Eddie McGuire, who to some is a hero and to others the anti-Christ, consistently defends his ability to be a media performer and the President of the largest football club in Australia. Once again however, he will be defending his role, after his latest faux pas.
On Monday morning on his breakfast radio program, he was the recipient of a call from a member of the public who claimed to have seen Melbourne Demons vice-captain Brent Moloney out at a pub late at night.
While this isn’t a huge sin, the caller later claimed that Moloney relieved himself on the bar in front of patrons.
This allegation set off the media and pushed the Demons into panic mode. Moloney after investigation was dropped as vice-captain for being out late at night, but tellingly the club claimed there was no proof of the caller’s allegations.
This was backed up by the pub and by police.
While we can debate in another article whether Moloney should have been out, the big question is again the conflict of interest McGuire had with this incident.
McGuire, who would have known how big a story this was, took a call from a person who at 2:30am was in a pub, and claimed to have Moloney behaving badly. Unless this person was a teetotaller I highly doubt they would have been in a state of mind to see who was doing what.
Already you can see the unreliability, yet McGuire put the man on radio. As both a club president and a journalist he should have checked his facts. His eagerness for a story sullied the reputation of a man who made a poor choice and a club trying to rebuild.
But more importantly this raises the conflict of interest question that continues to dog McGuire. If a Collingwood player had been caught in the same incident, would McGuire have let the person speak?
If you were stupid enough to phone in McGuire’s show, you would probably just get an earful.
At worst McGuire was enjoying the downfall of another side, and at best he was reckless in his judgement.
The AFL and Melbourne FC need to have a quiet word with him. His sniping against opposition clubs has become more prevalent this year and needs to be curtailed.
This incident has destroyed a player’s reputation and will only work against Eddie as he tries to prove he can wear two hats.
Jaceman
Guest
Eddie puts Channel 9 first and then Collingwood. His famous utterances immediately when anything happens in the NRL -ie after Hunt was signed by the Suns - Eddie "the NRL will chase AFL players (not likely!) - McGuire gets wind that the AFL is to announce Hunts signature - the malthouse/Buckley coaching deal is hurriedly announced the night before; there's a betting scandal in the NRL - Eddie "the biggest danger facing the AFL is betting" (really!). Hes a Channel Nine man first - the Monday AFL show is kick the AFL with that contrarian ex St Kilda coach - he hires Akermanis to bad mouth the Lions and AFL and the week Hunt signs with the Suns (the biggest AFL/NRL story in Australia that week/month) barely rates a mention on the AFL footy show.
johnhunt92
Roar Guru
I would like to say that I am in awe of what Eddie has done for the club and his rise to fame. But he crossed the line and has already done it this year as well with Tom Scully
Rob McLean
Guest
Yes, you're right, it is ridiculous and Eddie should set the bar higher. He's not the only person who works in talkback though... I wonder what people would be saying if Eddie didn't report the story, or let the caller on the air to discuss it? People would've been shooting at him for not doing that.
Rob McLean
Guest
Ah no, I wouldn't be calling for a league player to be jailed. In fact, I didn't the last time a player got caught pi*ssing in public. Another ill thought rant.
JamesP
Guest
As a Melbourne supporter, I am disgusted that our vice captain was out getting plastered on Sunday night - what a horrible example to set. So regardless of what Eddie has done - the punishment fits the crime Having said all this - would be interesting to see if Eddie reacted the same way had it been a Collingwood player...
Shaun
Guest
Ha ha ha ha, if it was a rugby league player you would all be calling for him to be thrown in jail as another rugby league thug behaving badlly....an AFL player though and you all want him protected. Don't blame the media, blame the bloke playing up if he is being an absolute grub. So hypocritical.
julian
Guest
Yep. As a Pie supporter, I do wish Eddie would set the standard a little higher. As much as i appreciate Eddie, I have to acknowledge that the media are all tarred with the same brush, notoriety is a pale and sulllied version of the truth. The media want controversy not truth, they thrive on allegation not fact, and you know what people like you get up in arms about it... which is, of course what they want. They are little boys with big toys and small brains.
Magpie Flag
Guest
Hear Hear! Unfortunately we have to share a planet with people who cannot reason beyond their immediate emotiional reaction, instead grasping at concepts they don't understand (i.e. conflict of interest etc), and applying them erroneously and inconsistently
Nathan
Guest
it's rubbish that anyone can just call in his radio station, say something controversial, and bingo it's a huge story! they should check their facts, Melbourne & Moloney could sue for defamation
Black Diamonds
Guest
Clear conflict of interest. But. What is anyone going to do about it? Its a free country isn't it? Mostly.
Rob McLean
Guest
If you want to remove Eddie from his variety of media roles, then you will need to remove all club board members of all clubs from theirs - even the ones you like. Eddie is just the cause celebre of those who don't like the conflicts of interest that are prevalent throughout sport, of any kind. He's an easy target because of his profile, his club's profile and, of course, due to his big mouth. What about Jason Dunstall and Dermott Brereton? How about Liam Pickering, player manager? There are many more than jut Eddie. As a Pies supporter, I can't thank Eddie enough for what he has done for my club. However, I sometimes wish he would shut his mouth.
side show mel
Guest
here here
SideShowBob
Roar Rookie
Sure Eddie Everywhere can, and there is very little anyone can do about it. Have you taken off the raybans and seriously considered that a vast majority of Melburnians are simply uninterested in club level rugby league and therefore CH9 programs this accordingly?