Magpies coach Craig McRae has refused to use Jack Crisp’s leaked video controversy as an excuse for his side suffering its first loss of 2023 at the hands of a red-hot Lions at the Gabba on Thursday night.
Some 24 hours before the first bounce, a video widely surfaced on social media that appeared to show Snapchat photos of Crisp referencing drug use, with both the AFL and Collingwood set to probe the matter.
The images of Crisp are believed to be several years old.
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While the 29-year old could still face suspension, the league had insufficient time to interview Crisp or launch an investigation, freeing him to play against his old side the Lions.
But the star midfielder had little impact on the night, gathering 15 disposals and booting one goal.
Asked post-match if he thought the Crisp saga had an impact on his side, McRae said: “No, I wouldn’t have thought so. We’re not going to make excuses for anything.”
The Magpies coach instead lauded the “really good” Lions and believes they deserve full credit.
“They’ve beaten Melbourne up here, and everyone is saying Melbourne is the team to beat. And we’ve gone down as well,” he said.
“I think they’ve lost four games up here in the last five years up here, let’s call how it is, they were really good.”
While McRae was unwilling to comment on the Crisp incident specifically, the Collingwood boss insisted the club had full support of the player.
“I’m not going to comment on what’s going on with it, but in terms of Jack, he’s like every player on our list – we love and support them and 100 per cent and have their backs as people and humans,” McRae said.
“I’ve said this before, there’s lots of stuff that goes on within our players that I’m not always going to condone, I’m a father. I don’t always condone the things my kids do.
“But at the end of the day, we love and support them. That’s not going to change.”
Collingwood Magpies press conference | 03:48
Pending the AFL’s investigation, Crisp faces a potential suspension which could see him miss a Gather Round clash against St Kilda followed by an Anzac Day showdown with Essendon.
A ban would also see Crisp’s 192 consecutive games streak come to an end – the longest run of any active player.
It’d put the likes of Finlay Macrae (23 disposals, five tackles, one goal) and Ed Allan (20 touches) in the frame to come into the Collingwood side after promising VFL performances in a 67-point loss to Brisbane on Thursday night.
“The AFL’s integrity team will speak to Jack Crisp about those historical Snapchat posts, which do reference drug use, as early as Tuesday,” Herald Sun reporter Jon Ralph explained on Fox Footy.
“The AFL gave him permission to play today, indeed, he was very keen to do so.
“But if he does admit drug use from those posts, which were believed (to be taken) several years ago, then certainly he will be issued with a two-week suspension by the AFL, given brand damage.
“He will also accept a strike under the AFL’s illicit drug code.”
