“I’m good”: Eddie McGuire proves a point

Eddie McGuire returned to TV screens last night in his first appearance following his resignation as Collingwood Football Club President.

McGuire co-hosted Footy Classified on Nine after speculation about whether he would return, and it was back to business for the seasoned professional.

Caroline Wilson, who noted that the panel only learned of his return the day before, questioned him over his AFL exit, with McGuire acknowledging he is now an “uncompromised commentator” for the first time since 1998 and that “I am now a reporter.”

After clarifying his exit saga, and maintaining he was proud of a Collingwood investigation into racism, but that his words at a press conference, drawn from his own notes, had been taken the wrong way.

Wilson then asked him about his well-being.

“I’m great. Of course I was sad. It was a tough couple of weeks, Caro,” he replied. “Basically the next day one of my great heroes and friends, Murray Weideman died. And a week later one of my best friends in life, Michael Gudinski died. So it was a pretty tough time in that situation. But I didn’t have an outlet. I’m not the President of Collingwood anymore, so I don’t do press conferences. I don’t do breakfast radio anymore, I stepped back.”

McGuire also indicated he had recently filmed 18 new episodes of Hot Seat.

“It was reported on the weekend I secretly came back to TV. It wasn’t a secret when you have a full show going. (Other reports) said I pushed Daniel Andrews down the stairs! There’s a lot of stuff being written about me… but the point being, I’m good.”

McGuire is currently off air from FOX Footy commitments, but after a confident return may be back faster than anticipated.

"I've said all I've had to say, the last thing I'm ever going to be is a rat on people at the Collingwood Football Club."

Eddie McGuire speaks on his departure from Collingwood.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/cG6gr37Fro

— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) March 17, 2021