Eddie McGuire & Adam Goodes & King Kong Part 2

The Australian WITH Eddie McGuire reduced to tears on his morning radio show yesterday, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou defended his initial reaction to the Collingwood president's racial vilification of Swans star Adam Goodes. Demetriou, who was in Queensland, initially downplayed McGuire's slur towards Goodes on Wednesday but the AFL later toughened its stance when charging the Collingwood president under its racial and religious vilification laws. "When I was asked (in a briefing about what happened on radio) initially I replied as honestly as I could at that point in time and said that it was a very 'un-Eddie-like' thing to say," he said. "As the day progressed, I was briefed more extensively." The charge requires McGuire, who yesterday received the backing of Collingwood's board to retain his presidency, to undergo counselling. He will face no other ramifications. Collingwood vice-president Jack Kennedy said McGuire's work in the indigenous area was a reason for the board's unanimous backing. "While we accept that Eddie made a mistake that caused serious offence to Adam Goodes and many more, we balance this against the work Eddie and the board have done, and continue to do, to make Collingwood an institution that our entire 'family' can be proud of," he said. McGuire - who broke down when receiving a call on his morning talk show from a former school mate who described how the Collingwood president had stood up for him when he was teased over his Greek background - said he had discussed stepping aside from his role as a chairman of the Indigenous Foundation with former Essendon champion Michael Long. "I said 'Maybe I should step away from it' and he said, 'Nah mate, this is why we need you. You're someone that's worked closely with us and you've got great things to do'," McGuire said. The debacle tracing back to last Friday night's clash between Collingwood and Sydney has had an impact at both clubs. Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley was quizzed as to how Harry O'Brien, who appeared on Fox Footy's AFL 360 alongside McGuire on Wednesday, and indigenous star Andrew Krakouer, were faring in light of the comments by their club's president. Both have travelled to Brisbane for tonight's game at the Gabba. Buckley said: "We support all our players and if they feel for any reason that it's not within them to be able to go out and play a game of footy, then we'll support that. "I've spoken to both Andrew and Harry. It's become an issue of race, but I think it (is) an issue of respect. It's not just about race. It's discrimination in all forms." At Sydney training, Goodes and fellow Swan Lewis Jetta worked away from the main group at the beginning of the session. Coach John Longmire confirmed that Goodes, despite enduring a mentally draining week, would play in tomorrow's clash against Essendon at the SCG. "Probably the thing he's looking forward to the most is getting out on the ground and having a run around and getting a kick and doing what he has done so well for so long," he said. "He's experienced enough to know how he's going physically and mentally. The discussion I had with him ... was purely about training today and that's what he's looking forward to." Buckley backed his president, saying one mistake should not overshadow a lifetime of good deeds. "In the equation of life, Eddie is exponentially in the positive with the things he has done for people," he said. "He's all for equality. He's led this club brilliantly and I think he will continue to do so." McGuire said he felt devastated and could only imagine the impact his mistake had on others. "If I'm feeling it this morning, I can only imagine what Adam Goodes has felt all his life and Harry O'Brien," he said. "That's why I'm not turning it into the wailing wall for me. This is about these guys." Both the Magpies and Lions made several changes for tonight's clash. Collingwood premiership players Heath Shaw and Alan Didak, who is playing his first game this season, have been selected alongside Josh Thomas and debutante Kyle Martin.

REAL FOOTY (Caroline Wilson) If Eddie McGuire's mindless and zoned-out media moment taught us anything then surely the obvious lesson is that some individuals in this great game remain greater than the game itself. Offering one's resignation has become something of a habit for club chiefs during this tumultuous and scandal-ridden AFL season, but there was no better bet than McGuire on Thursday winning the backing of his board and the endorsement of league chief Andrew Demetriou. The AFL chief executive admitted he had spoken too soon in playing down the hurtful racist remark aimed at Adam Goodes on Triple M breakfast radio early on Wednesday, but the fact remained that Demetriou's default position was to defend McGuire. Collingwood will not suspend McGuire any more than Essendon will stand down James Hird. Had McGuire's name been Greg Westaway (St Kilda) or Steve Harris (Fremantle) he would have stepped down by now at the very least pending a racial vilification charge - which Demetriou confirmed for McGuire on Thursday. Had Matthew Knights, not Hird, overseen the pharmacologically experimental program at Essendon, never adequately checked nor controlled and which still sees players not fully aware of what they have taken and facing bans from anti-doping authorities, then he would be finished. But Hird is too big and has chosen to place himself above his club, believing himself now to be its saviour. Only the AFL has the strength to take on the Essendon legend but the prevailing view is that the league too remains beholden to the court of public opinion. It must at the very least discipline McGuire. Goodes as it stood on Thursday had no intention of further mediation with the Collingwood president given the two had already spoken and McGuire's apology had been reluctantly accepted by the Swans champion. Goodes told his coach he planned to play on Saturday and believes for now that he has said enough. Most people thought after last Saturday Goodes had said enough for his entire career. McGuire on the other hand has barely stopped talking since his hurtful comment. If McGuire has escaped lightly in tangible terms, the same cannot be said for Matt Rendell, the former Adelaide recruiting chief who was sacked by the Crows 15 months ago following a private meeting with two AFL officials in which Rendell allegedly invoked a scenario in which only indigenous players with one white parent would be taken by clubs. Rendell has always denied much of what was attributed to him as well as the tone of the conversation but he was sacked no sooner than the media exposed him. McGuire has pointed to his strong history fighting indigenous causes; Rendell too could claim that. But he lost his job. That is how it is when you deeply offend members of a race that has been bullied and mistreated and discriminated against for two centuries now. It is true that McGuire has been publicly pilloried and humiliated - although his discomfort was nothing compared with Goodes, who must continue to demonstrate leadership in a different form at the SCG on Saturday. But surely the day draws nearer for the AFL to demonstrate the leadership the game expects of it and do so without discriminating against the lesser lights nor favouring the powerful.