Eddie McGuire fires back at Melbourne over Collingwood succession plan sledge

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has fired back at a Melbourne sledge over the Magpies’ controversial coaching succession plan.

Eddie McGuire at Collingwood training. Picture: Wayne Ludbey

COLLINGWOOD president Eddie McGuire has fired back at a Melbourne sledge over the Magpies’ controversial coaching succession plan.

Premiership coach Mick Malthouse walked out on the club in 2012 and a deal to become director of coaching, which paved the way for Nathan Buckley to become senior coach.

In announcing Simon Goodwin as coach on Wednesday, Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson suggested the Magpies had botched their handover.

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Goodwin takes over from Paul Roos after a two-year apprenticeship after being lured across from Essendon.

“I don’t think people understood (the succession plan) in the footy world of Victoria very well,” Jackson said.

“There was one across the road (Collingwood) that may not have happened as well as it could have.”

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire. Picture: Ian Currie

McGuire was never going to take a sledge from a historic arch-rival lying down and didn’t hold back on Triple M.

“In 2008 when we did the succession plan — Collingwood then played in a preliminary final, won a premiership, played in a grand final, played in a preliminary final and then decided to rebuild because we had the bloke installed that we wanted to to get there,” he said.

From now on no more captain Nice Guy from me ... look forward to seeing you on Queen’s Birthday.

Eddie McGuire

“I think that what Peter Jackson should go and reference his bungled attempt at exiting Kevin Sheedy at Essendon, which has ended up turning the Bombers into a basket case for a number of years after that.

“My point is Peter, don’t get all too chirpy just yet, mate. You haven’t done anything mate, you got flogged in the last two rounds and you got the AFL giving you $1.5 million to install the bloke for three years to dig you out of the crap.”

Melbourne CEO Peter Jackson, new coach Simon Goodwin and chairman Glen Bartlett.

Jackson oversaw Sheedy’s exit at Essendon in 2007 and the appointment of Matthew Knights. The Bombers have played one final since.

“We were in the finals for 10 successive seasons when we did that and we are rebuilding our club,” McGuire said.

“From now on no more captain Nice Guy from me, I’m sick of people reinventing history on this sort of stuff.

“Look forward to seeing you on Queen’s Birthday.”

Originally published as Eddie McGuire fires back at Melbourne over Collingwood succession plan sledge