Heartbreaking: Craig McRae Collingwood Head Coach Just Angrily Announced His Resignation and Departure After facing…see…more….
Collingwood coach Craig McRae has not spoken to John Longmire since their public disagreement but reiterated he has “enormous respect” for his Sydney counterpart.
McRae said he did not want to take back his claims that crucial umpiring decisions in the closing stages of the Magpies’ loss to the Swans had been influenced by the SCG crowd but conceded his response had been “a bit selfish”.
Longmire on Monday called McRae’s comments “an extraordinary admission from a coach of a team that has the biggest home ground advantage in the AFL”.
While he had not spoken privately with the Swans coach, McRae said there was no bad blood between the pair.
“I’ve got enormous respect for John, and this job is a really difficult one. For someone to do what he’s done over such a long period of time – I’m repeating myself here, but it’s an inspiration,” McRae said.
Obviously (he’s had success) interstate too, which adds different layers to it, so I’m not going to get caught up in it other than showing my respect for what a good coach he is.”
McRae said he regretted the timing of his criticism of the umpires but saw no point in taking it back.
“I reflect really heavily on everything I do. I’m disappointed in myself that I went into a ‘frustration’ mode rather than a ‘disappointed’ mode,” he said.
“I’m allowed to be disappointed – who wouldn’t be? That shows that I care, but to be frustrated, I think it’s a bit selfish.
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