Collingwood coach Craig McRae says his sideline interplay with a GWS participant was a foul search for the sport, and has vowed to turn out to be a greater function mannequin.

McRae escaped sanction from the AFL but was given an official warning for saying “nicely achieved” to Toby Bedford after the Giants tagger gave away a free kick in Collingwood’s 52-point loss on Sunday.

GWS coach Adam Kingsley instantly exchanged phrases with McRae after seeing the incident.

The AFL launched an investigation earlier than confirming no additional motion can be taken in opposition to McRae.

The 2023 premiership coach expressed his remorse concerning the incident when he fronted the media on Wednesday.

“I am cheeky. I’ve bought an awesome relationship with Kingers [Kingsley], so I’ve a little bit of banter with Kingers,” McRae mentioned.

“However then I realised actually rapidly [it was wrong], notably when my spouse tells me the subsequent day, ‘You’ll be able to’t do this Craig.’

“And I perceive for the look of the sport it is not what we wished, for the AFL or for younger coaches aspiring to be greater than that.

“I apologise for that. I do not suppose it is good for the sport.”

McRae mentioned he wanted to face up for his gamers in a extra measured method.

“I really like to guard our gamers. However there is a degree in there that is inside the function mannequin that I need to be,” he mentioned.

“I stand right here with nice values and morals, and I need to signify us, our gamers, very well.”

McRae labored alongside Kingsley as an assistant coach at Richmond, saying they have been buddies who had nice respect for one another.

However when the query was put to McRae that the larger concern was his interplay with an opposition participant fairly than Kingsley, he was much less forthcoming.

“I feel I’ve made sufficient feedback about that. I feel we’re all good with that, aren’t we?” McRae mentioned.

“I take duty for all my actions. I need to be a superb function mannequin.”

The AFL has been fast to crack down on coaches confronting rival gamers.

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley was fined $20,000 final yr for his heated change with Hawthorn gamers in the course of the finals.

The Magpies will probably be aiming to bounce again from their insipid loss to the Giants after they host the Energy on the MCG on Saturday evening.

Josh Daicos (ankle) and Jeremy Howe (knee) are unsure to play, whereas Jordan De Goey remains to be unavailable whereas he builds up his health.

Ruckman Mason Cox has been cleared to play after recovering from a finger damage.

AAP