News Eddie McGuire to step down end of 2021

[Billys Back]

Is Eddie racist or just ignorant? His ‘ignorance’ is probably the reason why he lets himself and club down. I’ll never forget how uncomfortable his colleagues were the instant Eddie references Goodes and KingKong. Darcy knew right away it was wrong.

In my opinion, what stands out in this report is that it identifies someone of influence (obviously Eddie) as having too much influence over the club (which is not surprising) and the fact that today, this organisation has not had an adequate system/process in place to ensure a comfortable working environment for those who feel uncomfortable with the situation. Every reasonable workplace have had this for years. I’m staggered the biggest club in the country hasn’t or at least hasn’t adhered to it.

Anyway, I think Barrie Cassidey’s article is spot on.
The club can’t move forward on this because even yesterday Eddie ignorantly acted exactly the way the report identified as an issue.
And the board? Well as Barrie identified they were hand picked by Eddie and it’s possible that none may have spoken against him over the years.

If Eddie decides to complete the year, that’s fine. But his ignorance suggest he should have no part in the process of bringing this club to where it should have been in these matters a decade ago.

 

[ZEV]

Do you know the difference between equality and equity?

Absolutely.

I am also of the belief that rather than try and create equity, lets remove the cause of the inequity in the first place rather than create more of it.

What do you suggest?

 

[jmac70]

Absolutely.

I am also of the belief that rather than try and create equity, lets remove the cause of the inequity in the first place rather than create more of it.

What do you suggest?

That would be great, but in the meantime, we can ensure equality by offering greater support for those who need it.

There is also the benefit that diversity brings to an organisation. Let me ask you, do you support the appointment of Sizer?

 

[Len Smith Medallist]

H

Its the second part of the suggestion that is troublesome.

"which proactively supports First Nations and people of colour into post-playing positions within the Club and AFL, particularly coaching"

Proactively definition;

Adverb

"(of a person or action) creating or controlling a situation rather than just responding to it after it has happened."

Oxford Definitions


Are you comfortable in a situation where the Club creates or controls a situation supporting employment of two groups of people based on their racial backgrounds rather than being an equal opportunity employer?

Have you been speaking out when the opposite was the case? Funny how we see discrimination once it's flipped.

 

[ZEV]

I have taken 'diverse communities' much broader than you seem to have.

There is nothing to suggest that some people are more equal than others in my reading of the review.

You seem to be jumping from one point (which I answer) to another.

Anyway this thread is about Eddie.

I think you have misinterpreted the point entirely. Thats ok.

 

[GreekLunatic]

So who is the board member that’s gonna be prez according to the hearld sun

 

[ZEV]

H

Have you been speaking out when the opposite was the case? Funny how we see discrimination once it's flipped.

Actually yes, Im sure you can see some of posts about Rendell's comments.

I call is as I see it.

I don't cry wolf.

 

[partypie]

Pretty sad to see and read all the vitriol directed towards Eddie, especially from Collingwood supporters.

I've read a thousand times more spiteful comments directed at him than he could possible have deserved.

Don't we all like to sink the boots in when someone is vulnerable...

When you're enough of an idiot to state that the release of a damning report into racism equates to a proud day for your club as the latest in a long line of gaffes (some of them actually being inherently racist remarks) then whatever comes your way is something entirely of your own making.

It's a real shame that the Eddie's legacy in terms of all the good he has done for the club and football in general is going to be tainted to some degree by the crap that regularly spills out of his mouth (and not just on this particular topic either).

 

[ZEV]

When you're enough of an idiot to state that the release of a damning report into racism equates to a proud day for your club as the latest in a long line of gaffes (some of them actually being inherently racist remarks) then whatever comes your way is something entirely of your own making.

It's a real shame that the Eddie's legacy in terms of all the good he has done for the club and football in general is going to be tainted to some degree by the crap that regularly spills out of his mouth (and not just on this particular topic either).

Do you think that if this report were done at any other club the outcome to be any different?

