I’ve agitated for change at Collingwood for years.
The club has struggled in various departments over the last decade: primarily, match-day coaching (and related on-field strategies), list management, and everything to do with player welfare (e.g. injuries, and rehab).
I’m sure the club’s done other great things, but as somebody supporting the Collingwood Football Club’s foundational identity – the football team – that’s been my predominant interest. Good on the club for their other endeavours, but I want the AFL team (and now also the AFLW team) to win flags.
Many of these issues have unfolded because we’ve endured the long reign of the same group, which has given culture to stagnancy, administrative incestuousness, and a loss of objectivity. Issues have been met with that attitude of, “It’ll be right – eventually.”
The 2018 season masked these problems with an improbable assault on a flag after four years of missing the finals. That would’ve seemed to be the rebirth of the club, but the club’s had more issues than ever since then, while also going backwards on the ladder.
In light of the trade period debacle, a number of the Collingwood faithful grew outraged. I had several random people contact me about board challenges – not that I have the power, influence, or know-how to underake such a challenge. I like to yell at clouds.
But it showed me that we’d transcended dissatisfaction. People were demanding change because they also felt matters had grown overwhelming.
Some supporters stonewalled the conversation about the way the club handled the trade period. That’s their prerogative.
But there was enough disgruntlement going around to show me that I wasn’t a lone dissenter, and that the anger was real and widespread, so maybe in this case there were genuine grievances pointed at the club, rather than at the clouds.
Also, what the stonewallers hadn’t realised was that for many, this wasn’t about an isolated incident. This wasn’t just about the trade period. That was just the latest misstep the club had taken – and a grotesque misstep it was – in a long line of missteps over the last decade.
At Collingwood’s seventh virtual annual members forum, Eddie McGuire opened proceedings by announcing his resignation.
McGuire was set to step down at the end of the year (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
He said 2021 would be his last season.
Some urged that if he was going to go, he should go immediately. Eddie has often quoted Mick Malthouse, who said if you’re thinking about retiring, then you’re already there.
Given the tumultuous 2020 season, and how uncertainty would remain prevalent in 2021, I didn’t see anything wrong with Eddie staying to oversee the transition. My only caveat was that that I didn’t want the perpetuation of the same administration and, more importantly, the same attitudes.
I wanted somebody unconnected to the club who could come in, look at everything with fresh eyes, and shake the place up.
Then we had the events of the Do Better report, and the way Eddie handled that press conference. In typically contemporary Eddie fashion, he was confrontational – reminiscent of the conversation he had with Tony Jones on the news earlier in 2020 when discussion surrounded what would happen in relation to 2020 memberships given that COVID-19 now meant they couldn’t be used.
I’ve seen that side of Eddie emerge more and more over the second half of his tenure.
Either he’s grown to believe he’s unfailingly right in everything he does, or he’s grown intolerant of being questioned about anything, failing to distinguish big issues from the small (witness Eddie’s response on Footy Classified to Kane Cornes after Cornes labelled Alex Jesaulenko’s “mark of the century” overrated).
It seemed almost karmic that there was such an uprising about how Eddie handled that press conference.
People responded with the same zeal he often exhibited, leading to his resignation. For somebody who’d put so much into the club, and obviously only ever wanted the best, it was an undignified end.
I have to say the way Eddie’s been treated since then has grown farcical. I’ve seen people on social media who have no interest in football, and know “Eddie McGuire” as nothing more than a name – like a brand – celebrate his demise.
I’ve seen his notoriety exaggerated. Some in the media have attacked him mercilessly.
Any defence of him is condemned. Any explanation is dismissed.
That’s because nothing is explainable nowadays.
The moment you try, explanations are used as evidence of guilt. So, instead, people are razed without mercy, without empathy, without understanding. Social media and click-bait journalism have given rise to collectives that show the same fanaticism of the torch-bearing, pitchfork-wielding posses that chased Frankenstein.
Eddie should’ve gone as president around 2010 – when the club was riding a high, and it would be the easiest time to transition into a new era. By that time he’d been there (going on) twelve years.
John Elliott’s spectacular demise as president of Carlton (1983 – 2002) should’ve also remained fresh as a cautionary tale against long tenures. Also, if Eddie had gone then, he could’ve come back at a later date, just as Jeff Kennett has done at Hawthorn.
