Eddie 'really emotional' after huge Pies honour

Eddie McGuire has been left emotional after been inducted as a life member of Collingwood's Past Players Association.

McGuire, who served as the club's president for 22 seasons, was handed a framed No.22 jersey to recognise his incredible achievement.

Wednesday night's presentation was the first time McGuire had returned to the club for an official function since he resigned as president in February 2021.

READ MORE: Big-money flop sums up Roosters 'rollercoaster'

READ MORE: Wallabies great sorry for X-rated Eddie rant

READ MORE: Piastri's subtle dig as monster deal announced

"It means everything to me," he told Nine's Footy Classified.

"The players are everything in footy and the rest of us are just trying to keep the show going and that's why I'm rapt to see the players getting paid.

"I was really emotional tonight because it means so much to me. Each one of those people at Collingwood … I didn't worry about Batman and Superman, I used to go every weekend and see my heroes and occasionally get an autograph and a pat on the head, they were just everything."

The Past Players Association life membership comes after McGuire was handed a Collingwood life membership in 2004 alongside Nathan Buckley, but he said this honour felt different.

Footy Classified is now available as a podcast! Subscribe/follow via Apple, Spotify or Google Podcasts

"The life membership I got at the time I was right in full battle mode, so it's sometimes better to go away and have some distance from active service," he said.

"Tonight, to come back to the club where they've finished the last bit of development I was involved in, it looks a treat.

"To hand the baton over to (current president) Jeff Browne and his team and to (Collingwood coach) Craig McRae, and for them to take it to the next level, I'm just a supporter now and I've gone back to what it was like when I was a kid."