May 21, 2026 — 1:55pmCollingwood coach Craig McRae and his Sydney counterpart Dean Cox have expressed opposing views about bench etiquette after McCrae’s in-game comment to Swans ruckman Brodie Grundy. McRae’s boundary-line antics have raised eyebrows over the past two seasons. He has engaged with a rival coach, supporters and now a rival player – former Magpie Grundy, during last Friday night’s clash at the SCG.Time to reflect: Collingwood coach Craig McRae directed a comment at Brodie Grundy during the loss to the Sydney Swans.Getty ImagesMcRae said on Thursday he would continue to coach from the boundary line, and insists there is room for interaction with opposition players.Cox, also speaking on Thursday, said he and his staff would not speak to rival players during a match. “I think my philosophy on that, is if I was down on the bench, I don’t speak to other players. That’s where I would leave it,” he said.“We haven’t spoken at length about being unhappy or happy with it [the Grundy incident], so we haven’t spoken to anyone about it. It’s just what I would do if I was down there and what I expect my staff that are on the bench to do.”Cox said it was not an official policy, but “just expected”.“We haven’t sat down and spoken about a direct policy around it - it’s just the way we would handle things might be different to other teams,” he said.Ahead of Scott Pendlebury’s record-breaking 433rd game on Saturday, McRae said he had no intention of heading to the coaches’ box on game day.“I love coaching from the boundary. I feel there is an energy for me on the boundary line with the team, an instant ability to instantly react to situations in the game,” McRae said after training on Thursday.The 2023 premiership coach was involved in an exchange of words with Greater Western Sydney coach Adam Kingsley during their Opening Round clash last year and was forced to apologise, although he escaped sanction by the AFL.He caused a stir against Hawthorn at the MCG last month when there were allegations of time-wasting after he called for the ball from a member of the crowd, only to turn his back when the ball was thrown at him, eating into time on the clock.No-go zone: Swans coach Dean Cox said he would not interact with a rival player during a game.AFL PhotosThe latest incident with Grundy came as McRae scooped up the ball after it had rolled out of bounds ahead of Grundy, who then turned and made his way to the ensuing ruck contest.Asked on Thursday what he had said, McRae replied: “I can’t articulate what I said, because it’s a personal thing … for me, it was just a moment in time, and we keep moving.”Grundy, in an interview with Seven after the match, made light of the incident.“He just said: ‘G’day, old mate’. It was nothing untoward, all in the spirit of it. He just bobbed up right then and there,” Grundy said, having already spoken on field with the Swans’ head of media.However, Age columnist Caroline Wilson told Seven’s Agenda Setters: “Well, it might have been all respect, but it certainly wasn’t: ‘G’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-game.”The AFL has chosen not to take action against McRae.McRae insisted he had a strong relationship with Grundy, the pair having first met when McRae was an assistant at Collingwood when Grundy was drafted in 2012, and there was no reason why a coach could not interact with a rival player in the heat of battle.“If you have a strong relationship with someone, I don’t see an issue with it. I coached him when he … first got drafted. I have got a really strong relationship, great respect for Brodie,” McRae, who also coached Grundy in 2022 before the ruckman left for Melbourne, said.“There is nothing untoward. At an appropriate time, I might be able to tell you what I said.”Ready to celebrate: Magpies great Scott Pendlebury.AFL PhotosMcRae, who said he reflects on his behaviour whether that be “good and bad”, questioned whether it was a “big” issue, but said he may now contact Grundy to check in on him.“I might reach out to Brodie to just make sure he is OK,” McRae said.McRae said skipper Darcy Moore (concussion), Patrick Lipinski (concussion), Darcy Cameron (ankle) and Tim Membrey (hamstring) were available for selection. Bobby Hill, whose partner was expecting their third child, did not train.Amid the hoopla over Pendlebury’s record-breaking game, McRae said the Magpies had done all they could to ensure they honoured their champion midfielder in the right manner - with a win.McRae noted West Coast’s phenomenal pressure rating they had in a shock win over Greater Western Sydney last weekend, and said it was “naive” to suggest the Magpies had pin-pointed the lowly Eagles as the ideal opponent for Pendlebury to break the games record.Pendlebury has twice been rested in the past three weeks.Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.From our partners