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Former Collingwood President Eddie McGuire will miss out on watching the AFL Grand Final in person for the first time since 1976 after he was denied entry to Western Australia.
McGuire applied for an exemption to enter the state but was considered non-essential – a fact Premier Mark McGowan was only too happy to poke fun at on commercial radio.
“He was not happy,” McGowan told Mix 94.5
“He’s not essential for the game, he has to stay in Melbourne.”
McGowan joked that the decision was in the best interests of the state ‘to protect him from West Australians.’
The news of McGuire not being allowed entry was first revealed by broadcaster Steve Price who read out a text message he received from Eddie on air.
“I expected to be in Perth. They won’t let me in,” the text message read.
McGuire then went on Triple M and confirmed the news.
“I’m disappointed because we’d planned to do a lot of great things around the grand final,” he said.
“I’m very conscious of the fact that so many people can’t get into Western Australian who are West Australians or who have stories that are far more important than getting to a grand final.
“I put forward a smorgasbord of options but it became untenable.”
The AFL Grand Final will be held on September 25 after a bye week following the preliminary finals to allow for those VIPs entering the state to quarantine.
The news of McGuire being denied had a predictable response on social media.
Premier McGowan was blunt in his assessment.
"Eddie McGuire is not essential to a game of AFL football"????
— Ewart, LaborDave???????? (@davidbewart) September 1, 2021
Eddie McGuire not allowed into WA for the AFL Finals. Thank you State Daddy ????????????
— Paul Meek (@PaulMeekPerth) September 1, 2021
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