Eddie McGuire rages at the AFL over Collingwood MCG seat furore

Eddie McGuire has been left seeing red as he takes aim at the AFL over a move the former president has labelled an “insult”.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 09: Eddie McGuire resigns effective immediately as Collingwood Football Club President whilst speaking to the media during a Collingwood Magpies AFL press conference at the Holden Centre on February 09, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mackenzie Sweetnam/Getty Images)

Eddie McGuire is not a happy man.

The former Collingwood president has hit out at rival clubs and the AFL over attempts to quash the Magpies’ hold on seats at the MCG.

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McGuire was left fuming at both Hawthorn and Richmond as they tried to force the AFL to cut up an agreement between the Magpies and the MCG over exclusive reserved seating in the Ponsford Stand.

The agreement gives Collingwood members rights to the section of the stadium for both home and away games, meaning teams have to relocate their members even if they’re the home team at the MCG.

In an exclusive interview with the Herald Sun, McGuire let rip at his rivals and said the league contemplating it was a slap in the face to every single Collingwood fan.

“I am actually insulted to be honest on behalf of all Collingwood people that the MCG and the AFL would even contemplate it,” McGuire said.

“All these clubs had the chance to do a deal with the MCG and all of them ran out the door.

“In the end Collingwood stayed and did the ripping deal at the MCG.

“When the new Northern Stand was opened, I invited all the Collingwood members to turn up, I showed them where their seats were and stood with MCC boss Stephen Gough and told our supporters ‘that is your seat for life’.

“That was the deal in word and spirit.”

Read the full interview with Eddie McGuire here

Eddie isn’t happy. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)

The former Pies boss said the club had done more for the game and had helped elevate the MCG into a world renowned stadium.

It was on that basis that McGuire said the agreement should remain in place for the foreseeable future.

“I’d remind the MCC and the AFL who built the MCG and who financed it and the deals that were done and why they were done,” he said.

“They should never underestimate the Collingwood members and what they have done for this game. They built that ground, the Southern Stand and the Northern Stand.”

Don’t forget what Collingwood have done. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

McGuire will be back behind the AFL commentary microphone as it was revealed he would call select games for 3AW in 2023.

The 58-year-old stepped back from his footy commitments just before the start of last season.

But a year on, he’s ready to get back behind the mic.

Although it won’t be a full-time gig, McGuire revealed he would commentator on a handful of matches.

“I am normally on AW being attacked by the Rumour File or something,” McGuire joked.

“Obviously I founded Triple M football, so that was a big time in my life, and in recent times I have done a bit of calling on the television, but I always enjoyed calling on the radio.

“I am not going to do a whole lot (of calling) this year, because I have a lot of things going on, but it is nice just to keep your hand in and there are a couple of weeks that have been pencilled in.

“It will be really good to work with some different people. Tim Lane (also part of 3AW footy) came over and said ‘are we calling together?’ which is good because we didn’t at Channel 9 as it turned out.”

Originally published as Eddie McGuire rages at the AFL over Collingwood MCG seat furore