'He's got form': Max Gawn exposes Craig McRae's dubious history of engaging in sideline spats
Melbourne captain Max Gawn claims that Collingwood coach Craig McRae has a history of engaging in sideline altercations after he sprayed a Demons player during an incident last season.
During the Giants' 52-point opening round victory over the Magpies on Sunday, McRae and GWS coach Adam Kingsley became involved in a fiery exchange on the sideline.
McRae received an official warning from the AFL after broadcast cameras caught the heated moment between the former Richmond colleagues.
OPINION: $14m down the drain: Brown isn't what the Knights need
READ MORE: Iconic relationship in Australian motorsport to end
READ MORE: 'Bizarre timing': AFL star's split from management raises questions
Max Gawn recognised that Craig McRae is not the only head coach to single out opposition players from the boundary. Getty/ Triple M Melbourne
With both head coaches operating from the sideline rather than inside their respective coaches' boxes, McRae reportedly yelled towards the Giants' bench after Toby Bedford gave away a 50-metre penalty while applying a hard tag to Pies spearhead Nick Daicos.
Coming back at McRae's banter, Kingsley pointed in his direction and yelled before the 2023 premiership turned his back and sat down with a grin.
Speaking to Triple M Melbourne's Mick in the Morning, Gawn recalled a similar incident involving McRae and ex-Melbourne midfielder Alex Neal-Bullen last year.
Gawn alluded to McRae's growing reputation when it comes to sideline spats.
"Craig has form," he said.
"Craig went hard at Alex Neal-Bullen, who was tagging Daicos last year for us.
Giants coach Adam Kingsley has a crack at Craig McRae. Nine
"When I see [Cats coach] Chris Scott do it with Geelong, I'm like, 'Geez, it would be cool to have a coach that backs his players in that much'. But when you're on the other end of it and you see Craig have a go at Alex Neal-Bullen last year, you're like, 'That's a bit much'.
"I agree that they should be cleared, and most coaches do it, but Craig certainly had some choice words last time we tagged Daicos.
"When your best player is getting tagged, and sometimes it can be quite a ferocious tag, I'm sure as a coach [you don't like the attention]. If I was getting tagged, I wouldn't mind Goody [Demons coach Simon Goodwin] standing up for me."
Gawn acknowledged that different coaches engaged with opposing players and counterparts from the sideline — especially as more coaches opt to lead their charges from the boundary instead of the box.
"I've been involved in a few [sideline incidents involving coaches]," he said.
"I was the target player a couple of times in Port [Adelaide] games, and Ken [Hinkley] would have a few choice words to me.
"I've never seen Goody do it personally. I've been on the bench when he's maybe had a go at an umpire from a long way out but not opposition players.
"I sit on the fence with it".
