14 times you have the rub of the green and one time you have to go and play in Sydney on a Friday night you’re grumbling about it. It was the wrong time. I think he was out of line.”
Kane Cornes instructs Craig McRae to move off the bench
Cornes also says McRae should consider stepping up to the coaches box rather than looking like a spectator on the interchange bench. “Rather than standing on the interchange bench and looking like a spectator, get up to the coaches box and make some moves, if you need to, like John Longmire did with his assistant coaches,” Cornes said.
“Impact the game, rather than just standing there with your headset on looking bemused as your side gets run over again. The aura of winning close games is already gone, and sides have worked out Collingwood.”
