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Collingwood President Eddie McGuire is on thin ice after some offensive comments made about Age journalist Caroline Wilson.

One of the most powerful men in AFL has “joked” about drowning a female journalist. Action must be taken. Someone — anyone — must sack him. (Pic: Wayne Ludbey)

Eddie McGuire must go.

McGuire should stand down from the Collingwood Football Club presidency. He must have his AFL media accreditation revoked. Triple M need to take him off the air.

One of the most powerful men in AFL has “joked” about drowning a female journalist. Action must be taken. Someone — anyone — sack him.

McGuire was the architect of the repulsive radio exchange, Kangaroos president James Brayshaw was also in the thick of it, as was All-Australian selector Danny Frawley who suggested Caroline Wilson’s head be held underwater.

So, let’s put it simply; three of the AFL’s most influential men made a violent “joke” about a woman. In case you were wondering, casual misogyny is alive and well at the top of the league.

McGuire giddily conducted the whole sick thing. His enthusiasm is disturbing. When you listen back to the Triple M show you can hear him at fever pitch cajoling the others.

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James Brayshaw laughed at McGuire’s crude “joke”. (Pic: Sarah Matray)Source:News Corp Australia

In the past McGuire has somehow shrugged off sexist/racist/homophobic slurs/scandals but it’s time for the AFL hierarchy to take some action. Show some strength. Make a change.

The vile “joke” occurred just days before a momentous AFL agreement with OurWatch, the code being one of four hand-picked elite sports to support the primary prevention of violence against women, and promote the #equalplayingfield campaign.

The Government’s OurWatch launched the ad last Friday which features Western Bulldogs star Steph Chiocci alongside a host of athletes appealing, amongst other things, for those who make sexist jokes to be called out.

What does OurWatch Chief Executive Officer Mary Barry think of these very powerful AFL men “joking” like this?

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan called McGuire, Frawley and Brayshaw yesterday — but what will he do next? Will he take disciplinary action?

Will Gillon McLachlan take serious disciplinary action or will this all be washed over with insincere apologies? (Pic: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

McLachlan was last year made “male champion of change” — right now he has the chance to make these men accountable for their actions and do exactly what that title asks of him.

How about revoking McGuire/Brayshaw and Frawley’s AFL accreditation for the rest of the year to start with? How about asking McGuire to stand aside from his presidential duties considering the role he played in this scandal?

Because, why just let them all just apologise? It’s too easy. Frawley’s heartfelt but hasty apology on The Bounce last night showed us all this.

Surely it is time to take a stand.

One of the most powerful men in AFL has “joked” about drowning a female journalist. Action must be taken. Someone — anyone — must sack him. AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy)Source:AAP

It’s hard to imagine a National Rugby League chairman/woman surviving a similar predicament — but it feels like at times there’s different rules down in Victoria — especially in Melbourne where AFL dominates heads and hearts and messes with your sanity.

That McGuire has survived making controversial comments about one the game’s greats, Adam Goodes, at a time when crowds were “booing” the Brownlow medallist, with his intolerance of Goodes’ war dance with little repercussion says so much.

This latest McGuire scandal would have slipped away if it wasn’t for the excellent all-female Outer Sanctum podcast. The Outer Sanctum first highlighted the sexist exchange on Triple M and the issue which caught fire after sports writer Erin Riley blogged about and tweeted about it.

Listening to the “Monday Rub” audio clip yesterday felt like being a fly on the wall at an out of control footy frat boy party. It was horrifying but not surprising.

Also sitting in the Triple M radio box last Monday, laughing along and joining in on McGuire’s “joke” about drowning Wilson, was Wayne Carey.

Wayne Carey holds prolific roles despite his violent past. (Pic: Julie Kiriacoudis)Source:News Corp Australia

In a 2008 interview with 60 Minutes Carey confessed to “pushing and shoving” his then girlfriend Kate Nielson. He also admitted to “yelling and screaming” at her. The interview came about just months after he smashed a wine glass in Kate’s face in a Miami restaurant, he says accidentally.

That an ex-footballer with such a violent — not to mention chequered — past holds prolific roles with Triple M, Channel Seven’s Friday Night Footy, the AFL’s very own Pick A Winner show and a weekly column with The Age is mind-blowing.

And wrong, just wrong.

Frawley has made a sexist comment about a female journalist before. In 2007 he took a shot at Jacquelin Magnay for her tough line of questioning on Chris Judd. Frawley said she should; “get home and wash the dishes”.

It would seem Danny Frawley’s sexist views haven’t improved over the years. (Pic: Wayne Ludbey)Source:News Corp Australia

That Brayshaw is a club president and is involved in this is disgraceful. The fact is he is co-host of the Channel Nine’s The AFL Footy Show, a program that churns out sexist jokes weekly courtesy of Sam Newman, so it was no surprise he guffawed through this one.

As for McGuire. It is disappointing that McGuire’s drowning “joke” came just days before the president stood on the MCG proudly welcoming young women to his much loved Collingwood football club.

McGuire, a man who lives in his own egotistical bubble, does not understand the harm his words have caused. He dismissed the exchange as “banter” on Triple M this morning. He said he “didn’t see it as being in any way, shape or form, sexist”.

The pressure is truly on AFL chief Gillon McLachlan to make McGuire see that “banter” was not only sexist but it also condoned violence against women.

Please, make McGuire accountable. The sorry he trotted out on Channel Nine’s Today this morning isn’t enough.