Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw are expected to speak out on Monday after the AFL slammed the pair for their part in an inappropriate conversation about Fairfax journalist Caroline Wilson.
The conversation, which took place on-air on Melbourne radio station Triple M on the Queen’s Birthday public holiday, also included All Australian selector Danny Frawley, journalist Damian Barrett and Kangaroos legend Wayne Carey, although the latter pair weren’t admonished by the AFL for their part in the exchange.
Speaking to Triple M shortly before he took part in the Freeze MND charity slide event at the MCG, McGuire suggested Wilson should be the only participant in next year’s charity ice slide, which dunks selected celebrity sliders into an ice-filled pool to raise funds for motor neurone disease research.
In a week where the Pies were awarded a licence to field a team in the new women’s national league, McGuire said he would pledge $50,000 “if she stays under”, before going on to describe Wilson as “like a black widow” spider.
“AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan tonight said he contacted club presidents Eddie McGuire and James Brayshaw late today regarding an on-air radio discussion they had been a part of before last week’s round 12 Melbourne v Collingwood match at the MCG,” an AFL statement issued on Sunday read.
“Mr McLachlan said the AFL had only become aware of the matter today, in which a group discussion before the Freeze MND event at the MCG had referenced senior Fairfax Media journalist Caroline Wilson in a disparaging manner.
“Mr McLachlan said the AFL had expressed the strong view to both club presidents, and All Australian selector Danny Frawley … that although seeking to be light-hearted, the language and tenor of the wording could be seen to be supporting violent attitudes or actions against women, and was therefore clearly not appropriate.”
Brayshaw said he would pledge money in reply to McGuire’s comments.
Frawley apologised for his part in the conversation in which he said, ‘I’ll actually jump in and make sure she doesn’t (surface) – I’ll hold her under”.
“Last Monday on radio I made a couple of insensitive and inappropriate remarks about Caroline Wilson,” Frawley said on Fox Footy.
“Clearly it was a poor attempt at humour for which I sincerely apologise.”
The Western Bulldogs-Geelong game on Saturday night supported the White Ribbon campaign to prevent violence by men against women.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Yes but there's also a distinction between drowning somebody, and somebody drowning.
Rabbits
Guest
Well said Nik. But it's much easier to attack the person because they wrote the content, right.
pauly
Guest
"stayed under" generally implies a person is drowning. Not just holding their breath for fun.
Angela
Guest
Hmm, I think it's reasonable to say in the context of the comment (which is a vicious personal attack on CW rather than a rational attack of her work) plus the use of the 'banter' word (implying a bit of harmless good fun) that it's reasonable to assume Bob Gooch, despite his protestation to the contrary, indeed condones the 'boys-will-be-boys' behaviour of McGuire, Bagshaw et al. You know, Train Without A Station, similar to 'I'm not racist but...'
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
What weakness has Caroline Wilson been targeted for? She has been targeted. Because of her personal reputation.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Firstly he's CEO of FFA. Secondly, that would be a bit odd and totally out of the blue. What Eddie said was that he'll pay for Caro to do exactly what he had just done (a charity event). He jokingly added that he'd pay more if she stayed under. Brayshaw added that he thought there'd be plenty of people willing to offer money to see that (i.e. a lot of people dislike her - because a lot of people do!) Danny Frawley was the only person that joked about drowning her.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Nah he's actually not. He just makes a comment on what he thinks of Wilson and passes no judgement on what happened.
Nik
Guest
Not that I agree with you on Wilson's journalism, but also - who cares?! If you don't like her writing or her content attack THAT - there is NO EXCUSE for violent rhetoric toward her person.
andyl12
Guest
Bob, I just like stand up for people who are the victims of unwarranted violence, especially where the victim is targeted because they have a weakness. You and Casper should be ashamed of yourselves.
Bob GOOCH
Guest
Casper - Don't take too much notice of our Andy - he likes to jump on a bandwagon now and then - makes him feel wanted (perhaps)
andyl12
Guest
Why shouldn't I? It's too easy to dismiss a threat of violence as a "just a joke." Violence against women won't be stopped if people like me don't take a stand. Especially when people like you refuse to do so.
Casper
Guest
So you've decided to take what they said literally.
andyl12
Guest
Even if she gets murdered?
Casper
Guest
Well said Bob. I don't have any sympathy for her.
pauly
Guest
So Bob, should David Gallop or the CEO of the Western Sydney Wanderers go on radio and joke about drowning Rebecca Wilson (no relation to Caroline, at least I hope) after all the anti-soccer and anti-WSW rubbish articles she has written? News Corp hacks would be calling for soccer to be banned if that was the case. Caro Wilson was right about Essendon.
Angela
Guest
Bob GOOCH said: 'Not condoning Maguire Brayshaw and co for their banter at all...' Yes you are.
andyl12
Guest
So Bob, tell us what you think of McGuire and Brayshaw? They, after all, are the subjects of this article.
Bob GOOCH
Guest
Comment removed - Mods