He may no longer be the president of Collingwood, but that does not mean Eddie McGuire's views on Port Adelaide's iconic 'Prison Bar' jumper have changed.
After being allowed to wear it in last season's annual 'Showdown' against Adelaide due to it being the club's 150th anniversary, Port has once again lodged a request to the AFL to be able to wear the iconic strip in this year's Showdown in Round Eight.
MORE: Eddie vs Koch prison bar stoush turns legal
Veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson revealed that the league was yet to reach a decision on the Power's request, adding that it will be up to Collingwood to allow it.
While McGuire is no longer at the helm at Collingwood, he said he was sure what the club's response to the AFL and Port Adelaide would be.
"I know what the answer will be, the answer is no," he told Nine's Footy Classified.
"They had it last year! So take me through this, they thought about it last year and knew they were going to play in front of an empty stadium and wore it anyway.
"This year they'll have it for the 151st anniversary. What about next year, what is it, Mark Williams' birthday or something?"
McGuire cited the revenue that Collingwood's iconic jumper brings into the AFL as his main argument for not allowing the Power to wear the prison bars.
"The Collingwood Football Club jumper is one of the most sought-after, expensive jumpers. We've just done a massive deal with Nike, with CGU and Emirates on there," he said.
"Collingwood receives $6 million a year less than Port Adelaide, so Collingwood is a net-giver every year and has been to the competition right the way through.
"If they want to celebrate something big, when they start becoming a net-giver instead of a net-receiver, then we'll have a bit of a look at it. That jumper of Collingwood's keeps them going because we make a lot of money off the back of that.
"It is a trademark issue. The AFL, when they took over all our trademarks, they must protect the trademark.
"Everyone is sick of it. They've got great jumpers. They've got a thousand jumpers they've worn over the years. It's not a small thing. If it's such a small thing, why are they driving us mad every year?
"They wore it last year, we've allowed them to wear it whenever they've asked to do it.
"They've got a thousand jumpers they can wear, they've got a really good jumper this year, they might want a premiership jumper.
"Worry about that, worry about making money and stop annoying us every year. Simple as that. Back off, no. You've got a great jumper, just get on with it. It's just annoying now."
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.