AFL: Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley slams fans for booing after epic Anzac Day win over Essendon
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley concedes he was "riled up" when he condemned the booing of Scott Pendlebury after Thursday's epic Anzac Day clash at the MCG, a match that had fans up in arms over a number of contentious late umpiring decisions. REACTION, SEE WHAT THEY SAID
Ben Broad and Glenn McFarlane
2 min read
April 25, 2019 - 6:49PM
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley concedes he was "riled up" when he condemned the booing of Scott Pendlebury after Thursday's epic Anzac Day clash at the MCG.
After the Magpies skipper accepted his third Anzac Medal to a chorus of boos, Buckley didn't hold back when he told the crowd: "Shame on anyone that booed a champion".
Buckley said he could have handled the situation differently but emotions got the better of him.
"I don't believe in booing full stop. I think cheer as loud for your team as you possibly can. I actually made a mistake, because I said shame on you for booing a champion, it is not a champion, it is just anyone, anyone at any stage," Buckley told Channel 7 on Thursday evening.
"Yeah, I was a bit riled up at that point. It's not the time to take, you know, that stand, but Pendles has been a gun to the game. You know, Collingwood supporters have a crack as hard as anyone."
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WHAT THEY SAID AFTER THE POST-MATCH BOOING
The Pies skipper was best afield with 38 classy disposals.
After the match, Buckley was loath to give the booing controversy too much oxygen after the match, saying it could lead to an even bigger problem in the future.
"My comment speaks for itself," Buckley said.
"I hope that I would have been strong enough that if an Essendon player had won the medal and the Collingwood faithful had responded in that way, I hope I would have been strong enough to say the same thing. And I think I would have. I don’t like it, but that’s just my opinion."
"I don't think it really needs further speaking about as it makes a greater focal point."
Buckley said he would have been just as critical of Collingwood fans had they booed an Essendon winner of the award.
Asked about the crowd's response following his receiving of the Anzac Medal, Pendlebury played down the incident.
"I heard a lot of cheering as well … I'm not sure who it was but I appreciated that."
Nathan Buckley condemned the crowd booing of Scott Pendlebury. Picture: Getty Images
Essendon coach John Worsfold said he wasn't aware about exactly what prompted the fierce booing after the Bombers fell just short of stealing the match off the Magpies.
"I’m one not into booing. I like to appreciate sportspeople who are doing their best. I don’t know what prompted it ... fans are passionate, there was something there that had frustrated them, I assume."
Bombers fans were furious about a free kick Pendlebury won late, but also angry about one that went to Magpie Callum Brown.
It was the second time in four days that booing has almost overshadowed a game, following on from the vocal attention Geelong's Gary Ablett received at the hands of Hawthorn supporters on Easter Monday.
Updates
LAUREN WOOD reports …
Essendon coach John Worsfold says he's unsure why fans booed during Scott Pendlebury's Anzac Medal acceptance speech.
The MCG erupted in boos after Collingwood's thrilling win, but the crowd's reaction during Pendlebury's time at the microphone became the major talking point when Nathan Buckley issued his take: "Shame on anyone who booed a champion."
Worsfold said he wasn't sure why the crowd reacted that way.
"I’m one not into booing. I like to appreciate sportspeople who are doing their best," Worsfold said after the match.
"I don’t know what prompted it … fans are passionate, there was something there that had frustrated them, I assume.
John Worsfold: I don't know what prompted boos
LAUREN WOOD reports …
Essendon coach John Worsfold says he's unsure why fans booed during Scott Pendlebury's Anzac Medal acceptance speech.
The MCG erupted in boos after Collingwood's thrilling win, but the crowd's reaction during Pendlebury's time at the microphone became the major talking point when Nathan Buckley issued his take: "Shame on anyone who booed a champion."
Worsfold said he wasn't sure why the crowd reacted that way.
"I’m one not into booing. I like to appreciate sportspeople who are doing their best," Worsfold said after the match.
