Why Eddie McGuire was given life membership of the Collingwood Past Players Association despite NEVER taking the field for the club
- TV identity Eddie McGuire presented prestigious honor from Collingwood
- His 22 years as president were formally recognized during his club function
- Collingwood will take on GWS in the AFL preliminary final on September 22
Eddie McGuire has emotionally declared that ‘it means the world to me’ after being awarded life membership of the Collingwood Past Players Association, despite never having played a match for the club in his life.
The long-serving TV identity and former president of the Magpies was this week presented with the honor by club president and close friend Jeff Browne, along with premiership captain Tony Shaw and McGuire’s childhood hero, Peter McKenna.
It comes after McGuire resigned as president of the Magpies in February 2021 following the publication of the ‘Do Better’ report which accused Collingwood of promoting ‘systemic racism’ and marked the first time he has held an official position since.
However, the club wanted to honor him for his impressive achievements during his tenure as president, even giving him a personalized jersey.
At the AIA Center in Melbourne, McGuire, 58, received a black and white jersey with the number 22.
It represented his years of service as president – and the award was even more notable considering Channel Nine’s host Who wants to be a millionaire? has never laced up the boots of the mighty AFL club.
Eddie McGuire has declared ‘it means the world to me’ after being awarded life membership of the Collingwood Past Players Association at an event in Melbourne this week.
McGuire was given a black and white jersey with the number 22 to symbolize his years as president of the Magpies club (pictured, with wife Carla)
The Past Players Association life membership comes despite McGuire never lace-up for the club – he was also awarded a Collingwood life membership in 2004.
“It means the world to me,” McGuire told Nine’s Footy classified.
“The players are all into the footy and the rest of us are just trying to keep the show going. ‘I was very emotional because it means so much to me.
“(As a kid) I didn’t worry about Batman and Superman, I went to see my heroes every weekend and got an autograph and a pat on the back every now and then, they were just everything.”
The life membership of the Past Players Association comes after McGuire was also awarded a life membership of Collingwood in 2004.
“The life membership I was given at the time was in full combat mode, so sometimes it’s better to get away and get some distance from active duty,” he said.
“It looks great to come back to the club where they have completed the last bit of development that I was involved with.
“To pass the baton to (current president) Jeff Browne and his team and to (head coach) Craig McRae, and for them to take it to the next level, it was great to see.
“I’m just a supporter now and I’ve gone back to what it was like when I was a kid.”
On Friday night, Collingwood will take on GWS at the MCG for a place in the AFL Grand Final on September 30.