Eddie McGuire and James Brayshaw under fire for bullying Caroline Wilson in pathetic radio stunt

UPDATE: COLLINGWOOD’S board has condemned violent language “even in humour” after president Eddie McGuire sparked a storm of controversy with a joke about drowning journalist Caroline Wilson.

LATEST: COLLINGWOOD’S board has condemned violent language against women “even in humour” after president Eddie McGuire sparked a storm of controversy with a joke about drowning journalist Caroline Wilson.

The board issued a statement late on Monday declaring its commitment to “changing the attitudes of people who resort to violence, who are victims of violence or consider violence to be less than a serious issue in society”. The statement does not name McGuire, listing the club’s achievements in promoting women’s involvement in footy, before concluding: “The very clear view of the board of Collingwood is that there is no place in our community for the support of violent behaviour or language, even in humour.” McGuire has described comments during a radio segment last Monday as “banter” and “tomfoolery”. Wilson said today she did not take the comments as a joke. “I thought there was an element of bullying in it,” she said on Channel 9. “I’m very happy for the things I write to be dissected and I’m very happy for people to take me on about what I do, it happens to me every week. But I don’t think that’s the way to do it. I don’t think any journalist should have to put up with that crap. “I think Eddie was angry with me and I don’t think he set it out to be a joke. I think he dressed it up as a joke, but I don’t think it was a joke.” OPINION: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN ISN’T A JOKE, EDDIE Earlier, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan slammed McGuire, saying comments like those broadcast last Monday were linked to a culture that encouraged violence against women. “In the past we might have just ignored the comments as part of the culture of footy. We might have said that ‘Caro’ is tough and resilient. Well, it’s not good enough,” he said. “I think that Caroline was upset. I was disappointed that I didn’t know.” “We can’t say that we as an industry are committed to leading change if we don’t step up and call it out. “The casual language and jokes about threats to women are part of the problem. I, like everyone else, have a lot to learn ... we’re all learning that everyday comments cause harm and help create the environment for more mistreatment of women to occur without consequence.” SCROLL DOWN TO READ HOW TODAY’S AFL PRESS CONFERENCE UNFOLDED McLachlan continued that the view of the AFL executive was that the comments had to be called out and McGuire must apologise, and no further action was required although he conceded the league “technically” could have sanctioned the president and broadcaster. “The view was to make the AFL’s views clear, also to speak to the people involved and to seek apologies — and that was the view of what was appropriate. Was (what McGuire said on Monday morning) an acceptable apology? “From the people I’ve spoken to the answer is yes. “Everyone wants to get into the nitty gritty of this but I want to have a broader conversation about this. “I want everyone to understand the issue, a lot of people don’t. “I do know that it (sexist banter) still happens in our industry. I don’t believe the whole industry didn’t know. I don’t believe the radio stations didn’t know. “The right course was to call it out and seek an apology.” This morning, McGuire insisted there was no malicious intent behind his comments. The pair made the remarks during a radio segment following the Big Freeze at the G. “There was no malice involved in it. Absolutely no malice,” McGuire said on 3AW this morning. “For it to be taken five or six or seven days later and put in a different context, I think, skews it. “I would have thought equality was that we can joke with each other without fear or favour in that situation. But, clearly, we have learnt something and the evolution continues. “We apologise unreservedly because we’re not here as the opposition. “No one spoke of Caroline in the context of her being a woman. It was Caroline the media performer who does Caro’s Arrow and writes her editorials and skewers people left, right and centre. “She’s a huge part of the football world and your own commentators (on 3AW) were saying everyone out the front of the commentary box was calling for Caroline Wilson (to do the slide). She is such a big part of our town. There was no malice.” FANS SURVEY: HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE BIG FOOTY ISSUES FOR A CHANCE TO WIN 2 AFL GRAND FINAL TICKETS Brayshaw said on Triple M on Monday afternoon that he regretted his role in the pre-match conversation. “I was part of an on-air converstation during the