Collingwood Football Club president Eddie McGuire announced this evening that he will be relinquishing the presidency at the end of the 2021 season.
McGuire concluded his opening address to the Collingwood annual member forum with his decision to retire, shocking the football world with news that, until then, only his wife Carla and sons Joe and Alexander were privy to. Vision of McGuire’s address can be found below.
McGuire succeeded Kevin Rose as president on his 34th birthday, on 29 October 1998, and now at 56-years of age is the longest serving president in the AFL.
At the time of his retirement, McGuire will have presided over Collingwood for 23 seasons, the third longest tenure of an AFL club president behind Collingwood’s Harry Curtis (27 years) and Geelong’s Jack Jennings (26 years).
“Back in 1998 it was my time to stand up for our beloved Collingwood. Instead of calling on others to do something for our club, fate turned my way. I’m proud that I answered,” McGuire said.
“I’ve given everything I have to this position and now it is time for me to set the platform for the club going forward.
“I will stand down at the end of next year and I will spend rest of my time as president of this club setting up a new era of Collingwood.”
McGuire went on to explain that he had intended to make his call earlier in the year.
“COVID put paid to many finely laid plans,” McGuire said.
“In conjunction with the change of direction in my media life and the timing of my son’s schooling ending, the time is right and the future is strong for our club and for me to make this call.
“My passion and love and energy for Collingwood remains undiminished. My care for the competition remains deep and abiding.
“There will be more appropriate forums to thank people and I will extrapolate on my love for the club in due course. There will always be a reason to go on, another idea, another campaign, another battle. But in due course it will be with another president.
“As always, floreat pica, may the Magpie flourish.”
McGuire’s tenure has been as colourful as it has been transformative. He will be remembered as one of Collingwood’s most important, controversial and much-loved figures.
A club that was struggling to adapt to the professional realities of the late 20th century was remade under his stewardship. Despite the ravages of COVID-19, Collingwood has $17 million invested in a Future Fund, $8 million in cash and $43 million in assets.
In 1998, the year he took control, the club had 27,099 members. The club reached a pre-COVID 19 membership high of 85,226 in 2019.
The crowning glory was the 2010 AFL premiership but it will always be read that under McGuire the club modernised, shifting home grounds from Victoria Park to the MCG, taking residence at the world class Olympic Park training facility and moving first into AFLW and Super Netball. The club’s community programs, particularly the Magpie Nest homeless initiative and the Barrawarn Indigenous training program, were passionate interests. The likes of Emirates Airlines were drawn to the ‘new’ Collingwood of the late 20th century and remain as trusted partners.
Highlights of McGuire’s tenure as Collingwood Football Club President to date:
- 2010 Premiership
- Six grand finals (2002, 2003, 2010 x2, 2011, 2018)
- 13 finals campaigns
- Collingwood’s move from Victoria Park to Olympic Park in 2004
- The hiring of Michael Malthouse at the end of the 1999 season and the succession plan which saw Nathan Buckley take over as senior coach in 2012
- Introduction of AFLW and Super Netball to the club in 2016