I can’t see anybody entertaining that notion now.
For the most part, I loved Eddie McGuire as a president during the first half of his tenure, grew increasingly unhappy in the next quarter, and entered a realm of apathy mixed with resignation mixed with frustration in that final quarter.
I know I’m not the only one.
But even as a loud critic of Eddie, and for how he might’ve mishandled certain issues, I can comment that I believe the treatment of him, the vilification of him as a person, and the celebration of his fall, is both staggering and scary.
For as much as we live in a time where attitudes are meant to be growing progressively humanitarian and charitable, this is about as inhumane and uncharitable as you can get.
People mess up.
I’m not suggesting everything is excused unconditionally, but surely – for the most part – we should be erring on the side of support, rehabilitation, and forgiveness, rather than this exaggeration of misdeeds, celebration of failure, and egotistical glee in proclaiming our own virtue.
We’re so much better than anybody who stumbles nowadays, and we need to prove it by kicking them while they’re down, digging a grave, rolling them into it, filling it up, pouring a whole ton of cement on top of it and waxing lyrically on the tombstone, extolling what monumental villains they are as validation of our own righteousness, rather than as a representation of the truth.
If we want to move into a better world, it’s not going to achieved by riding the prevailing attitudes of today.
Eddie, thanks for your service to Collingwood.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Ball Burster, I doubt whether my next draft will get up on this site, but I am hoping. I am now writing a third attempt to counter cries of structural racism by the authors which may or may not be accepted on On Line Opinion. I hope you get to read it to provide comment given your comment above.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
We'll find out whether it's just another bubble.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
I have submitted another piece here about Collingwood and structural racism, which I challenge, albeit I am sure I will cop some criticism should it get published. I agree, the report is quite poor with regard to academic rigour.
Ball Burster
Roar Rookie
OK. We all deplore racism and I have a few opinions about Ed, Collingwood and its fans. But I have to say that the report itself is pretty poor. It looks hastily cobbled together; six incidents over 50 years and interviews with 30 people of unknown provenance does not constitute "extensive evidence". There is no evidence that Collingwood is an outlier among AFL clubs - it might be, but some evidence of that would be good. None is offered. I was also surprised at the reports' lack of academic rigour. It defines "structural racism" and "interpersonal racism". The six examples over 50 years, according to the reports' own definitions, are "interpersonal" yet they are parlayed into "systemic racism", which is not defined.
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
The "ludicrous other gigs" Ed had actually pay a wage Bretto. Being President doesn't. Some of the points Les makes in his 40 or so critiques on the club have merit. Les often picks "mistakes" we made like rookie picks, picks in the 70's or injury plagued selections as mistakes. My point is you could paint this picture for 17 other clubs in particular eras. Case in point, the two top ten picks in Scharenberg and Freeman. Both injury plagued. The clubs fault? Scharenberg had issues with his feet from memory, not knees. Freeman was a jet ravaged by injury. My point with Les is he is not even glass half empty, he is glass completely empty. I have no issue with Ed going. It was time. Same with Bucks if 2021 is a fail. I'd go full on for Clarkson. Hawks will be dreadful this year.
Bretto
Roar Rookie
And yet I agreed with every one of those 17 articles Peter. One solitary year out of Buckley’s tenure has been a success. The remaining 9 have been a mix of terrible drafting, a timid game plan, and a team that didn’t seem to know how to play, and were to scared to anyway. Outside of 2018. the odd occasion (usually a qtr here and there) we did play fast and aggressive, we looked unstoppable. I’d also suggest people such as yourself who were often unquestioning cheerleaders were hurting the club as opposed to helping. You have certainly become more objective in the last year or so. Anyone with experience in corporate structures will confirm having the same person lead an organisation for 23 years is unhealthy. The person moves from a position of driving change and improvement, to a position of preserving the status quo. Throw in the ludicrous other gigs Eddie had, often with clear conflicts of interest, and it’s astounding this state of affairs was allowed to go on as long as it did. Anyone who has been on the board for more than a couple of years should be held responsible and cleared out. The often critical articles written by Les does not disqualify him from writing the article above. Suggesting a change in the club’s president or coach does not mean you want them drawn and quartered. Any organisation benefits from being challenged both internally and externally. Peter – you are old enough and smart enough to know this. Eddie was fantastic for the club for the vast time in the job. He has also done mountains of work for the community, much of which does not come to light. However it was certainly time to go. It’s hugely disappointing the nature of his departure, and we should all recognise his foot in mouth disease is almost certainly brain fade rather than any deep seated racism or misogyny. I’m now feeling quite confident the Collingwood Football club can become a leader in indigenous progress, and move forward from this tumultuous period. Go Pies! (Why don’t the carriage returns show?)
