Sydney Swans deal hammer blow to Collingwood’s finals hopes as Craig McRae hits out at umpires
With their AFL finals hopes in tatters, Collingwood coach Craig McRae has lamented an unpaid 50m penalty in their three-point loss to Sydney.
McRae’s Magpies led by 21 points at three-quarter time at the SCG on Friday night but were overrun by a surging Swans unit.
The league leaders slammed five unanswered goals in the final, condemning the visitors to a 13.11 (89) to 12.14 (86) loss.
Key forward Dan McStay had an opportunity to slot the match-winner after collecting the ball 65m out from goal when Sydney defender Tom McCartin seemingly ran over the mark.
With less than a minute on the clock, the in-zone umpire did not pay a 50m penalty against McCartin.
“I reckon if it was at the MCG it would have been paid,” McRae said.
“There’s definitely an advantage with a home ground. I thought it was a 50m penalty to letter the law.
“I’m sure the AFL will come out and say it’s a free kick or a 50m penalty.
“There were a lot of deliberates tonight, too. That was a bit of a circus so I’m sure they’ll come out and justify that too. The umpires don’t always get it right. That’s fair.”
Collingwood, who sit 11th on the ladder, are unlikely to make the top eight.
The reigning premiers must defeat flag favourites Brisbane and 12th-placed Melbourne but other results will need to fall their way.
“I’m sure our fans at home are hurting and we’re no different. We’re human,” McRae said.
“We have emotions to attach to this. It means a lot to a lot of people.
“It doesn’t feel comfortable right now sitting in this chair because there’s a lot at stake in these games.”
McRae then added he was “wrestling” with blame after the loss.
“We’ve openly talked about what winning looks like and behaviours like that and then losing behaviours,” he said.
“I think blame is a real losing behaviour so I’m wrestling with that at the moment. Wrestling with trying to blame others or blame umpires or blame whatever, because that’s really difficult when you lose.
“Maybe there are consequences at the end that may cost us. Time will tell on that. For most part of the night, we did a lot right and maybe that’s what’s hurting us the most.”
A late Errol Gulden goal launched Sydney to the thrilling win.
A 21-point three-quarter time deficit was quickly shaved to two points in 10 minutes courtesy of goals from Will Hayward (three goals), Logan McDonald, Chad Warner and Isaac Heeney, before Gulden kicked the match-winner.
It marked the league-leading Swans’ first win since Round 18, and marked a swift response to their 112-point loss at Port Adelaide last Saturday.
Speaking after the game, Swans co-captain Luke Parker described the win as “one for the ages”, while Heeney was visibly emotional after playing a huge role in helping his team arrest its recent slide.
“I’m actually a bit emotional to be honest,” Heeney told Channel Seven after the game.
“You get patches in the season where you grind for it, and the last six weeks have been like that.
“Hopefully we can start to roll into the end of the season nicely now.
“We’ve always got that belief, last week was a bit of an outlier.”
Nick Daicos faced close attention from Sydney tagger James Jordon all night but managed to shine with 25 disposals and seven clearances.
Meanwhile, Collingwood’s Lachie Schultz could be in trouble for a dump tackle on Heeney that left the Sydney star dazed in the first quarter.
