Eddie McGuire has taken criticism hes "WA's most despised commentator" in his stride ahead of his first call of the Western Derby on Saturday night.
Responding to a scathing review in the states daily newspaper, the Collingwood president said West Australians should be "opening their hearts" to eastern states football fans, and using the "game of the round" to promote Optus Stadium and WA more broadly.
Eddie McGuire will call his first Western Derby on Saturday. Credit:AAP
His comments come after criticism that he, a Victorian commentator and Collingwood Magpies president, would be calling the derby, joined by WA's Adam Papalia, former Fremantle Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich and Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall.
“[The West Australian would] must be a bit embarrassed today, wouldnt they?”, McGuire told Radio 6PR Breakfast hosts Basil Zempilas and Steve Mills on Wednesday morning.
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“It is a West Australian game between two great clubs, but its also one of the biggest sporting events on in the country and when you look at the attendance, it will be one of the biggest attended games in the world this weekend.
“I reckon maybe sometimes the West Australian people if you open up your hearts to these things … I just think it's a really good opportunity for Western Australia to open their minds to what can be and the amount of money that could come into Western Australia through tourism, particularly through football."
The Eagles and Dockers will go head-to-head at Optus Stadium on Saturday.Credit:AAP
McGuire, who is contracted to Fox Footy who will broadcast the game live, said WA should embrace being on the national football stage.
"I say this a little bit tongue in cheek, what Channel 7 and The West should do, they should have flown me over this week and got me to do my breakfast show from Perth and should have had me down at Bunker Bay and down at Margaret River doing the wine tasting and going to Rottnest Island," he said.
"I've been working closely with the West Coast Eagles and speaking to Fremantle and particularly the West Australian government, is bringing people from Victoria every week to that magnificent new stadium that's over there at Optus Stadium.
"The passion, the sound, the amenities, everything about it is a world claRead More – Source
Eddie McGuire has taken criticism hes "WA's most despised commentator" in his stride ahead of his first call of the Western Derby on Saturday night.
Responding to a scathing review in the states daily newspaper, the Collingwood president said West Australians should be "opening their hearts" to eastern states football fans, and using the "game of the round" to promote Optus Stadium and WA more broadly.
Eddie McGuire will call his first Western Derby on Saturday. Credit:AAP
His comments come after criticism that he, a Victorian commentator and Collingwood Magpies president, would be calling the derby, joined by WA's Adam Papalia, former Fremantle Dockers captain Matthew Pavlich and Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall.
“[The West Australian would] must be a bit embarrassed today, wouldnt they?”, McGuire told Radio 6PR Breakfast hosts Basil Zempilas and Steve Mills on Wednesday morning.
Advertisement
“It is a West Australian game between two great clubs, but its also one of the biggest sporting events on in the country and when you look at the attendance, it will be one of the biggest attended games in the world this weekend.
“I reckon maybe sometimes the West Australian people if you open up your hearts to these things … I just think it's a really good opportunity for Western Australia to open their minds to what can be and the amount of money that could come into Western Australia through tourism, particularly through football."
The Eagles and Dockers will go head-to-head at Optus Stadium on Saturday.Credit:AAP
McGuire, who is contracted to Fox Footy who will broadcast the game live, said WA should embrace being on the national football stage.
"I say this a little bit tongue in cheek, what Channel 7 and The West should do, they should have flown me over this week and got me to do my breakfast show from Perth and should have had me down at Bunker Bay and down at Margaret River doing the wine tasting and going to Rottnest Island," he said.
"I've been working closely with the West Coast Eagles and speaking to Fremantle and particularly the West Australian government, is bringing people from Victoria every week to that magnificent new stadium that's over there at Optus Stadium.
"The passion, the sound, the amenities, everything about it is a world claRead More – Source
