Eddie McGuire Caroline Wilson bullying: AFL can’t wimp out on this one
EDDIE McGuire’s comments about Caroline Wilson were inexcusable and the AFL must reprimand and fine him, writes Susie O’Brien.
Susie O'Brien
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THE AFL has wimped it yet again. AFL boss Gillon McLachlan must fine and reprimand Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and his bully boy sidekicks for talking about drowning journalist Caroline Wilson.
What’s the point of the AFL joining Our Watch, or having a White Ribbon round, if its chief executive fails to act decisively when violent statements are made against a woman?
It is not enough for the AFL to accept McGuire’s half-baked apology, because he hasn’t publicly admitted he said anything wrong.
The latest episode in the AFL’s sexist hall of shame took place on Monday last week. McGuire and his Triple M radio hosts were talking about going down a slide to raise money for motor neurone disease research.
McGuire kicked things off by saying he would pay $50,000 to see Wilson stay under a pool of iced water.
To the laughter of the others, he went on to say he’d charge an extra $10,000 for “everyone to stand around the outside and bomb her”.
Former Richmond coach Danny Frawley joined in, saying he would “actually jump in and make sure she doesn’t (come up) ... I’ll hold her under, Ed”.
McGuire apologised but insisted they were merely “cracking gags” in the spirit of the day. Wilson said it was “casual violent banter against an individual they do not like”.
I’ll take Wilson’s word over McGuire’s.
Some commentators are claiming Wilson undermined her outrage on 3AW the same day by failing to react strongly enough when similar comments were made. But I strongly disagree. If you listen to the 3AW tape, it is clear she was surprised and unimpressed by the turn of the conversation. It started by Wilson saying that she’d been told that a great many people wanted to see her go down the slide.
Then former Collingwood captain and coach Tony Shaw chimed in and said: “We’d have to sell tickets for those who want to push you … and hold her under.” Wilson was heard to groan: “Oh boys.”
She clearly did protest. Ask this: why are some condemning Wilson for her response rather than condemning the men who made the comments?
If anything, this exchange strengthens Wilson’s position, because it reflects the sexist underbelly that exists in Aussie rules. It is telling that these comments came from a number of different sources, not just one man.
In any case, McGuire went much further than Shaw. Not only did he offer violent comments himself, he also encouraged his fellow commentators, such as North Melbourne president James Brayshaw and former player Wayne Carey, to join the bullying ring.
McGuire may say it was “nothing personal” but it appeared to be a payback for Wilson doing her job by offering frank criticism of his performance.
It is true that the comments were made more than a week ago and only reached the mainstream press when the AFL stepped in.
Just because the issue took a week to break more broadly doesn’t undermine its seriousness. It’s not right to say no one noticed: there was vigorous discussion about it on social media.
The real problem, as Wilson pointed out, was that no one at Triple M had any problem with the comments until they were called on it.
It’s not good enough for McGuire to defend himself by arguing that “no one spoke of Caroline in the context of her being a woman”.
Then why did he call her a “Black Widow” who will “burn you like everyone else”?
It you look at some of the nastier attacks Wilson has been subjected to over the years, it’s obvious she is being punished, not just as a journalist, but as an outspoken woman.
No doubt she was reminded of that when Sam Newman and other Neanderthals from The Footy Show put her head on a bikini mannequin and wheeled it out on to the stage.
Some commentators, such as 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, say Wilson should just get over it because she has not been a “real” victim of violence.
But violence against women comes in different forms. Verbal and emotional abuse such as this is just as insidious and harmful as physical violence can be.
Women should not have to put up with men telling us what’s violence and what’s not.
Wilson herself said McGuire “crossed the line”. So who is Neil Mitchell to disagree?
Ultimately, club presidents such as McGuire should be part of the solution, not part of the problem. If they can’t do that, then they should step aside and allow others to bring in a more progressive era.
Susie O’Brien is a Herald Sun columnist
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