‘Right in front of me’: McGuire explodes in claim MCG tried to help Brisbane during GF
Eddie McGuire has gotten into a slanging fight with ex-Geelong player Jimmy Bartel at the MCG over a song choice.
McGuire, a former Collingwood president, was in the stands last Saturday for the Pies’ stunning triumph over the Brisbane Lions.
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The Magpies’ four-point victory ended a 13-year premiership drought and was widely praised by the club’s massive supporter base.
However, an incident between the black and white armies at the opening of the second quarter irritated Bartel, prompting McGuire to launch a vigorous defense.
Loud booing can be heard ringing around the stadium as the second quarter was about to begin.
At the same time, fans can be heard faintly singing along to a song, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver.
Anyone who has seen the Lions play in Brisbane in recent years would recognize that song as being connected with one of the club’s best talents, small forward Charlie Cameron.
Players at the Gabba have chosen music to be played whenever they score a goal.
The real ear worm that parents across the country know by heart, “Let It Go” from Frozen – yeah, we know, you’re humming it now – is Lions spearhead Joe Daniher’s choice.
“I think that may have been a stitch up, I’m not sure how much of a say Joe had in that,” Lions head of brand and marketing Taylor Olzard told the Courier Mail last month.
The fact that the MCG decided to blare the John Denver classic out at the MCG did not sit well with McGuire.
“Why do you have to boo it?” Bartel asks on the Eddie and Jimmy podcast.
“Everyone sang along and then, there’s a big section near me, yeah, there were people booing.”
McGuire appears shocked at the question, before stating: “You must’ve been sitting near me then.”
“Why are you booing it?” Bartel tries again.
“Are you kidding?” McGuire replies. “‘Country Road’ would be the equivalent of playing ‘Good old Collingwood forever’.”
That of course is the Collingwood team song, which is sung after a team victory.
The two then debate the merits of that statement, but on this occasion, McGuire might have a point.
Quite unbelievably, within 30 seconds of the second quarter starting, Charlie Cameron kicks a goal.
Trailing by 10 points entering the second term, Brisbane’s Josh Dunkley wins a free kick and hands it off to Ryan Lester, who bombs a kick from the centre square inside 50.
Cameron is lurking and snares the ball from a marking contest, produces a trademark shimmy and kicks the goal on his left foot.
Whether it was divine John Denver inspiration or a total coincidence, it came immediately after his trademark song was heard around the ground.
“You saw what happened,” McGuire says. “We’re on top, they’re flat.
“Mate, they bounce the ball, who’s the song for? Who’s the song for?”
Bartel replies: “We associate it with Charlie.”
“And what happened 29 seconds into the, 15 seconds into the second quarter? He kicks the goal,” McGuire says.
“Mate, of all the songs, in the entire songbook of the world, don’t play that one!”
While McGuire is just about apoplectic at this point, Bartel is in hysterics.
“Why do you have to boo it?” Bartel asks on the Eddie and Jimmy podcast.
“Everyone sang along and then, there’s a big section near me, yeah, there were people booing.”
McGuire appears shocked at the question, before stating: “You must’ve been sitting near me then.”
“Why are you booing it?” Bartel tries again.
“Are you kidding?” McGuire replies. “‘Country Road’ would be the equivalent of playing ‘Good old Collingwood forever’.”
That of course is the Collingwood team song, which is sung after a team victory.
The two then debate the merits of that statement, but on this occasion, McGuire might have a point.
Quite unbelievably, within 30 seconds of the second quarter starting, Charlie Cameron kicks a goal.
Trailing by 10 points entering the second term, Brisbane’s Josh Dunkley wins a free kick and hands it off to Ryan Lester, who bombs a kick from the centre square inside 50.
Cameron is lurking and snares the ball from a marking contest, produces a trademark shimmy and kicks the goal on his left foot.
Whether it was divine John Denver inspiration or a total coincidence, it came immediately after his trademark song was heard around the ground.
“You saw what happened,” McGuire says. “We’re on top, they’re flat.
“Mate, they bounce the ball, who’s the song for? Who’s the song for?”
Bartel replies: “We associate it with Charlie.”
“And what happened 29 seconds into the, 15 seconds into the second quarter? He kicks the goal,” McGuire says.
“Mate, of all the songs, in the entire songbook of the world, don’t play that one!”
While McGuire is just about apoplectic at this point, Bartel is in hysterics.
