Melbourne captain Max Gawn has accused Collingwood’s coach, Craig McRae, of having a penchant for sideline confrontations. This follows an incident last season where McRae directed comments towards a Melbourne player. The latest altercation occurred during Collingwood’s recent match against GWS, where McRae was seen in a heated exchange with Giants coach Adam Kingsley on the sidelines. The AFL subsequently issued a warning to McRae after the incident was captured on live broadcast, drawing attention to the escalating tensions.
In that game, McRae was reportedly vocal after a 50-metre penalty was awarded against GWS’s Toby Bedford while he was tagging Collingwood’s key player, Nick Daicos. Kingsley responded to McRae’s comments, pointing and taunting before sitting down, seemingly amused. Gawn reflected on these sidelines disputes during an interview and recalled a similar incident last year involving McRae and Alex Neal-Bullen, who had been assigned to tag Daicos for Melbourne.
Gawn remarked, “Craig has form,” highlighting McRae’s tendency to engage in such confrontations. He shared that he appreciated coaches who passionately defend their players but acknowledged that the approach can veer into excessive territory, especially when it becomes personal. Gawn commended other coaches like Geelong’s Chris Scott for advocating strongly for their players, contrasting it with McRae’s approach during the incident with Neal-Bullen.
The Demons’ skipper noted that tagging a star player like Daicos often brings with it heightened emotions from coaches. He theorised that if he were in a similar position, he would hope his coach, Simon Goodwin, would advocate for him.
Gawn also mentioned that while different coaching styles exist, it’s common for coaches to communicate with their players from the sidelines as opposed to their coaching boxes. He admitted to having experienced a few sideline exchanges himself, recalling instances when he was targeted by opposing coaches. In contrast, he noted he hadn’t witnessed Goodwin engage players on the opposition in that manner, showcasing the varying styles of coaching in the league.
In summary, the evolving dynamics of sideline interactions between coaches and their players, particularly during high-pressure situations, continue to be a topic of discussion within the AFL.