Collingwood planning MCG board meeting before season restart while presidnets Jeff Kennett and Peter Gordon decide to stay home

While fans will be at home when the season restarts, Collingwood is planning a board meeting at the MCG before tomorrow night’s match against Richmond.

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan will be at the MCG for the opening bounce on Thursday night. Picture: AAP

Collingwood plans to hold a board meeting at the MCG tomorrow night before the Magpies’ match against Richmond.

Magpies president Eddie McGuire said the club’s board members will gather at the season restart and he would extend an invitation to AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan to make a brief appearance.

Board members are now permitted to attend matches this weekend after clubs were initially restricted to 30 match day officials.

But Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield won’t be allowed to have family at his 250th game on Friday night.

While Collingwood will take advantage of the relaxed rules, Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett and Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon will be watching their clubs from home.

“With this situation, I think what we’re going to do is actually have a board meeting beforehand and Gil’s going to be there (at the footy) so that gives us the opportunity for the AFL to come in and speak to our board directly,” McGuire said on Triple M on Wednesday morning.

“... I sent a text about five minutes ago to (Collingwood chief executive) Mark Anderson to say ‘while we’re all there we’ll just get Gil to stick his head in the window and just give us an update what’s going on’.

“Why not, why wouldn’t we do it.”

“To be honest I made my mind up to probably go (to the game) about one minute ago and only because this works, and it may change at the same time. If Gil’s there and, say, (AFL general counsel) Andrew Dillon’s there it does give the board an opportunity to talk.”

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Collingwood president Eddie McGuire will be at the MCG to watch Collingwood take on Richmond. Picture: AAP

Kennett has declared Hawks board members won’t be attending any AFL games until the club’s members are allowed to return.

Some states are set to open the gates to a limited number of fans but there are no plans yet in Victoria to bring supporters back fans to games.

Kennett revealed he and other Hawthorn directors have declined an offer to attend this Friday night’s clash against Geelong at GMHBA Stadium.

“Hawthorn Board will not be accepting the invitation of the AFL to attend our match against Geelong on Friday night. We will do so only when such rights are also extended to our members. They are our lifeblood for whom we serve,” Kennett tweeted last night.

Hawthorn Board will not be accepting the invitation of the AFL to attend our match against Geelong on Friday night. We will do so only when such rights are also extended to our members. They are our lifeblood for whom we serve.

— Jeff Kennett (@jeff_kennett) June 9, 2020

Kennett’s gesture came after AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said he planned to be at the MCG for the opening bounce of Thursday night’s restart.

The South Australian government has approved more than 2000 fans to attend Saturday’s “Showdown” between Adelaide and Port Adelaide and NSW is expected to follow suit with an announcement on Thursday for similar crowd numbers at weekend games.

McLachlan has wrestled with the decision, mindful of the members and fans of clubs currently unable to attend AFL matches.

“I’ve been debating the visible leadership of not being there and being there,” McLachlan told SEN.

“I feel the opening game I’ll be somewhere on my own, I’ll go to the opening game and that will be it.”

Gillon McLachlan will be at the MCG for Thursday night’s season restart. Picture: AAP

McLachlan, meanwhile, will be alone and restricted to a private corporate box.

Under strict return to play guidelines, the “bowl” viewing area of stadiums must be vacant.

“It’s a bit of a stark look, sitting there (in a box) on your own,” McLachlan said.

“The opening game of the restart it’s the right thing to do … but I get it, some might think members can’t go and others can’t go … so I think you shouldn’t.

“I’ll go and then not go, but be there for the opening bounce.”

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Originally published as Collingwood planning MCG board meeting before season restart while presidnets Jeff Kennett and Peter Gordon decide to stay home