- Eddie McGuire returned to Collingwood last week
- Followed Magpies’ victory over bitter rivals Carlton
Eddie McGuire has ended his four-year exile from Collingwood, with the former Magpies president reportedly in tears as he rejoined the team for the first time since the racism scandal that forced him out of the top job.
McGuire famously stepped down from his role as Magpies boss in February 2021, drawing his 22-year reign at the club to a close as he declared it was ‘not fair or tenable’ for him to stay on.
The 60-year-old made the move after the release of the club’s ‘Do Better’ report, which found the team had a culture of racism over its treatment of black and Indigenous players.
McGuire was widely slammed for his response to the review as he claimed it was a ‘proud day’ for the team.
The former Channel Nine CEO made his emotional return to club at the MCG to watch the Magpies beat arch-rivals Carlton in round four, according to News Corp.
McGuire attended the president’s function and was in the dressing room as the side celebrated the win, with he and wife Carla warmly welcomed by the players, their families and staff, according to the publication.
Eddie McGuire and his wife Carla (pictured together) were warmly welcomed in emotional scenes as he returned to Collingwood’s inner sanctum for the first time since stepping down as president in 2021
McGuire timed his return well as his beloved Pies celebrated beating arch-rivals Carlton (pictured) at the MCG
McGuire (pictured with his sons Alexander and Joseph) resigned from his role as Collingwood president after the club’s ‘Do Better’ inquiry which revealed systemic racism at the club
McGuire had previously kept his distance from the Magpies in order to give his successors clear air in the top job.
But things appear to have changed after Jeff Browne resigned from the post in October last year, with Barry Carp taking over ahead of this season.
‘It was a wonderful day and Carla and I were taken aback by the level of love from the club and everyone,’ McGuire said.
‘I wanted to have a gap so the transition took place but four presidents later it was probably time to come back.
‘I felt very welcome and loved every moment – and not that I ever left it in my heart but it was nice to physically be back again.’
‘Eddie has been a dear friend of ours for many years and we all have our ups and downs and would like to do things differently at times,’ Collingwood chief executive Craig Kelly said.
‘He’s no different but our industry is one which demands a lot, you get criticised a lot and publicly you can get ripped apart.
‘But like “Fly” [Craig McRae] has done with our players, we need to recognise our past and that includes our board members, CEOs and our executive.
McGuire was said to have been ‘teary’ according to reports as he headed into the dressing room where he received a warm reception from players and coaching staff
McGuire (pictured left with John Travolta, centre, and his son Joe McGuire) spent four years away from his beloved Pies to give his successors some clear air to work in
‘And the presidents don’t get paid, so you just want to say thank you, and that’s what we’ve done.
‘We are one club and we want to stay one club.’
McGuire first joined the Pies as president in 1998 and oversaw drastic changes, bringing the Magpies into a new era.
He oversaw the recruitments of Mick Malthouse as a senior coach before drafting Collingwood great Nathan Buckley into the coaching fold.
McGuire also helped overhaul the club’s training and development grounds at Olympic Park and oversaw the team as they won the flag in 2010 and made the grand final in 2002, 2003 and 2018.
