Collingwood coach Craig McRae digs in over Brodie Grundy comment, as Sydney Swans coach Dean Cox takes a stand, AFL fixture 2026 released
Updated ,first published
In today’s AFL briefing:
- Pies coach Craig McRae said on Thursday he will continue coaching from the sideline following his interaction with Brodie Grundy last week.
- AFLW will feature heavily in a busy AFL grand final weekend. Scroll down for the full fixture.
Collingwood coach Craig McRae and his Sydney counterpart Dean Cox voiced opposing views on bench etiquette after McRae’s in-game comment towards Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy.
McRae’s sideline antics have attracted attention over the past two seasons. During last Friday night’s match at the SCG he met with an opposing manager, fans and now an opposing player, former Magpie Grundy.
McRae said on Thursday he would continue coaching from the sideline and insisted there was room for interaction with opposing players.
Speaking on Thursday, Cox said he and his team would not talk to opposing players during the match.
“I guess my philosophy on that is, if I was on the bench, I wouldn’t talk to the other players. I would just leave it there,” he said.
“We didn’t talk at length about whether we were unhappy or happy. [the Grundy incident]That’s why we didn’t talk about this with anyone. “That’s what I would do if I were there and that’s what I expect my bench staff to do.”
Cox said this isn’t official policy but is “just expected.”
He caused a stir against Hawthorn at the MCG last month when time-wasting claims emerged after he asked for the ball from a member of the crowd but turned away when the ball was thrown to him and lost time against the clock.
The final incident with Grundy occurred when McRae picked up the ball after it went out of bounds in front of Grundy, who then turned and moved on to the next kicking contest.
Asked what he said Thursday, McRae replied: “I can’t explain what I said, because it’s a personal thing… it was just a moment for me and we keep moving.”
Grundy clarified the incident in an interview with Seven after the match.
“He just said: ‘Good day, old mate’. It wasn’t anything untoward, it was totally in his spirit. He stood up right then and there,” said Grundy, who had spoken to the Swans’ head of media on the pitch.
But, Age Columnist Caroline Wilson told Seven’s: Agenda Setters: “It may have been all respect, but it certainly wasn’t: ‘Good day, old mate,’ and I don’t think Brodie Grundy was particularly impressed by what Craig McRae said,” Wilson said.
“Yes it was positive but it was personal and it happened in the game too.”
The AFL chose not to take action against McRae.
McRae insisted he had a strong relationship with Grundy; The pair first met when McRae was an assistant at Collingwood around the time Grundy was drafted in 2012, and there was no reason why a coach couldn’t engage an opposing player in the middle of a battle.
“If you have a strong relationship with someone, I don’t see a problem with that. I coached him when he was first drafted. I have a really strong relationship, I have a lot of respect for Brodie,” said McRae, who coached Grundy before he left for Melbourne in 2022.
“There’s nothing wrong. I can tell you what I said at the appropriate time.”
McRae, who said he thought his behavior was “good or bad”, questioned whether it was a “big” problem, but said he could now contact Grundy and check on him.
“I can reach out to Brodie to make sure he’s okay,” McRae said.
McRae said captain Darcy Moore (concussion), Patrick Lipinski (concussion), Darcy Cameron (ankle) and Tim Membrey (hamstring) are available for selection. Bobby Hill, whose wife is expecting their third child, did not practice.
Amid the excitement surrounding Pendlebury’s record-breaking game, McRae said the Magpies did all they could to ensure they properly honored the champion midfielder with the win.
McRae noted the extraordinary degree of pressure West Coast had in their shock win over Greater Western Sydney last weekend and said it was “naive” to suggest the Magpies had identified the lowly Eagles as the ideal opponent to break Pendlebury’s games record.
Pendlebury has been tapped twice in the last three weeks.
AFLW fixtures announced
AFLW will be heavily involved in the AFL grand final weekend, with four matches scheduled to be held in Victoria over the bank holiday ahead of the men’s premiership decider.
The women’s schedule, announced by the league on Thursday, includes six matches around the men’s grand final in Victoria.
The league is hoping to cash in on the bank holiday in Melbourne on Friday, September 25, by packing crowds after the traditional men’s grand final parade.
The women’s double-header is the highlight at Ikon Park, where Carlton host Richmond and North Melbourne defend back-to-back premierships against Melbourne.
Geelong will face Hawthorn on Thursday night, Essendon and the Western Bulldogs host West Coast and Port Adelaide respectively on Friday and Collingwood take on GWS on Sunday.
The men’s grand final will be held on Saturday, September 26, and no women’s matches are scheduled that day.
As previously confirmed, the AFLW season will kick off on Sunday 9 August with St Kilda hosting Carlton as part of an AFL clash between the clubs.
The remaining eight first-round matches will be played next week, starting with Hawthorn-Melbourne on Thursday night.
The first round will feature two more AFL/AFLW double headers: North Melbourne-Geelong and GWS-West Coast.
The fourth confirmed AFL/AFLW double-header is Sydney v Essendon women in the second round at the SCG ahead of the Swans v Kangaroos men’s match.
The Brisbane Lions will host North Melbourne in an AFLW grand final rematch in the second round, while the Indigenous Round (rounds three and four) and Pride Rounds (rounds nine and 10) will be celebrated over two weeks.
The season will again consist of 12 home and away rounds, followed by a four-week finals series, culminating in the grand final on the last weekend of November.
“The fixtures are another exciting step forward for the competition, featuring a strong mix of traditional rivalries, highlights and fan-focused programming, as well as new ways to showcase the AFLW across the country,” said AFL head of planning Josh Bowler.
“The inclusion of AFL/AFLW double headers during the season transition period will provide a unique experience for fans and clubs alike and we are particularly excited to kick off the season at Marvel Stadium as part of Spud’s Game.”
Two new AFLW venues will be used this season; Fremantle will play home matches at Cockburn ARC Oval and Hawthorn will host matches at the Kennedy Community Centre.
AAP
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Jon Pierik is a sports reporter for The Age. He covers the AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect with: X or email.