Gerry
Roar Rookie
Rubbish
Gerry
Roar Rookie
All this brought up in a different era rubbish is justifying racist and sexist comments. It is what it is it does not matter the time. Again making excuses for bad behaviour is why this stuff never seems to go away. Clearly you have not been the recipient of racist or sexist remarks so I think you should cease to comment on it.
IDeals22
Roar Rookie
You could be wrong? :laughing: As Nic Naitanui said to the guy who posted racist comments about him "education my man"
Ravi
Roar Rookie
They accurately reported what the problem is and then the report was validated by the club reacting exactly as stipulated in the report. Perhaps the club needed people with backbone to stand up and say STOP! But as the report correctly pointed out there were too many like you.
Ravi
Roar Rookie
Great! Another piece by an apologist for those who just don't get it. Let's hope it get's filed where it deserves to be!
Greg
Roar Rookie
Read Les's column and consider it as a whole. He usually puts his ideas forward for you to comprehend. Like a good scribe should.
Big Daddy
Guest
While the Indigenous incidents feature heavily the one that slips under the radar is the remarks about Caroline Wilson shows how much respect for other people's opinions or feelings this man has. While he may have done a lot for Collingwood his negatives far outweighs the positives so I'm not sorry to see him gone.
Michael Mace
Guest
His used by date was up. He thought he Owned the Club and had a job for life. A few others should go as well.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
Not sure if Roar will publish my piece here, as i have not heard anything, but my response to the Do Better report can be seen at https://www.onlineopinion.com.au/ I am also someone who is concerned about racism, being a second generation myself of southern European background, but i do not believe the report was fair to McGuire or Collingwood. I could be wrong, but that is my sincere opinion
Kevo
Roar Rookie
Concerted effort of Lumumba did not translate into change. It translated him to another footy club. Distinct history - it is fair enough in the context of Winmar, Long, Goodes x 2, Lumumba. Is there any other club that comes close to this? It's also compounded by being such a high profile club and the rowdy crowds of Vic Park. However the DNA comment is sort of pathetic and cheap, and something you'd expect from a woman's weekly or 60 minutes diatribe. I would guess that Pies in modern times, in terms of systemic racism, are no worse than any other club. And have indeed made efforts for great change. And sporting clubs in general are less racist than politics, business, and other parts of society. Eddy did become a lightening rod. Because he kept putting his foot in his mouth in the most public of high profile spaces, he drew to himself and hence his club, the lightening wrath of a society and world ready for, hungry for, and demanding change. Ed has given his heart and soul to the club but too many hats for too long got the better of him. The club is ready for and in need of change.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
lmao, took me a second(literally)but I got it on the second read.lol.
AdamDilligafThompson
Roar Rookie
Thanks man and thats it hey, it would be the last straw and his head would most definitely explode.lol.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I was referring to grey matter but whatever
Tim Carter
Roar Pro
“When Eddie or CFC takes a misstep one knows there is going to be a pile on. Eddie and CFC have done a lot of good things and have also made mistakes along the way. The good things rarely get mentioned. The mistakes seem to be all consuming and provoke a zealous reaction regardless of the severity of the mistake. Why? Because it is Eddie and Collingwood.” Better answer to the “Why?”: Because that’s what society does. That’s not limited to Eddie, to Collingwood, to sport, to Australia. How many people ask to speak to the manager after good service? How many people write long replies in the internet when they agree with what’s been written? Eddie and his club may have generated a disproportionate amount of negativity in the eyes of some, but that doesn’t mean that they’re being held to different standards.