'We care for Brodie': McRae refuses to target former Pie
Collingwood coach bucks the norm, telling players not to do new Demon 'any wrong'
www.afl.com.auHere’s what’s currently reported about what Craig McRae said to Brodie Grundy in the latest exchanges.
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Summary of McRae’s remark: McRae declined to share the exact words he said to Grundy, stating that he “can’t share exactly what I said to him” and that the exchange was respectful. He emphasized there was nothing untoward in the boundary-line moment. This was his post-match description after the Swans’ win over Collingwood, with a focus on maintaining respect and trust between coach and player.[1]
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Grundy’s account: Grundy said the remark was simply a friendly exchange, characterizing it as “hello” or “G’day old mate,” and noted that McRae was trying to rattle him or take him off his game in the late moments of the game. Grundy described McRae as a bit quirky and nothing untoward occurred.[7][1]
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Context of the moment: The interaction occurred during the final quarter in Sydney, in wet conditions, as Grundy was contesting against his former side. Grundy’s performance was strong that night, but the exchange itself became a notable talking point in media coverage.[2][1][7]
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Media framing: Channel 7 and other outlets reported that the exchange drew commentary in the broadcast and among pundits, with some suggesting the coach was trying to disrupt Grundy’s rhythm while Grundy framed it as friendly banter. There is no indication of any disciplinary or punitive action stemming from this moment.[2][7]
If you’d like, I can pull more up-to-date quotes or provide a quick timeline of the events and how both sides described the exchange, or summarize other reactions from players and analysts. Would you prefer a brief quote-by-quote recap or a concise timeline?
Citations: McRae’s post-match comment and Grundy’s account are reported in multiple outlets, including AFL.com.au and 7News, which covered the exchange and its interpretation.[1][2]