AFL media

[Velour&Ruffles]

You could argue McGuire's comments have been taken too far, especially if this was an isolated incident. He claims he only looked vaguely at the toss and noticed it wasn't straightforward. He put his opinionated loud foot in his mouth again and has landed in hot water. I have zero sympathy for him by the way. This goes a lot deeper however. Swans have doubled down today because they are still seething over the Goodes saga and the role he played in it. In addition, because of his large media profile in Melbourne, the club holds him largely responsible for removal of COLA and the two year trade ban. Pridham is pressuring McLachlan big time to do something about it despite McGuire's seemingly more genuine apology today. We shouldn't hold our breath because he is the original protected species here in Melbourne. People in other states scratch their head rightly and wonder how he survives. It's a peculiarly Melbourne thing. He's probably already been on the phone to Gil a la Clarkson as part of the boys buddy club that runs the game. No arms length approach and a heap of conflicts of interest. Let's hope karma wins out soon.

Eddie (or, more precisely, Eddie's personality) is the cause of Eddie's problems, so karma is a good chance of winning in the long run (and it's certainly had a very good 24 hours).

Anyone who watched the Footy Show back in the day, or has listened to his blatherings on MMM, will know that Eddie's natural instinct is to try to belittle and humiliate others with what is often savagely personal comments - sometimes for professional reasons (eg Caro Wilson) and sometimes just for attention. He's been at it for several decades now. He often then tries to cover it up with a comment along the lines of "{Name} is a ripping bloke and we're just having a laugh, it's all in fun" so that if the victim reacts they look precious and humourless, but the damage is done.

This coin toss thing is just another example of a very well worn and familiar pattern. His natural instinct to belittle someone in front of a large audience kicked in and off he went. Frankly, what does it matter if the coin toss isn't very good? Why is it even comment-worthy? It still lands one side or the other up and gets the job done. If he were a nicer bloke he would have simply said nothing and devoted airtime to talking about something more productive and relevant to the game. But he couldn't resist slagging off someone when he was in the position of power and they had no comeback. I believe him when he suggests that he didn't register her physical disability. But in a way that's not relevant. It would be pointless and mean-spirited behaviour whoever was tossing the coin - it serves no purpose other than to embarrass some person on national TV during what is supposed to be their 15 seconds of fame. What a big man.

The fact that Cynthia Banham has the physical challenges she does has simply made the behaviour impossible to ignore on this occasion. But the problem is fairly and squarely Eddie's desire to make others a laughing stock. There is a wonderful poetic justice in the fact that it has rebounded back on him this time, with interest. If he wasn't mean spirited in the first place this wouldn't have happened to him - the biter bit. I'd suggest that it might also be a valuable learning experience but his history suggests that this leopard is incapable of changing its spots. Until he develops a greater sense of empathy and stops viewing people as props in the Eddie Show this will keep happening .... and the karma bus will reappear.

[Blood Fever]

Eddie comments are being taken too far. Everyone justs needs to relax.

And I don't think the 100m free was wrong or changed our momentum.

Crows were better.

3 facts.

You could argue McGuire's comments have been taken too far, especially if this was an isolated incident. He claims he only looked vaguely at the toss and noticed it wasn't straightforward. He put his opinionated loud foot in his mouth again and has landed in hot water. I have zero sympathy for him by the way. This goes a lot deeper however. Swans have doubled down today because they are still seething over the Goodes saga and the role he played in it. In addition, because of his large media profile in Melbourne, the club holds him largely responsible for removal of COLA and the two year trade ban. Pridham is pressuring McLachlan big time to do something about it despite McGuire's seemingly more genuine apology today. We shouldn't hold our breath because he is the original protected species here in Melbourne. People in other states scratch their head rightly and wonder how he survives. It's a peculiarly Melbourne thing. He's probably already been on the phone to Gil a la Clarkson as part of the boys buddy club that runs the game. No arms length approach and a heap of conflicts of interest. Let's hope karma wins out soon.

[dejavoodoo44]

Eddie should be the Official AFL Tosser.

I think he already is!

I hope there'll be a trophy. I'll even settle for an official portrait.

[jono2707]

What he said was dumb, he apologized. Move on.

Gee thanks for the advice that's very helpful of you.

He'll do it again.

Some people don't learn.

[barry]

Don't you dare tell me or anyone else to relax.

Eddie was being a dick on national TV and he has rightly been called out about it.

I'll just leave this bit of Andrew Pridham's statement for you, S.S. Bleeder and anyone else who thinks Eddie's words were anything else but inappropriate, callous and bullying:

"Cynthia is an amazing woman. Courageous, humble and inspiring. She does not deserve to be spoken about on national television in that way. No one does."

What he said was dumb, he apologized. Move on.