 

[mike123]

He’s a dishonest self serving prick and he needs to go. More worried about his public image than taking accountability for his actions which ironically only hurts his image in the long run.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

For those that want Eddie to stay the rest of the year, what does he bring to Collingwood for the rest of the year that adds value that assumes that no one else within the club could do the job?

Does he want to oversee the recommendations of the report? Nope we don't need Eddie for that. Sizer and Murphy are better qualified to handle this. Eddie should have zero involvement other than a proper apology for Lumumba and others that have been let down by systemic racism at Collingwood while Eddie was in charge. And that apology has to be screened and reviewed first, read word for word without adlibbing.

Financial brokership/more sponsorship? I doubt new & even some old sponsors want to talk to him given his reputation is in tatters. 3 sponsors are currently reviewing the relationship on the back of the racism report. Plus i'm sure Mark Anderson as CEO is more than capable of dealing with sponsors and ensuring the Financial side of the club is sorted.

AFL advocacy? I fail to see we need Eddie for this. The planning, fixture, distribution payment has mostly been done for 2021. Anything 2022 and beyond, Eddie should not be involved as he wont be at the club. If we need a club representative to speak on behalf of Collingwood for a football issue, then Graham Wright should do this. Not Eddie. Similarly I think any contract decision on considering extending Buckley and his coaching staff should go through Wright first to consider merit of re-contracting with Eddie removing himself from the process at board level.

Leadership skills. Hell no! Eddie has demonstrated he is a poor leader. His proud comments clearly attest to that.


So I love to hear the reasons on why Eddie needs to hang on for another 10 months.

 

[mike123]

Yes.

Curious timing that this was leaked a day and a half before the AGM. Somebody somewhere is clearly trying to stir the pot.

Could be way off but I’ve felt Sizer’s stocks have risen since Monday...

 

[mike123]

How many threads do we need on Eddie McGuire and all the recent “racism” reports....

let’s focus on the year ahead and training/players!

Be nice if mods could close all these threads.

After the whole trade period debacle this is probably the season I’m least looking forward to watching.

 

[mike123]

Pretty sad to see and read all the vitriol directed towards Eddie, especially from Collingwood supporters.

I've read a thousand times more spiteful comments directed at him than he could possible have deserved.

Don't we all like to sink the boots in when someone is vulnerable...

I have no sympathy for Ed in this situation. He made his bed.

 

[mike123]

Is Eddie racist or just ignorant?

He’s a liar

 

[Len Smith Medallist]

Actually yes, Im sure you can see some of posts about Rendell's comments.

I call is as I see it.

I don't cry wolf.

Sorry for my implication.

 

[partypie]

Do you think that if this report were done at any other club the outcome to be any different?

Not even worth speculating, but for what it's worth a majority of the more notable "missteps" in terms of allegations or racism that have made it into the media unfortunately appear to have been leveraged at our club, so we can't really play the "well other clubs do it too" card - not that this particular line of "defence" would ever be an acceptable position for the club to take.

If you want to do the comparison thing then Eddie has made a racist joke about Goodes at a very inflammatory point in time, joked about paying to see a woman drown and enthusiastically referred to a damning report on alleged systemic racism as a source of "pride" for the club. Feel free to point me in the direction of *any* other club president over the past 20 years who has a similar trio of public gaffes to their name, never mind all the other eye-rolling stupidity that has spilled out of his gob over the journey (which we all put up with because historically he has helped turn the fortunes of the club around from the basket case it once was).

Even pushing the matter of Eddie the person aside - it's pretty clear that the governance and management at the club has been lacking for quite a while now on a number of fronts and, for a lot of people, this particular issue might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Personally I think that both Eddie and the board need to do the club a favour and exit stage left as soon as possible, as they have both appear to have failed in their duty of good governance more often than not in recent times and we cannot continue to foster a culture of incompetence and what at times seems like astounding unprofessionalism in senior management, whilst at the same time harbouring expectations of excellence elsewhere in the club.

