AFL 2021: Gillon McLachlan says Eddie McGuire, Andrew Demetriou welcome back in football

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan has addressed Eddie McGuire’s controversial exit from Collingwood and whether the ex-Pies president still has a role to play in football.

2018 Fox Sports launch. Gillon McLachlan, Eddie McGuire. Picture: Mark Stewart

AFL boss Gillon McLachlan believes Eddie McGuire and Andrew Demetriou would be welcomed back to football if they wanted to make a return.

The two prominent identities quit their roles at Collingwood and at Crown Resorts in recent weeks over controversies within their organisations.

Demetriou, the former AFL chief executive, resigned from the board of the gaming giant and after an investigation concluded Crown was unsuitable to operate a licence for its new Sydney casino in its current form.

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The investigation report was scathing of the company‘s culture and identified a series of failures.

McGuire, a powerful voice as the Magpies president for more than two decades, resigned in the aftermath of the ‘Do Better’ report into racism at Collingwood.

McLachlan told the Herald Sun both McGuire and Demetriou had made tremendous contributions to football over a long period of time and that if they wanted to return to the game in an official capacity he would welcome it.

Eddie McGuire kisses Gillon McLachlan on the head at a Collingwood game.

In a wide-ranging interview with the Herald Sun ahead of next week’s season opener, McLachlan:

■ Announced increase funding for concussion research — now $1 million a year, up from $300,000;

■ Defended the massive financial cuts at AFL clubs;

■ Explained that a desire for normality was the driving force behind the decision to have a day Grand Final;

■ Revealed his personal stance on the introduction of Tasmanian was “irrelevant’’ and;

■ Selected Richmond and Port Adelaide as his premiership fancies.

McLachlan, who has been close friends with McGuire and Demetriou, said he had spoken to McGuire several times in recent weeks and Demetriou this year.

Andrew Demetriou watches on as Gillon McLachlan was announced as his successor in 2014.

McGuire has been touted as a potential commissioner.

Asked if their recent failings would preclude them from joining the commission or being on the executive at the AFL — if they wanted to be — McLachlan said they wouldn’t.

“Commission decisions are for someone else, but broadly Eddie has made a huge contribution to clearly Collingwood and to the AFL industry over more than two decades,’’ McLachlan said.

“Like all of us, we don’t get everything right.

“I believe Eddie’s got valuable contributions to make going forward in our game in some form. People have ups and downs in their careers and lives.

“Andrew made an enormous contribution like Eddie.

“Andrew has moved away from football and is doing his own thing, but I don’t think anyone is ruled out or ruled in.

“I believe that absolutely if they want to, there is still huge contributions still to be made if they chose to do it.’’

Originally published as AFL 2021: Gillon McLachlan says Eddie McGuire, Andrew Demetriou welcome back in football