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Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley has used his post-match speech to slam supporters who booed the Magpies captain Scott Pendlebury after he received the Anzac Medal for best on ground.
When Pendlebury was announced as the winner, boos from the Essendon supporters drowned out the initial cheers from the Collingwood fans.
Pendlebury copped a furious reaction from the heaving Essendon-dominated MCG crowd after the Magpies prevailed by four points in a scintillating Anzac Day clash.
"On behalf of both sides I want to thank the crowd," Pendlebury said, before pausing as a fresh round of boos rained down from a portion of the 92,241-strong crowd — the fourth largest for an Anzac Day match.
In all likelihood, Pendlebury was just in the wrong place at the wrong time given Bombers fans had earlier directed their ire at the umpires.
The men in green made several contentious calls amid a cacophony of noise from a typically vociferous crowd that added to the confusion on the field.
But Buckley was in no mood for excuses after Pendlebury's words were drowned out while accepting a record-equalling third Anzac Medal.
"Shame on anyone that booed a champion," Buckley said during the post-match presentation.
"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.
"We as a football club are very proud to have the opportunity to represent on Anzac Day."
Bombers fans were irate when a free kick was paid against rookie defender Jordan Ridley for a push in the back on Callum Brown in the final minute.
Brown's set shot drifted across for a behind but having taken 30 seconds off the clock, the young Magpie had done enough.
Asked during his post-match press conference about the crowd booing, Buckley was reluctant to give the issue further oxygen.
"My comment speaks for itself," he said.
"If an Essendon player had won the medal in that exact same moment and the Collingwood faithful had responded 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 warrants further questioning or talking about because it just makes it a greater focal point."
Pendlebury's 38 disposals, seven marks, six tackles and four inside-50s made him a unanimous selection among the Anzac Medal's three media judges.
Essendon coach John Worsfold was more circumspect in his response.
"I'm not one into booing," Worsfold said.
"I don't know what prompted it, I don't know what it was about so it's hard to comment on it."
"Fans are passionate. There was something there that had frustrated them, I assume."
AAP/ABC
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