Eddie McGuire quits as Collingwood president

Eddie McGuire recognised the backlash against him could harm the sporting and financial future of the football juggernaut he had built after taking over 23 years ago.

When Eddie McGuire announced his resignation at 4.35pm on Tuesday, the backdrop was devoid of club sponsors. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Eddie McGuire has quit the Collingwood presidency and removed himself temporarily from public view after submitting to national condemnation over his handling of racism at the club.

An accumulation of days of controversy over his handling of the racism investigation at Australia’s most powerful sporting club led the Collingwood president to quit on Tuesday, before the start of the 2021 season, and suspend his media roles.

McGuire recognised the backlash was so severe and ongoing that to continue in the role of president could harm the sporting and financial future of the football juggernaut he had built after taking over 23 years ago.

“I try my best and I don’t always get it right,” McGuire, close to tears several times, lamented.

“But I don’t stop trying.”

Eddie McGuire with his wife, Carla, in Melbourne on Tuesday. Picture: Alex Coppel.

What followed for the next 15 minutes was trademark line and length McGuire, outlining the deep and largely undisputed role the club has with tackling social justice issues, ranging from domestic violence to homelessness, gay rights and programs for Indigenous Australians.

The measures are fuelled by the at times notorious Collingwood army and Melbourne names including the Pratt family and Lord Mayor Sally Capp.

McGuire, 56, referred to a series of groundbreaking appointments, including what he said were the first Asian and Indigenous AFL board members, insisting his decision to quit before year’s end was based in large part on enabling the organisation to focus on its on-field and balance sheet prosperity.

On the players, he said: “I want them to have no distractions and have clear minds in representing the club.”

McGuire, whose national profile and elevation to the unofficial title as Melbourne’s most influential unelected figure was built on Collingwood, indicated he had earlier resolved to weather the racism backlash.

“However, I don’t think that is either fair or tenable for the club or the community,” he said.

“People have latched onto my opening line last week (while releasing the racism report) and as a result I have become a lightning rod for vitriol.

“But, worse, it has put the club in a position where it’s hard to move forward with the implementation of our plans with clear air.”

Jaws dropped around the country last week when McGuire described the bleak findings of the club’s inquiry into racism as a “historic and proud day”, provoking a relentless wave of negative publicity.

Magpies Stephanie Chiocci and Brianna Davey, right, lead the team on to Victoria Park last weekend. Eddie McGuire said he was proud of his involvement in developing the women’s game. Picture: Getty Images

While he retained qualified support from people including Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and AFL chief Gillon McLachlan, negative reactions far outweighed the positive.

Former Collingwood player Heritier Lumumba, who has savaged McGuire’s commentary, said the Victorian Premier had shown “the boys’ club on full display” after backing McGuire for the second time. McGuire’s brother, Frank, is a member of Mr Andrews’ Labor caucus.

After Mr Andrews said he believed the Collingwood president could implement anti-racism reform following the release of a petition signed by Aboriginal leaders and others, Lumumba said it was clear the Victorian Premier “cares more about one white man’s ego than fighting racism”.

“With so many leaders from First Nations & communities of colour calling for McGuire to step down, Daniel Andrews has shown us the boy’s club on full display,” he said on Twitter on Tuesday. “The pain & trauma of communities who suffer racism is more important than powerful white men and their friendships. If Andrews wants to show real leadership, stand up for the communities who are hurting because of Collingwood’s public refusal to admit fault.”

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the AFL Commission recommitted to stamping out racism while paying tribute to McGuire.

Collingwood players and officials watch the press conference in Melbourne on Tuesday. Picture: Alex Coppel.

“Eddie has made an enormous contribution to the Collingwood Football Club and Australian Rules football over the past 22 years and we will have time to properly acknowledge his contribution … in the weeks ahead but one thing is clear in that Eddie leaves Collingwood in better shape than when he started as president,” it said.

“Eddie’s actions today showed his commitment to put the Collingwood Football Club first and to ensure the focus … was on moving to implement the 18 recommendations of the Do Better report.”

When McGuire announced his resignation at 4.35pm on Tuesday, the backdrop was devoid of club sponsors.

Coach Nathan Buckley and new football manager Graham Wright were among dozens of players and officials who attended the announcement.

A letter calling for McGuire’s resignation was released on Monday night, the signatories of which included federal Labor MPs Peter Khalil and Anne Aly and Indigenous figures such as former ATSIC commissioner Mick Gooda, academic and activist Gary Foley, writers Tony Birch and Celeste Liddle, and Greens senator Lidia Thorpe.

Following McGuire’s resignation, Senator Thorpe said it was “a proud day for all those who have been racially vilified in this country”.