Melbourne captain Max Gawn has revealed Craig McRae's verbal stoush towards Toby Bedford and with GWS coach Adam Kingsley is not the first time he's targeted opposition players.
McRae received an official warning from the AFL for his run-in with Kingsley after he sarcastically said "well done" to Bedford, who gave away an off-the-ball free kick. Both McRae and Kingsley have admitted that the war of words was light-hearted and a pure flash of their competitive spirits, with no bad blood or offensive nature regarded in each coach's comments.
McRae's warning has divided AFL pundits after Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley received a $20,000 fine for his verbal barrage and actions towards Hawthorn players Jack Ginnivan and James Sicily.
Speaking on Triple M'sย Mick in the Morning, Gawn said it was not the first time either sanctioned coach has let their opinion be known to opposing players, citing an example from 2024 when former Demon Alex Neal-Bullen placed a hard tag on Collingwood star Nick Daicos.
Daicos was held to just 15 disposals in the King's Birthday Clash until he was subbed out in the final quarter with a shin concern.
"I've been involved in a few (incidents involving coaches). I was the target player a couple of times in the Port (Adelaide) games and Ken would have a few choice words to me," Gawn said.
"He has got form. Craig (McRae) has form.
"Craig went hard at Alex Neal-Bullen who was tagging (Nick) Daicos last year.
"I have never seen Goody (Simon Goodwin) do it personally. I've been on the bench when he's had a go at an umpire for a long way out, but not opposition players."
Gawn said he sits "on the fence" in regards to his point of view of the matter, saying he would love a coach to defend him mid-game, but being on the opposite end has been a negative experience.
"When I see 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," Gawn added.
"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 would agree that they should be cleared, and most coaches do it, but Craig had some choice words last time we tagged Daicos."
McRae's Pies ironically take on Hinkley's Port Adelaide this Saturday in a chance to rebound from a disappointing Opening Round loss, while Gawn's Demons play Kingsley's Giants on Sunday.
