Aussie sporting great Andrew Gaze blasts top footy reporter Caroline Wilson for her ‘disgusting’ take on Collingwood coach Craig McRae

Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze criticized Nine Footy journalist Caroline Wilson for her opinion on Collingwood coach Craig McRae, calling it “disgusting” and “disturbing”.

Wilson was unimpressed with McRae’s post-match press conference after the Magpies lost to St Kilda on Friday night because he made no mention of the Saints’ performance, preferring to focus on his team’s poor performance.

“Craig McRae’s performance to the media after Collingwood’s defeat 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, the Spud game, and maybe applied some pressure that led to those Collingwood errors.

“There’s self-reflection and sportsmanship.”

Spud’s Game was introduced in 2021 and is played in honor of the late St Kilda great Danny Frawley and focuses on mental health.

Responding to the veteran journalist’s comments on the radio the next day, Gaze didn’t hold back.

“I think that’s very poor of ‘Caro,'” Gaze said.

“I think if you work backwards, to somehow infer that Craig McRae wasn’t showing respect for Spud’s game is abhorrent.

“It’s just disgusting that she would suggest or insinuate that Craig McRae isn’t respecting Spud; that’s disturbing.”

McRae ended up apologizing after coming under scrutiny from Wilson, something Gaze believes he deserves credit for.

“If you look at the way Craig McRae responded, he’s taking responsibility,” he said.

“He says he looks at himself and says, ‘What can I do to make this team better?'” He’s not passing the buck, he’s not blaming his players… he’s taking responsibility for the loss.

“And then I think you also have to take into account the work of a coach. Have we seen a more respectful, generous, more enthusiastic and more humble coach in the last two years? I’m not sure we have one.

Gaze went on to say that McCrae can only answer questions asked during a press conference.

‘When you’re at those press conferences, you’re answering questions. And when you’re tasked with (answering) the question, then you’re going to answer the question, and that’s not always going to give you the opportunity to praise your opponent,” Gaze said.

‘But still the whole work must be taken into consideration. “To infer that he wouldn’t have had the greatest respect for his opponents, the greatest respect for what they were able to do against his team, I just thought that was poor.”