While some AFL figures are mourning the departure of Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, those who signed an open letter calling for his head say his exit presents an opportunity for change in the sport and society.
Key points:
- Eddie McGuire’s decision to end his two-decade stay as the Collingwood chief has drawn mixed reactions
- His resignation has been welcomed by critics of the club’s initial response to a report detailing systemic racism at Collingwood
- Several former Collingwood players have come out in support of McGuire, with one saying he is the victim of a “witch-hunt”
AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan today described McGuire’s decision to step down a week after an internal Collingwood report found the club guilty of “systemic racism” as “courageous”.
The club has pledged to adopt 18 recommendations within the report, including developing proactive measures to combat racism.
“I think Ed put his family and his footy club first,” McLachlan told Melbourne radio station 3AW.
“That work was going to be more easily done and more successfully done with him leaving.
“His influence and impact on Collingwood and Australian Rules can’t be underestimated.
McGuire’s emotional departure on Tuesday afternoon came in the wake of him apologising for describing the release of the report as a “historic” and “proud” day for the club.
It was to be McGuire’s final gaffe while president of Collingwood, a club he took the reins of in 1998.
McGuire, a television and radio show host, had previously been forced to apologise for making offensive comments about Indigenous AFL star Adam Goodes, joking about drowning journalist Caroline Wilson, and mocking Cynthia Banham, an academic with a disability who tossed the coin at a match he was commentating on.
McGuire’s decision to quit was today welcomed by some of the Indigenous leaders and other signatories of a widely circulated open letter that said the long-term president was “incapable of leading the Collingwood Football Club through any meaningful transformation”.
Victorian Greens senator Lidia Thorpe said McGuire’s departure was “overdue”.
“The pain that I saw in Eddie’s eyes and the tears that I saw from Eddie, we actually refer to them as ‘white tears’,” she said.
“It’s great that he’s had the courage to come out and own what he’s perpetrated for a number of years.”
Francis Awaritefe, an English-born black footballer who played for the Socceroos, said racism was an issue that transcended the AFL.
“I think his recognition is welcome, I think it [was] needed in order to undertake this substantive change that needed to happen,” Awaritefe told ABC Radio Melbourne.
“I think this is an opportunity now for Australian sporting institutions to make a commitment … to respect and embed human rights in accordance with recognised human rights standards.”
Magpies greats praise McGuire
Collingwood greats Peter McKenna and Tony Shaw were vocal in their defence of McGuire, both describing him as a great club president.
“I think it’s been a real witch-hunt to be quite honest,” McKenna told ABC Radio Melbourne.
Shaw, a former Collingwood captain and coach, described McGuire as “one of the best presidents in history”.
“Eddie wasn’t just great for Collingwood, he did a lot of things for other clubs too,” he said on radio station SEN1116.
“I think the timing was right. He put the club first.”
On Instagram, former Collingwood player Dayne Beams defended McGuire’s legacy and described him as a “genuinely good person”.
In a statement, the Collingwood Football Club highlighted McGuire’s football success, but also praised social initiatives undertaken during his tenure.
“A succession plan had already commenced … the board will meet to expedite the process of selecting a successor,” it said.
‘I wish him well’: Andrews does not regret support for McGuire
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said he did not regret earlier declaring his support for McGuire.
“He’s made a decision. He’s explained why he’s done that. I wish him well,” Mr Andrews said.
“I think his statement speaks for itself. I’m not going to interpret that.”
McGuire’s brother Frank is a longstanding member of Mr Andrews’s Labor Government in Victoria.
Former Collingwood player Héritier Lumumba, whose allegations of racism helped spark the review, accused Mr Andrews of caring “more about one man’s ego than fighting racism”.
On Wednesday, a reporter asked Mr Andrews if he abandoned his principles when “a mate needs a chop out”.
Mr Andrews said he rejected suggestions he was interested in looking after “white mates”.
“People are entitled to their views,” he said.
On Tuesday, Mr Andrews had said McGuire, saying he was “equal to that task” of stamping racism out of Collingwood.
He denounced racism as toxic and said it was present throughout society.
