Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze has taken an extraordinary swipe at Nine AFL journalist Caroline Wilson over her criticism of Collingwood coach Craig McRae.
McRae fronted a 12-minute press conference after the Magpies’ 15-point loss to St Kilda last Friday night, during which time he made no mention of the Saints’ performance, instead looking in the mirror for answers.
For the record, he was not asked about St Kilda once during that time.
Stream analysis, local footy and the biggest moments free on 7plus
But Wilson believes he still should have found a way to credit their opposition for what happened in the game, incredulous that McRae gave the Saints “not one mention”, especially given the wider context that it was the now annual ‘Spud’s Game’, in honour of late St Kilda great, Danny ‘Spud’ Frawley.
“Craig McRae’s media performance after Collingwood’s loss last Thursday night reflected a ‘me, me, me’ mentality that has permeated that football club as it continues to celebrate that brilliant premiership victory (last year),” Wilson said.
“For the record, St Kilda won the game, Spud’s Game, and perhaps applied some pressure that led to those Collingwood mistakes.
“There’s self-reflection and there’s sportsmanship.”
Responding to the hot take on radio the next day, Gaze, who has coached at the top level of his sport with the Sydney Kings in the NBL, teed off on Wilson.
“I think that’s really poor by ‘Caro’,” said Gaze, who was a colleague and friend of Frawley’s for a number of years before his passing.
“I think if you work your way backwards, to (in) any way infer that Craig McRae was not showing respect to Spud’s game, is abhorrent. That is just disgusting, that she would suggest or intimate that Craig McRae is not paying respect to Spud — that’s upsetting.”
Gaze said McRae actually deserves credit for the way he absorbed blame for the loss.
“If you look at the way in which Craig McRae did answer it, he is taking responsibility,” he went on.
“He is saying he looks at himself, and he says, ‘What can I do to make this team better?’ He’s not passing the buck, he’s not blaming his players … he is taking ownership of the loss.
“And then I think you’ve also got to take a coach’s body of work. Have we seen a more respectful, giving, a more enthusiastic, a more humble coach over the last two years (in the AFL)? I am not sure we have one.”
The basketball great also made the point that a coach can only answer the questions that are put to them.
“When you’re in those press conferences, you’re answering questions. And when you’re charged (with answering) the question, then you’re going to answer the question, and it may not always give you the opportunity to laud your opponent,” Gaze said.
“But you’ve still got to take the body of work (into consideration). To infer that he wouldn’t have had the greatest respect for their opponents, the greatest respect for what they were able to do against his team — I just thought it was poor.”
Asked about Wilson’s criticism of his post-match performance from the previous week on Tuesday, McRae took the opportunity to give St Kilda the credit they deserved.
“Can I do that (credit St Kilda) now then? Caroline, I apologise, because that’s something I really want to do,” the Magpies coach told reporters.
“I want to be humble and gracious and if I didn’t give St Kilda enough credit, I should’ve. That’s a good observation.”