 

[ZEV]

Not even worth speculating, but for what it's worth a majority of the more notable "missteps" in terms of allegations or racism that have made it into the media unfortunately appear to have been leveraged at our club, so we can't really play the "well other clubs do it too" card - not that this particular line of "defence" would ever be an acceptable position for the club to take.

If you want to do the comparison thing then Eddie has made a racist joke about Goodes at a very inflammatory point in time, joked about paying to see a woman drown and enthusiastically referred to a damning report on alleged systemic racism as a source of "pride" for the club. Feel free to point me in the direction of *any* other club president over the past 20 years who has a similar trio of public gaffes to their name, never mind all the other eye-rolling stupidity that has spilled out of his gob over the journey (which we all put up with because historically he has helped turn the fortunes of the club around from the basket case it once was).

Even pushing the matter of Eddie the person aside - it's pretty clear that the governance and management at the club has been lacking for quite a while now on a number of fronts and, for a lot of people, this particular issue might be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Personally I think that both Eddie and the board need to do the club a favour and exit stage left as soon as possible, as they have both appear to have failed in their duty of good governance more often than not in recent times and we cannot continue to foster a culture of incompetence and what at times seems like astounding unprofessionalism in senior management, whilst at the same time harbouring expectations of excellence elsewhere in the club.

Jeff Kennett.

Remember when a local football club fired a bi-sexual trainer and Kennett defended them saying;
“It’s the same if you have a paedophile there as a masseur, right?”

When he blamed Adam Goodes for being booed saying;
“If he was white or non-indigenous and was conducting himself in the same way that he is, he would probably get the same reaction. It’s got nothing to do with his colour, his race. As good a player as he is … he is provocative.”

On a local mayors non attendance to a meeting saying she;
“must have something cooking on the stove”.

 

[Carringbush2010]

This is the sad reality of where we have ended up. How do we explain the club to our children?

I often wear my Collingwood polo to school, I won’t be doing that anytime soon. There is a deep sense of shame that has been intensified by Eddie’s performance yesterday. The club can’t move forward with him any longer. Surely this is clear to the board.

And this what it has come to now.

Regardless of our recent differences Jmac, I cannot agree more with you more on this Jmac. Eddie just does not get it.

I used to be proud parading my member gear on my car and me wearing it around Perth and my mine site, regardless of how much they thought our club was a joke.

Now, I'm afraid to actually show I'm a Collingwood supporter over here. The vitriol over the radio call back is insane but not unexpected.

 

[Dead Eye Didak]

Do you think that if this report were done at any other club the outcome to be any different?

I do commend the club on opening itself up to a external report, and to receiving a report, that it probably knew wasn't going to be all too positive, considering the time period it covered, which was decades.
So the report is the report, and the club has to accept the findings and work towards change, which it has been doing for a few years now. So the report isn't the issue, its the way we presented it at the presser.
I remember when the Robbie Muir situation came out last year about the racism he received for over a decade whilst playing for the Saints. As soon as that story came out, the Saints publicly apologised to Muir and all Aboriginal people, they also acknowledged their errors, "St Kilda Football Club has made grave errors in the past and may still be failing to grasp the full impact of the hurt felt by individuals, their families and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples".
What St Kilda did in handling that situation, we unfortunately failed badly in ours. When Ed said it was a "proud day", straight away it was a car wreck. There needed to be a general apology in the opening remarks, not a congratulations to the club. So the angst is more around our commentary in accepting the findings of the report, rather than the report itself.
I think Ed has been fantastic for our club in the majority of his 23 years, but recently he has made some monumental errors of judgement. So if he wishes to remain president for this year, so be it, but he needs to fade into the background. Going forward, let others be front and centre at press conferences or any media appearance.
We have had a male president for 23 years, lets change the direction of the club, and bring in a freshness of a female president. I said it before, l think Jodie Sizer would be terrific, and would be a great representative of our footy club.

