Collingwood coach Craig McRae has upset some fans with a seemingly innocent crack at the Western Bulldogs and their modest supporter base.
Speaking after the loss to Brisbane on Friday night, McRae was asked about the inaugural Wildcard Round which will be played next week to see who progresses into the elimination finals.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Craig McRae speaks out on Wildcard Round
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As it stood, Collingwood finished the year in eighth and the Western Bulldogs were in ninth, so they would play in what the AFL is calling “Wildcard Final 2”.
But if Carlton defeated Fremantle on Saturday (it was a few goals in it at the time of writing) and the Western Bulldogs lose to Melbourne in the following game, Carlton would finish above the Bulldogs.
Carlton and Collingwood are obviously famous rivals with huge fan bases and a blockbuster Wildcard match-up would certainly attract a monster crowd at the MCG.
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing, if Carlton beat Freo tomorrow and the Bulldogs lose, I think it’ll feel like a final,” McRae told reporters.
“There’ll be a big crowd here (at the MCG), don’t worry about that. And we’ll absolutely understand what we’re in now.
“It’s knockout. So when you get into match play, we’ll get busy on what that looks like to beat whatever opposition’s in front of us. It’ll feel like a final when there’s only one game in Melbourne potentially next week. I think it’ll definitely feel like a final.”
Of course, fans were quick to note by excitedly talking up a possible clash with Carlton, McRae was unintentionally suggesting that a Wildcard clash with the Dogs may not really feel like final.
“So we are just whacking the Bulldogs 🤣 noted,” one fan quickly said on social media.
“That’s one way to disrespect the Western Bulldogs,” another fan said.
And another: “Not a final against the Dogs?? F*** me.”
One fan also noted that in an elimination final in 2024 between Hawthorn and the Western Bulldogs, 97,828 were at the MCG.
While McRae is a well respected figure, his gaffes continue to put some people offside.
Last year at Collingwood’s best and fairest he was also accused of disrespect when he made a joke about Gold Coast star Matt Rowell’s Brownlow Medal win.
“Maybe a few more 16 disposal games might get you there next year,” McRae said to Nick Daicos, the Brownlow Medal runner-up of the past two seasons.
The joke immediately fell flat and McRae ended up with a little egg on his face after Daicos controversially missed out on winning the club’s best-and-fairest award.
Veteran WA sports journalist Tim Gossage said: “Not a great night for Craig McRae’s one liner repertoire 🤷🏼.”
And sports presenter Stephen Quartermain said: “A bit disrespectful and disingenuous given the fact he didn’t even win his B&F… jog on.”
McRae also raised eyebrows when he told media that he would like to on a “second date” Jack Silvagni (when Silvagni was looking to leave Carlton).
“Regardless of what Craig did, it’s not something we would do. We will respect the privacy of the player,” then coach Michael Voss said at the time.
“It’s not for me to announce something like that on behalf of someone, because they’re the ones that have to walk back into the locker room.”
In 2024, McRae admitted that he still had his “P-plates on” as a coach and apologised after making comment about Sydney’s home ground advantage following a narrow loss the Swans.
Then Sydney coach John Longmire said: “It was an extraordinary admission from a coach of a team that has the biggest home ground advantage in the AFL.
“This year they play 14 games at the MCG, they play three at Marvel (Stadium). That’s 17 games essentially in front of their home crowd and they play finals and obviously the grand final on their home deck.”
