Caroline Wilson slams AFL’s ‘utter hypocrisy’ over Eddie McGuire snub

Footy journo Caroline Wilson has put the AFL on blast after its decision to snub Eddie McGuire following his 23-year Magpies presidency.

Caroline Wilson slammed the AFL for Eddie's life membership snub. Photo: Getty Images and Channel 9

Veteran football journalist Caroline Wilson has slammed the AFL’s “utter hypocrisy” after former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire was overlooked for life membership.

McGuire led the Magpies, one of the AFL’s biggest clubs, for 23 years between 1998 and 2021 and was one of the sport’s most high-profile figures throughout his tenure as he straddled his work between the media and the boardroom.

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Instead of McGuire, the AFL awarded life membership to former Western Bulldogs president Peter Gordon.

Gordon served two stints as Bulldogs president between 1989 and 1996, and between 2012 and 2020.

The prominent lawyer was praised for helping transform the Bulldogs into a premiership winning side and eradicating the club’s “significant debt”.

Caroline Wilson wasn’t pleased on Footy Classified. Photo: Channel 9

Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, Wilson said there was no doubt McGuire’s service to the game warranted life membership.

“It was an omission that shocked many of the AFL’s elder statesmen,” she said.

“This is no offence to Peter Gordon and his mighty and historic service to the Western Bulldogs, delivered over two, albeit significantly shorter, stints than McGuire, in comparisons are odious.

“But how does Peter Gordon get this honour ahead of Eddie McGuire? A discretionary award in his case that always went to the Geelong recruiter Stephen Wells and Norwood legend Philip Gallagher.

“Ironically, even McGuire’s successor at the Collingwood Football Club, Jeff Browne, has been a life member for years.

“I can only assume the AFL is wanting to put a bit more distance between McGuire’s honour and the Do Better report. If so, it’s a decision that smacks politics, and if you scour the list of some AFL Life Members, utter hypocrisy.

“And I’ve been his (McGuire’s) biggest critic, but can’t understand it.”

Craig Hutchison replied to Wilson’s comments in total agreement.

“Absolutely can’t mount any argument whatsoever against it, he 100 per cent should be a life member, it should have been done immediately,” he said.

“Peter Gordon deserved it as well, he’s been fantastic for the Dogs and they both should have gone in together. Can’t argue against it.”

Peter Gordon with 1989 coach Terry Wheeler. Pic: Michael Klein

Eddie McGuire after the Magpies won in 2010.

In late 2020 McGuire revealed he would step away at the end of 2021, hoping to give his successor a smooth runway, but he left just two months later after the release of the Do Better report into systemic racism at Collingwood.

Since his departure, Collingwood has faced several boardroom issues. McGuire’s direct successor Mark Korda was under pressure from the start of his tenure, eventually resigning less than a year into the role before Browne assumed the presidency in December.

McGuire will continue to scale back his media commitments, having walked away from his 11-year Triple M breakfast show at the end of 2020 and given up his commentary role with Fox Footy.

The Herald Sun reported McGuire would be looking to “expand his business interests overseas and has expressed a desire to be a ‘global citizen’ now that the world is opening up following Covid”.

McGuire will continue to host Channel 9’s Footy Classified on Wednesday nights and Millionaire Hot Seat.

Originally published as Caroline Wilson slams AFL’s ‘utter hypocrisy’ over Eddie McGuire snub