McRae – and the Pies – have bigger worries than massive overreaction to interchange skirmish

Rather than the AFL season bursting back on the stage with the bang it deserves, it instead almost tip-toed back with an apologetic whimper.

With the division over Opening Round, that was shortened even further to being two games in Sydney spread a day apart due to the weather, it was a real struggle to feel satisfied with a full footy fix come Sunday night.

So it’s even more of a shame that the biggest takeaway for many during the round (after non-Collingwood fans had a chuckle over their loss) was Craig McRae’s ‘blow-up’ – if you can even call it that – with GWS coach Adam Kingsley on the benches.

It was a ‘confrontation’ of less than 10 seconds in duration, and looked more embarrassing for the two middle-aged mates posturing at each other from a distance.

McRae’s explanation post-game: “I was just stirring. I just said, ‘We’re coming’, and he just had a bit of fun. He’s a bit fierier than me. I’m a bit more humorous”.

Others, however, have not seen the funny side. Kane Cornes is called for McRae – the instigator – to cop a $20,000 fine the same as Ken Hinkley for ‘going after’ Jack Ginnivan in semifinals in 2024.

But what exactly are we punishing? No complaint was made by either side, nor the player involved, Toby Bedford – who was also heckled by Fly. There was no abusive, threatening or discriminatory language used, nor did either party report feeling threatened.

In fact, both men laughed it off. That should be the end of it.

Was it a serious incident? No, far from it. But it did give ammunition for social media meme makers to have their moment of pleasure for the day – including the cheeky Giants social media team themselves.

Perhaps it is just the way that the game is being covered is changing. The NFL Super Bowl media day had just as much serious football reporters as it did social media influencers asking players preparing for the biggest game of their lives questions like: “how many of Spongebob’s Krabby Patties could you eat before a game?”

Is this how AFL will be consumed by fans; do supporters want these nonsense coaches’ moments taking away from on-field play?

In the end, the AFL – worried about the game’s image – let McRae off with a warning, adding that interactions between opposition players and coaches “need to continue to be conducted in a professional manner”.

Even though the Hinkley incident was just as much overblown, you can understand that the AFL on that occasion wanted to send a message in case any adult coaches felt frustrated enough at local or regional level after younger players get under their skins. But that too should have just been a warning to pull their heads in.

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Seriously though, the last thing McRae needs to be doing is picking fights with the opposition coaches, especially after his bold list strategy for 2025 failed in round 1, and threatens to set the tone for another long year for the club.

Fly has come under fire from many pundits for not going hard enough at the draft, and instead brining in Dan Houston, Tim Membrey and Harry Perryman from trades. Albeit the latter shone brightly on a tough Opening Round clash for the Pies.

After the premiership in 2023, then crashing out of finals last year, the Magpies coach has chosen a risky strategy of trying to stay in the premiership window with an ageing list – experience over youth.

The team on paper sucked many commentators in during the pre-season, who have listed them finishing in the top four – but if round 1 is anything to go by McRae is set for plenty of headaches over the next six months.

It may not have been clearly obvious looking at the statistics, but two stalwarts for the Pies – Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom looked really sluggish.

Perhaps the pair have done this so many times they got complacent in the pre-season, and they are building – maybe – but it also may mean Collingwood need to look at a strategy to manage them in a similar way Geelong did their older players.

The problem Collingwood has with resting is the depth, and the inevitable injuries that will occur throughout the season. Do they have the personnel to effectively do this and still win games?

Statistically, Pendlebury started last year much stronger. In 2024, until round 11, he had seven games above 20 disposals, nine games in double digit kicks and four games above five tackles (with the highest of eight).

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In round one 2025, while he wasn’t too far behind his average numbers (19 disposals, eight kicks and one tackle), the impact wasn’t there from the two-time premiership player and captain, as GWS’ younger and more energetic players ran rings around them.

The Pies went at just 67 per cent disposal efficiency, while the Giants recorded 76.6 per cent – speed to execute was a main contributor.

On more than one occasion Pendlebury looked lost in a contest, and opted for a short wasteful disposal instead of trying to create something and was often beaten out of a stoppage. Sidebottom (15 disposals, nine kicks, four tackles) also didn’t have real impact – not that may Pies did in a 52-point hiding.

Jordan de Goey didn’t play but his inconsistency last year could be problematic if he can’t make the field more than the 13 times in 2024. Dan Houston will also return from suspension for the Magpies next clash, though it’s likely he may take a while to find his feet. Even star Nick Daicos was battling fitness concerns with cramping.

While it’s not all doom and gloom, there were some patches of good play and ball movement from the Magpies – but a season is not made up of short 10-15 minute bursts during matches. It’s about consistency; four quarters a game and 23 rounds of a season, that’s what failed them last year.

McRae has gambled with this strategy, trying to outsmart his opposition with experienced players, now he has to find a game plan that can make it work – just like he did in 2023.

The pain of being knocked out of the finals in straight sets in 2022 had him back to work before the Grand Final was decided. This is where McRae needs to get back to the whiteboard and earn his pay packet as a coach.

He won a premiership of building a fierce attitude and an effective game plan – largely around speed and ball movement – but what happens now when the racehorse has lost a yard or two of pace?

The flag of 2023 is in the past now, he has to do it again, forge a new legacy.

It’s only round 1, yes. Maybe Collingwood knows what they are doing and will age like a fine wine by September, but the warning signs are there that they also risk being that $5 bottle at a lavish five-star party.