Craig McRae and his Collingwood team have been criticized for showing a lack of respect towards their AFL opponents following their collapse in the final quarter against the Swans on Friday. Despite leading by up to 27 points in the last quarter at the SCG, Collingwood lost as Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner rallied the Swans to a dramatic three-point victory.
Kane Cornes attributes Collingwood’s fourth-quarter fade-out to McRae and his team failing to respect the star players of their rivals. Cornes argues that instead of focusing on controversial umpiring calls, McRae should address the lack of accountability among his players, particularly the midfielders who were overwhelmed by the Swans.
“Collingwood’s midfield is, in my opinion, the least accountable in the league,” Cornes said on SEN’s Sportsday. “Their system relies on backing their players, but they consistently show little respect for the opposition’s top performers.
“If you review how often opposing midfielders rack up impressive numbers against Collingwood, you’d see they offer no real challenge. Warner and Heeney each had 14 disposals and scored crucial goals when the game was on the line, which effectively cost Collingwood their season.”
After the game, McRae expressed frustration over a non-call for a 50-meter free kick that should have been awarded to Dan McStay. Swans player Tom McCartin encroached on McStay’s mark, and despite taking extra steps, McStay played on without receiving the free kick that might have secured an easy shot for Collingwood.
McRae criticized the umpiring decision, suggesting that the outcome might have been different had the game been played at the MCG. “I reckon if it was at the MCG it would have been paid,” McRae said during the post-match press conference.
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