"I don’t know what prompted it … fans are passionate, there was something there that had frustrated them, I assume.
Anzac Day Medal voting
Ben Broad
The Pies skipper was a popular choice among the expert panel.
The panel comprised Mark Robinson, Jake Niall and Kelli Underwood.
2019 Anzac Day Medal Voting (3 judges vote 3/2/1):
9 – Scott Pendlebury, Collingwood 333 4 – Brodie Grundy, Collingwood 22 3 – Joe Daniher, Essendon 21 1 – Dylan Shiel, Essendon 1 1 – Adam Saad, Essendon 1
Eddie McGuire has urged supporters to ‘cheer the champions’ after captain Scott Pendlebury was booed while receiving his Anzac Day medal.
After criticism of booing directed at Geelong champion Gary Ablett on Easter Monday, loud boos filled the MCG while Pendlebury gave a short acceptance speech.
It led Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley to say: “Shame on anyone who booed a champion”.
McGuire said it was time for the AFL ‘to get past this booing thing’.
“I think the Bombers were so pent up at the end of the game that they were going to boo anything,” McGuire said on Fox Footy.
“I don’t think it was personal at Bucks, I don’t think it was personal at Pendles. I don’t think it was personal at the Collingwood Football Club.
“I think it was just pent up emotion. We have to stop it though.
“Because what happened to Gary, what happened to Adam Goodes, we don’t need that stuff.”
McGuire said he hoped the booing controversy would not overshadow an epic Anzac Day contest, with Collingwood holding off a second-half surge from Essendon to prevail by four points.
“Let’s not hang them for it. The day was too good to worry about the last bit,” he said.
“I am not trying to let anyone off the hook. Let’s not go silly about it.
“Let’s learn from this. Let’s cheer the champions.
“You know what’s great about our game? I was up with the Essendon people and we were at each other, we were yelling and screaming all day. At the end of it, we all hugged each other.”
Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury has played down fans booing him following his Anzac Medal performance.
Pendlebury sat alongside coach Nathan Buckley in the post-match press conference.
Buckley was again asked about the post-match booing, the coach reiterating his view on the practice.
"My comment speaks for itself," Buckley said.
"I hope that I would have been strong enough that if an Essendon player had won the medal and the Collingwood faithful had responded in that way, I hope I would have been strong enough to say the same thing. And I think I would have. I don’t like it, but that’s just my opinion.
"I don't think it really needs further speaking about as it makes a greater focal point."
When did the trend of booing the oppositions best player come in? Sore losers are fun to laugh to at
Asked about the crowd's response following his receiving of the Anzac Medal, Pendlebury played down the incident.
"I heard a lot of cheering as well … I'm not sure who it was but I appreciated that."
Today's latest booing episode comes just three days after Geelong champ Gary Ablett was loudly booed during his team's Easter Monday win against Hawthorn.
Pendlebury: Thanks for the cheers, too
Ben Broad
Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury has played down fans booing him following his Anzac Medal performance.
Pendlebury sat alongside coach Nathan Buckley in the post-match press conference.
Buckley was again asked about the post-match booing, the coach reiterating his view on the practice.
"My comment speaks for itself," Buckley said.
"I hope that I would have been strong enough that if an Essendon player had won the medal and the Collingwood faithful had responded in that way, I hope I would have been strong enough to say the same thing. And I think I would have. I don’t like it, but that’s just my opinion.
"I don't think it really needs further speaking about as it makes a greater focal point."
When did the trend of booing the oppositions best player come in? Sore losers are fun to laugh to at
Asked about the crowd's response following his receiving of the Anzac Medal, Pendlebury played down the incident.
"I heard a lot of cheering as well … I'm not sure who it was but I appreciated that."
Today's latest booing episode comes just three days after Geelong champ Gary Ablett was loudly booed during his team's Easter Monday win against Hawthorn.
