McGuire slams Malthouse for not supporting Buckley

Updated April 16, 2012 09:54:48

Club president Eddie McGuire has slammed former coach Mick Malthouse insisting he "wouldn't have a friend at Collingwood today."

Malthouse and McGuire have been embroiled in an increasingly bitter war of words which has escalated following the 60-point loss to Carlton on Friday.

After just three games in charge of the 2010 champions, Nathan Buckley is already under pressure and McGuire, who also slammed Magpies fans for not supporting the team during Friday's defeat, feels Malthouse is adding to his former assistant's problems.

"Mick, if you're listening out there mate, your legacy is secure," McGuire said on Triple M.

"You've been a sensational servant to the Collingwood football club, we love you, but move on now because picking over the scabs, you're doing exactly what you used to hate (former coach) Tony Shaw doing to you.

"Give Bucks a bit of a go mate, because when Bucks was the captain he carried that team for you, he played his guts out for you - give the bloke a bit of a chance, he's in his first year."

McGuire said Malthouse "reneged" on the five-year contract put to him in 2009 that would see him coach for two years moving to a director of coaching role with Buckley as coach from this season on.

"We signed off on a plan two-and-a-half years ago that Mick was all over - and if he wasn't, certainly his manager was. We had it and he decided not to stay at the club," he said.

"But I'm disappointed this morning that basically he's bagged me, bagged Bucks, bagged (football manager) Geoff Walsh - which is very disappointing because of the support Geoff Walsh has given him.

"He's come out and blamed the grand final loss on Dane Swan, Chris Tarrant and the umpires. That's hard.

"You can't claim the glory for the coaching plan to get to the grand final and then bag the players who actually followed it out.

"I love Mick and I've supported him 100 per cent, but I tell you what, he wouldn't have a friend at Collingwood today. He hasn't missed anyone."

McGuire also bristled at suggestions from Malthouse that Leon Davis, a key defender for the Magpies in 2011, would have stayed with the club if there had not been a change of coach.

"I spoke to Leon Davis 15 minutes after the grand final and he told me that he was going home for family reasons," McGuire said.

"It wouldn't have mattered if he was offered a million bucks, he was going home.

"Leon was going for every reason other than football, let me tell you that. Whether Mick was going to be there or not, I don't think that was going to make any difference."

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, collingwood-3066

First posted April 16, 2012 09:14:39

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McGuire angrily confronts fan at MCG

Updated June 5, 2011 08:34:00

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire had an angry confrontation with a St Kilda fan during Saturday night's AFL grand final rematch at the MCG.

Asked about his mood during the argument in the grandstand, McGuire said "I was outraged."

Television footage during the second term showed a furious McGuire gesturing angrily at the fan, who was out of camera shot.

McGuire, a passionate Magpies fan, was almost crimson in the face as he stood and shouted at the Saints supporter.

Speaking in the Collingwood rooms post-match, McGuire said the Saints fan had made two comments at Magpies player Andrew Krakouer that angered him.

It is understood Melbourne Cricket Club officials spoke to the Saints fan, but the matter ended there without further incident.

"I can't even remember the first comment, other than it was one of these where my ears pricked up," McGuire said.

"Then the second one was very much 'kick him while he's down' ... it was directed at Andrew Krakouer, both of them.

"The first one I let go, the second one I pulled up and there wasn't going to be a third one.

"The MCC officials were magnificent, they went down and got his (membership) number."

The incident overshadowed Collingwood's near-replica 57-point dismantling of St Kilda in the grand final rematch, as the Magpies kicked the last two goals of the first half before breaking clear in the third term to win 16.12 (108) to 7.9 (51).

Collingwood remains second on the ladder with a 9-1 record, but the Saints are in the bottom eight and struggling for consistent form.

St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said his team showed spirit at times, but agreed the two goals just before half-time were crucial.

He added the loss again showed areas of their game that needed plenty of work, especially elements of the Saints' midfield play.

"They're the benchmark team, we're all chasing them. We're further away than others," Lyon said.

"We knew we'd been improving and I'd been stating publicly and privately we still had a bit of work to do.

"I just thought in the simple areas of contested ball and pressuring and ball use, we still have a fair way to go.

"For periods there we were competitive and just their weight of numbers across the board, talent and system, got well on top of us."

Saints onballer Leigh Montagna suffered a knee injury early in the match, putting pressure on their interchange rotations, but he played out the match and they are hopeful he will not miss any games.

Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse said the performance was nowhere near as good as last week's win over West Coast, but was pleased his side overcame a tough opponent.

"We knew they were up before the game, the first quarter was relatively even and a bit scrappy," Malthouse said.

"The second quarter, we kicked the first two and then didn't look like scoring another one until those last couple of minutes (before half-time).

"They really controlled the second quarter ... we were under the pump.

"We worked into it in the third quarter, changed a few things up ... luckily we finished it off pretty well."

- AAP

Tags: sport, australian-football-league, australia, vic, collingwood-3066, melbourne-3000, st-kilda-3182

First posted June 5, 2011 07:00:00

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