Kingsley reveals what he said to McRae as AFL issues statement

GWS coach Adam Kingsley has revealed what was said during an incident with Collingwood coach Craig McRae on the interchange bench during Sunday’s clash at ENGIE Stadium.

Magpies coach McRae appeared to reserve some words for Giants tagger Toby Bedford who had given away a 50-metre penalty on Nick Daicos which resulted in a Pies goal.

Kingsley was quick to defend his player and seemingly told McRae to sit down, defusing the situation.

In the post-match after his side’s 52-point loss to the Giants, McRae played it down as “a bit of fun” between the pair who played against each other for many years at Port Adelaide and Brisbane, and also worked together at Richmond in 2019.

“I was having a bit of fun with him (Kingsley), he’s an old mate of mine,” said McRae.

“I was stirring, I just said, ‘We’re coming’, and he just had a bit of fun.

“He’s a bit more fiery than me. I’m a bit more humorous.”

Speaking on SEN Breakfast on Monday morning, Kingsley said: “He (McRae) didn’t say anything to be fair. There was no abuse or anything like that from ‘Fly’ at all,

“There wasn’t much in it. To be frank I didn’t appreciate some of the cheering directed towards Toby.

“I just felt obliged to say, ‘Don’t do that, that’s not on’. There wasn’t any abuse, let’s be really clear about that.

“It’s been blown up a little bit based on what I’ve been told. I don’t know if there’s a lot in it to be fair.”

Following the incident, the AFL spoke with both clubs and decided there would be a warning for McRae but he would face no further action.

“After reviewing the AFL match manager’s report and speaking with both clubs overnight and again this morning, the AFL Football Department has warned Collingwood coach Craig McRae and reminded him of his responsibilities while coaching from the bench,” the AFL said in a statement.

“No further action will be taken."

KANE'S TAKE

The AFL has said it’s not on, so it’s not on.

That is Kane Cornes’ reaction to McRae and Kingsley’s exchange.

The incident was discussed on SEN Breakfast and Cornes believes that if the AFL chose to fine Port coach Ken Hinkley last year for words directed at Jack Ginnivan, then McRae simply must be sanctioned by the league.

“So Bedford drops Daicos, McRae celebrates and shoots some words to the direction of the Giants’ bench,” Cornes said on Fireball.

“Adam Kingsley didn’t look like he was having 'a bit of fun' at all. I would expect that there is a sanction for this because it’s not on and the AFL have said that it’s not on.

“Hinkley was more demonstrative, but it was a much further distance, it wasn’t in play and on the interchange bench. He apologised straight after and didn’t brush it off as a joke.

“I’m not protecting Ken at all. I just think if you’re going to fine Hinkley for doing that, and the AFL are going to say that this is not on, then they have no option other than to fine Craig McRae."