The MCG erupted in boos after Collingwood's thrilling four-point win over Essendon.
And when Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury received his Anzac Day Medal for best afield, the sound seemed to go to a whole new level.
It's uncertain if Essendon fans were booing Pendlebury, but one thing is certain: they weren't happy about the final result.
A series of contentious free kicks in the final term had fans from both teams seething at different stages.
Pendlebury was best afield with 38 classy disposals, his game including a dubious final-term free kick for too high in which he appeared to lead with his head into a pack.
Essendon fans were also irate with a 'no-call' after Pie Jaidyn Stephenson was tackled but went unpunished.
The ball was inside Collingwood's 50m arc, and moments later Callum Brown was awarded a free kick after being ridden into the turf.
He missed his resulting set shot, but that decision helped the Pies run down the clock and hang onto a famous win.
Why were fans booing?
Ben Broad
The MCG erupted in boos after Collingwood's thrilling four-point win over Essendon.
And when Pies skipper Scott Pendlebury received his Anzac Day Medal for best afield, the sound seemed to go to a whole new level.
It's uncertain if Essendon fans were booing Pendlebury, but one thing is certain: they weren't happy about the final result.
A series of contentious free kicks in the final term had fans from both teams seething at different stages.
Pendlebury was best afield with 38 classy disposals, his game including a dubious final-term free kick for too high in which he appeared to lead with his head into a pack.
Essendon fans were also irate with a 'no-call' after Pie Jaidyn Stephenson was tackled but went unpunished.
The ball was inside Collingwood's 50m arc, and moments later Callum Brown was awarded a free kick after being ridden into the turf.
He missed his resulting set shot, but that decision helped the Pies run down the clock and hang onto a famous win.
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has slammed fans who he believed were booing his captain, Scott Pendlebury.
Buckley, speaking on the ground after his side's thrilling four-point win over Essendon in the annual Anzac Day clash, showed his disdain for the crowd's reaction when Pendlebury received his Anzac Medal for best on ground.
Pendlebury spoke amid a chorus of boos from Bomber fans, seething after their team narrowly went down in Thursday's classic.
Buckley was next up to the microphone, and wasted no time shouting down those more intent on voicing their anger.
"Shame on anyone who booed a champion," Buckley told more than 92,000 fans.
"I would just like to acknowledge the fact that we are blessed to have an opportunity to play on this day to represent the AFL, so thank you to the Essendon Football Club, and we as a Football Club are very proud to have the opportunity to represent on Anzac Day.
"I would like to acknowledge the Anzacs themselves, the RSL, and all who served our country, and give us the opportunity that we have.
"The strongest connection I have to that is my father, Ray Buckley, served in Vietnam in 1967. I would like to say thanks, dad. Well done."
Bucks: Shame on anyone who booed a champion
Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has slammed fans who he believed were booing his captain, Scott Pendlebury.
Buckley, speaking on the ground after his side's thrilling four-point win over Essendon in the annual Anzac Day clash, showed his disdain for the crowd's reaction when Pendlebury received his Anzac Medal for best on ground.
Pendlebury spoke amid a chorus of boos from Bomber fans, seething after their team narrowly went down in Thursday's classic.
Buckley was next up to the microphone, and wasted no time shouting down those more intent on voicing their anger.
"Shame on anyone who booed a champion," Buckley told more than 92,000 fans.
"I would just like to acknowledge the fact that we are blessed to have an opportunity to play on this day to represent the AFL, so thank you to the Essendon Football Club, and we as a Football Club are very proud to have the opportunity to represent on Anzac Day.
"I would like to acknowledge the Anzacs themselves, the RSL, and all who served our country, and give us the opportunity that we have.
"The strongest connection I have to that is my father, Ray Buckley, served in Vietnam in 1967. I would like to say thanks, dad. Well done."
Trade requests, the latest rumours and every player linked with your club. Stay across every big AFL trade story and see who could be on the move in our Trade Tracker.
