Gill calls Ed over ‘proud’ blunder
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan rang Eddie McGuire to clarify the Collingwood president’s labelling of the release of a report which found the club guilty of systemic racism as a “proud day”.
McLachlan on Tuesday praised Collingwood’s “courageous” decision to commission an internal report into racism at the famous VFLAFL club.
The league chief executive said he was disappointed at the tone of the conversation about the release of the findings, which focused on McGuire’s bizarre media conference in which he labelled it a “proud and historic day”.
After speaking to McGuire on Tuesday morning, McLachlan said he believed McGuire’s poor choice of words didn’t “reflect the appetite of the club to change”.
He did, however, take aim at McGuire’s use of the word “proud” in his labelling of the report’s recommendations.
“I spoke to Ed this morning and his intention was to say that he wanted to look forward and embrace the recommendations,” McLachlan said.
“I think the articulations, I didn’t agree with it and I think yesterday was a more sobering and confronting day and we had that conversation … We sit here today when we should be talking about the report and the recommendations.
“I would have articulated
things and I think he understands that position and probably agrees with that.
“We had that conversation that at the core of the report it’s about being open and learning and going forward.
“I know from the conversation I had with Ed that he is committed to taking the club forward and implementing those recommendations.”
When asked if McGuire should continue as Magpies president, McLachlan replied: “These are not decisions for me, it’s for Ed and the board and the Collingwood supporters … The conversation needs to be about the report and not about individuals.
“It needs to be about the substance of what was done and it was a pretty courageous decision by the board to open themselves up in their history.
“There’s been a forensic account of the history of the Collingwood Football Club and there are 18 recommendations that talk to culture and values and education … And that should be the lens, about the accountability of the whole club to deliver on that.”