 

[partypie]

Jeff Kennett.

Remember when a local football club fired a bi-sexual trainer and Kennett defended them saying;
“It’s the same if you have a paedophile there as a masseur, right?”

When he blamed Adam Goodes for being booed saying;
“If he was white or non-indigenous and was conducting himself in the same way that he is, he would probably get the same reaction. It’s got nothing to do with his colour, his race. As good a player as he is … he is provocative.”

On a local mayors non attendance to a meeting saying she;
“must have something cooking on the stove”.

That's all you've got? Eddie basically called an indigenous man an ape as part of a "joke", said he'd pay to drown a woman as part of another "joke" and then came out and said a damning report into racism at the club was something for the club to be "proud" of. Even if Jeff's gaffes were on the same level the excuse of "well others do it too" simply doesn't hold any water, so why bother even trying to put that one forward in the first place?

I suspect you know what I wrote was on the money regarding both Eddie's mouth and the failings of club management on the governance front, but you're just looking for a way out for some strange reason.

 

[PieNSauce]

I made this post in another thread but it probably belongs here.

Sadly, after a couple of days educating myself, reading and listening to opinions and a lot of soul searching, I am beginning to come to the conclusion that Eddie should step down as soon as possible. Much as I have loved a lot of what he has done and in particular the fact that he virtually rescued the club from extinction, I am fast losing respect for him through repeated gaffes and mistakes that have clearly caused hurt and harm. This is not how I want my beloved Collingwood to behave or to be viewed. Sorry Ed but I no longer feel that I can support your presidency and I can only hope that you will now do what is in the best interests of the club that you clearly love.

 

[76woodenspooners]

Could be way off ...

I think it’s curious that the main campus of the researchers who worked on the report, and the HQ of the journo who broke the story are only a few hundred meters away from each other...

... I’ve felt Sizer’s stocks have risen since Monday...

Yes and no for me. Ed has been lambasted for his use of the word “pride” (and rightly so) but let’s not forget Sizer was all in on it as well.

But I did like her candour about how difficult she has found being on the Collingwood board.

 

[ZEV]

That's all you've got? Eddie basically called an indigenous man an ape as part of a "joke", said he'd pay to drown a woman as part of another "joke" and then came out and said a damning report into racism at the club was something for the club to be "proud" of. Even if Jeff's gaffes were on the same level the excuse of "well others do it too" simply doesn't hold any water, so why bother even trying to put that one forward in the first place?

I suspect you know what I wrote was on the money regarding both Eddie's mouth and the failings of club management on the governance front, but you're just looking for a way out for some strange reason.

No you are incorrect. You put to me what you though to be an unanswerable question as we are the only footy club that has worn two hats in the media/club president for any length of time. The bloke speaks on air 25 hours a week, some of it was bound to be shit. Ironically, the only other club president on radio at the time was present and participating in that conversation but we seen to leave that out.

How can you quantify or qualify calling a black man an ape worse than calling a bi-sexual man a paedophile?

How can you say that McGuire's sexist attitude towards Caroline Wilson was worse than Kennett's sexist comments?

You are correct, I wish Ed didn't say those things but he did. Its interesting that he quit that industry earlier in the year, perhaps to focus on what was his last period with the club.

Time for a change? Yes, and I dare say that Ed know that as well the only problem is there doesn't really seem to be anyone capable of doing the job putting their hand up...

 

[DinoSoar]

I think it’s curious that the main campus of the researchers who worked on the report, and the HQ of the journo who broke the story are only a few hundred meters away from each other...



Yes and no for me. Ed has been lambasted for his use of the word “pride” (and rightly so) but let’s not forget Sizer was all in on it as well.

But I did like her candour about how difficult she has found being on the Collingwood board.

The ABC journalist in Sydney didn’t break the story, it was leaked to the Herald Sun here in Melbourne. She just jumped on it on Monday morning, along with everyone else. It was likely leaked by someone in Melbourne seeing as it went to HS first.