Queen’s Birthday broadcast where things were said that were both inappropriate and unacceptable, and for that I offer my sincere, unreserved and unqualified apology,” he said. “Respect for women and their role in football, and indeed in our society, is of vital importance and as leaders we need to be very, very aware of this. “We let ourselves down during the broadcast in this crucial area last week, I know Ed and Danny have already apologised and it is absolutely appropriate that I do too.” Wilson said McGuire’s comments crossed the line and made her feel uncomfortable. “It may be meant as a joke, but I wonder how many times we have to draw the line in the sand ... between this sort of language and what is a joke and obviously what is completely unacceptable,” she told 3AW. “They didn’t need to (use) that language. I didn’t see it as banter.” Wilson said McGuire hadn’t apologised to her since making the remarks, although Danny Frawley had left an apologetic message on her phone. “Eddie was pretty adamant he wasn’t going to apologise,” she said. MICHAEL WARNER, SAM EDMUND AND ANTHONY HUDSON DEBATE THE FALLOUT IN THE LATEST EPISODE OF THE SUPERFOOTY PODCAST: Earlier, McGuire had expressed his disappointment about how his comments had been received. “I have been really disappointed that these comments have led to these feelings from people,” McGuire said on Triple M. “I apologise and retract them in the spirit of what we’re trying to achieve, and that is to look after women and children in our community.” McGuire said at the same time he made his comment, 3AW commentators were making similar jokes. Collingwood premiership captain Tony Shaw that tickets would have to be sold to “hold her (Wilson) under”. Wilson was on air with Shaw at the time and groaned at the comment before host Dwayne Russell threw to a break. Triple M also said today the hosts had been counselled but would not receive any further punishment. “I’ve reached out to all of our broadcasters across the country to remind them of our responsibility, that language of this nature is not acceptable and there is no context that makes it OK” content boss Mike Fitzpatrick told industry site Mumbrella. “We’ve had discussion with those directly involved. Each has apologised for their remarks and acknowledged the importance of stamping out language that encourages or endorses violence against women.” A highly emotional Shaw told 3AW this morning said he had nothing to apologise for. “I don’t think I should (apologise) because I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong,” he said. “I’m not going to cop this one, don’t worry about that.” Reports emerged this morning that AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan told McGuire to either apologise or quit in a phone call last night. McGuire said he “totally understands” that the comments were inappropriate, labelling them “banter”, but denies he was told to step down if he didn’t want to say sorry. “That is so far from the case,” he said on Triple M of the reports. “Not at all. Not at all.” Wilson said she and McGuire attended the same function during the week. “I did feel a bit uncomfortable being around him, I didn’t go and talk to him,” she said. “We’ve jousted in the past many times and on this one, I do think he probably crossed the line and I didn’t like the language. I think it’s such a pity they needed to fault to that vicious language. I don’t think it was playful banter. “I wonder how many times we have to draw the line in the sand between this sort of language and what is a joke and obviously what is completely unacceptable.” But McGuire said this morning the comments were made in the spirit of the Big Freeze at the G and there was no intention of “promulgating or supporting” domestic violence. “Anything, anything at all that can be seen to promulgate domestic violence is unacceptable. Full stop,” he said. “That’s the big issue here. You can argue as much as you like about the tone … but anything that is seen to promulgate or support — even in a lighthearted manner — any form of domestic violence is unacceptable. “That was the least of anyone’s intention. In fact, it didn’t even cross anyone’s mind. The day — the Big Freeze at the G — was based on good humour, sledging each other, tomfoolery. The whole thing was about having fun at Gil’s expense, my expense, everyone’s expense. Neale Daniher did the gag with me saying that we’re going to get extra people to push you down and everyone’s hoping you’re not going to get up out of the water. That’s where it was all at — the fun and stupidity. “However, it was clearly banter, but on White Ribbon weekend, we have to be ever-vigilant in stamping out anything that could be misconstrued one iota of supporting the abhorrent act of domestic violence.”

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