Craig McRae Sparks Debate with Bold “We Don’t Boo” Comment at Collingwood Best and Fairest Event

Collingwood coach Craig McRae raised eyebrows during his speech at the club’s best and fairest awards on Friday night, following a memorable 2024 AFL season. The night, which saw Nick Daicos claim the E.W. Copeland Trophy for best player, quickly turned controversial due to McRae’s bold claim: “We don’t boo at Collingwood.”

As McRae praised Daicos for his outstanding Brownlow Medal performance, where he finished second with 38 votes, some fans inside the room reacted with boos. The coach swiftly shut it down, stating, “No. We don’t boo at Collingwood,” emphasizing his stance on sportsmanship.

The comment comes as a surprise to many, given Collingwood’s fanbase has been criticized for booing opposition players, with notable incidents including the booing of former Magpie Jack Ginnivan. McRae’s remark has since sparked a social media storm, with videos of the moment garnering over 200,000 views. Fans were quick to call out what they viewed as an unrealistic claim, while others applauded McRae’s efforts to instill a culture of respect.

McRae’s speech also touched on congratulating Collingwood players and their partners for welcoming new children into the world, pointing to potential future father-son draft prospects. His remarks come in the wake of ongoing discussions around the AFL draft system’s fairness, with St Kilda president Andrew Bassat recently criticizing the system as being skewed in favor of wealthier and northern clubs.

Despite the debate, McRae remains one of the league’s most respected coaches, celebrated for his leadership and values, even as his recent comments continue to spark discussion among AFL fans.