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

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".

The Pies hung on to record a famous four-point win, 10.13 (73) to 10.9 (69), with a number of contentious umpiring decisions late in the contest leaving fans of both teams seething.

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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.