‘Won’t let me in’: Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire denied entry to Western Australia

Former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire will not attend this year’s AFL grand final after being denied entry to Western Australia.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos 12 MAY 2021 : State Memorial Service for Frank Costa AO at GMHBA Stadium, South Geelong , Victoria. Eddie McGuire arrives. Picture : POOL via NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Former Collingwood president and Fox Footy commentator Eddie McGuire has been denied entry to Western Australia for the 2021 AFL grand final.

On Tuesday afternoon, AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan confirmed Perth’s Optus Stadium would host the season finale in a historic first for the sport.

It will be the first time the grand final has ever been played in Western Australia and the second year in a row it will not be played at the MCG, the traditional home of the AFL.

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Speaking on to Triple M Perth on Wednesday morning, popular broadcaster Steve Price revealed that McGuire had not been granted access to Western Australia for the final, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 25.

“A bit of a whinge overnight in a text (message) I got from an old friend of yours and mine, one Edward McGuire, former Collingwood president, said he’s not allowed in,” Price said.

“I’m giving it to you first hand, I’ve got the text in front of me, ‘I expected to be in Perth. They won’t let me in’.”

McGuire confirmed the rumours later on Wednesday, telling Triple M’s Breakfast Basil, Xav and Jenna: “I’m disappointed, because we’d planned to do a lot of great things around the grand final.

“I’m very conscious of the fact that so many people can’t get into Western Australian who are West Australians or who have stories that are far more important than getting to a grand final.

“I put forward a smorgasbord of options … but it became untenable.

“It will be the first grand final I’ve missed since 1976.”

The 56-year-old also confirmed his two sons were part of the application, both of whom have worked in sports broadcasting.

Eddie McGuire will not attend this year’s AFL grand final. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Speaking to Perth’s Mix 94.5 on Wednesday, West Australian Premier Mark McGowan said with tongue firmly in cheek that McGuire was denied entry to “protect him from West Australians”.

“He was not happy,” McGowan confessed.

“He’s not essential for the game, he has to stay in Melbourne.”

McGowan was excited about the opportunity to host the grand final, but warned “the strictest and strongest protocols” would be enforced.

“We have all the protocols in place all the rules in place, as we have for the last two years, to hold football and other sporting events, whereby we have very strict rules in place,” he said.

“We’ve secured this event on our own terms. And we’ve ensured that we put in place the very strictest and strongest protocols to protect West Australia, but it’s very exciting.”

West Australian Premier Mark McGowan confirmed Eddie McGuire was “not essential”. Picture: Jackson Flindell, The West Australian

On Tuesday, McLachlan paid tribute to the Victorian Government for all the work they do for the competition and the sport, as the AFL’s showcase event takes place outside the MCG for the second year running.

“Throughout the past few weeks as the pandemic continues to challenge us, we looked at all the possibilities for holding the Grand Final at the MCG,” McLachlan said.

“I want to thank Stuart Fox and the MCC for their continued support of football and of us through the process.

“It has become clear, however, as we continue to navigate through these challenges that it wouldn’t be in the best interests of the community to host a Grand Final at the MCG this year in front of a crowd.

“It has now meant that for season 2021, Toyota AFL Grand Final will be played in Perth at Optus Stadium.”

– with Alex Conrad, NCA NewsWire