Magpies’ Ed-hunting begins

COLLINGWOOD’S nominations committee will meet this week to discuss applicants wanting to join the club’s board, as it plans for life after Eddie McGuire.

The Magpies have vowed to head-hunt key figures in the corporate world to reshape their board, as their president’s tenure comes to a dramatic close at the end of 2021 – after 23 seasons at the helm.

McGuire poured praise on the existing board members at Tuesday night’s annual general meeting and it seems likely that a current director will take the reins in 2022.

Entrepreneur Peter Murphy, who was elected two years ago, is considered an early contender, should he be willing to take on the added role.

Murphy founded PAN Australian Group and is a trustee and chair of the Collingwood Football Club Foundation.

McGuire has two vice-presidents; Alex Waislitz and Mark Korda. Waislitz has served under McGuire for his entire 23 years, while Korda joined the board in 2007 and, together with Mark Mentha, founded advisory and investment firm KordaMentha in 2002.

Christine Holgate, Jodie Sizer and ex-midfielder Paul Licuria also sit on the board.

“We’ll take on board any applicants through (the nominations committee),” McGuire told the club’s annual meeting.

“We also have magnificent board members as you’ve seen tonight, all of whom could easily assume the position of the president of the Collingwood Football Club.

“So we’ve actually got an embarrassment of riches and we’ll take our time making sure the balance of the board is right and we have the right expertise coming in.”

Collingwood’s Action Plan

Reconciliation committee met on Monday night after McGuire’s attempt at spinning the club’s racism report.

Sizer said the committee acknowledged Collingwood’s board for “accepting the report in its entirety”, as well as the “deep hurt” brought by the conversations.

The Magpies are the only AFL club without an indigenous player on their 2021 list.