Craig McRae slapped with warning from AFL after 'extraordinary' umpire comments following Swans loss
Updated . First published at
The AFL has issued Collingwood coach Craig McRae an official warning after his comments surrounding umpiring on Friday night.
It comes after Sydney coach John Longmire called out McRae's contentious comments, after the Swans came from behind to record a three-point victory at the SCG on Friday night.
The Pies led by 21-points at three-quarter time, but coughed up five goals to hand Sydney victory.
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However, McRae used his post-match press conference to give air time to two non-calls from the umpires, that he believed wouldn't occur at the Pies home ground, the MCG.
McRae called those calls a "circus", which included two deliberate out-of-bounds decisions in the dying stages of the clash.
On top of that, the 2023 premiership coach also called out a missed 50m penalty, when his forward Dan McStay marked the ball just outside the Pies' forward 50, with seconds remaining.
Swans James Jordon, Errol Gulden and Chad Warner celebrate Gulden's match-winning goal against Collingwood in round 22. AFL Photos via Getty Images
Sydney defender Tom McCartin looked to run a few metres over the mark.
However, the umpire did not award a 50m penalty, with the Swans going on to win and all but lock in their spot in the top eight.
McRae's Pies now sit in 11th on the ladder, with their round 22 loss keeping their finals hopes pretty slim.
"There's definitely an advantage for the home ground," McRae said post match.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae after his side's three-point loss to Sydney in round 22, 2024. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"I thought it was a 50m penalty, to the letter of the law.
"There was a lot of deliberate (acts) tonight too. That was a bit of a circus. So I'm sure they'll (the league) come out and justify that too. But the umpires don't always get it right."
But not everyone was overly happy with McRae's analysis, with Longmire having his say on Monday, calling out Collingwood's home ground advantage, that sees them play almost all their home-and-away games at the MCG, as well as finals.
"It was an extraordinary admission from a coach of a team that has the biggest home ground advantage in the AFL," Longmire said on Monday.
John Longmire during the Swans clash with Collingwood, round 22, 2024. via Getty Images
"This year they play 14 games at the MCG, they play three at Marvel, that's 17 games essentially in front of their home crowd and they play finals and obviously the grand final on their home deck.
"I wonder what Chris Fagan (Brisbane coach) thought of those comments. That was my initial thought, I wonder what Chris Fagan thinks of this."
But Longmire, whose Swans sit atop the ladder with two rounds to go, refused to give any further opinions on McRae's comments.
"I just think, from the coach of the team with the biggest home ground advantage, including finals at the MCG, jeez," he said.
Craig McRae was disappointed after Collingwood's loss to Sydney in round 22. AFL Photos via Getty Images
"You don't often hear it from the team with the biggest home ground advantage. I can't say whether I agree with it or not because I am going to stay out of it."
Sydney will travel to Melbourne to take on Essendon and Marvel Stadium on Friday night.
Meanwhile, Collingwood play host to Brisbane at the MCG n Saturday afternoon and will not travel for the rest of the regular season.
In the final home-and-away round, they'll take on Melbourne, also at the MCG.
