- Development stunned Geelong great Jimmy Bartel
- McGuire also wants the AFL draw dramatically revamped
AFL identity Eddie McGuire has sensationally revealed he tried to buy the Gold Coast Suns.
In a development that will stun many footy fans, the former Collingwood president dropped the bombshell on Nine’s Eddie and Jimmy podcast with Geelong great Jimmy Bartel.
McGuire dropped the bombshell that he considered launching a takeover of the Suns while he was discussing a footy academy in the Northern Territory.
He felt the academy in the Top End should be sending players to the North Melbourne Kangaroos, whose slow rebuild continues.
‘Eddie Everywhere’ was adamant the Suns – who have never played finals footy dating back to their entry into the league in 2011 – already have a competitive roster.
‘I actually did approach the AFL to see if I could buy them (Gold Coast)….we had a conversation,’ he told a stunned Bartel.
AFL identity Eddie McGuire (pictured with wife Carla) has sensationally revealed he previously tried to buy the Gold Coast Suns
The former Collingwood president (pictured, right) dropped the bombshell in a chat with Geelong great Jimmy Bartel, who was left stunned
‘There wasn’t a sit down but we did kick it around, there was others involved in it, some big names in football and business and the like.
‘(In saying that) Collingwood’s my heart, I’m not going to do anything against the Pies.
‘But just looking at it and going through it and how you could set it up, the Gold Coast could be a powerhouse.
‘If there was a team outside of Collingwood I could buy, I’d buy them.’
Meanwhile, the Channel Nine identity has also proposed an AFL fixture revamp he believes would boost attendances, increase TV ratings and potentially secure future media rights deals.
McGuire’s radical proposal would break the AFL draw into three parts – a home-and-away season across 17 rounds, a qualifying system followed by a final eight showdown to the Grand Final.
He would also introduce a couple of ‘Exotic Rounds’ that would first see all 10 Victorian teams play each other in round one.
Elsewhere, Queensland teams would line up against the NSW teams and South Australian teams would tackle the Western Australian teams.
A second Exotic Round could be played in South Australia when the state hosts Gather Round, which is locked in until at least 2026.
