Heartbreaking double tragedy behind Eddie McGuire’s resignation
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire and former AFL star Luke Darcy have opened up about their exit from Triple M’s Hot Breakfast show.
The pair both made headlines across the nation after it was revealed they were leaving the popular breakfast radio program.
McGuire was forced to deny rumours that he and Darcy had been sacked.
He instead announced that his family had been behind his decision to walk away from Triple M after 11 years.
Both McGuire and Darcy both had their own personal tragedies that pushed them to step down.
McGuire's mum Bridie died just two days after Darcy sadly lost his father - former VFL football player, David.
“The self-reflection and losing someone close to you … you re-evaluate things that are important and, for me, it always comes back to family,” Darcy said.
“It had a massive impact on me, and a part of my decision making (to leave breakfast radio) as well.
“We need to work and pursue great things like the Hot Breakfast to look after our families, but at the same time, you don’t want to miss the point of life. I’m massive on that life balance part.
“This year, we’ve had the chance to stop, reflect and look at our situations.”
McGuire said his mother's passing helped him understand Darcy's situation.
He went on to say his own commitment to his family made the decision to quit easier to make.
“Darce’s father was such a great friend of the show, and so well loved. My mum passed two days later, but we knew it was imminent. My view is, If you don’t learn from this year, you won’t learn from much.”
McGuire got the opportunity to spend quality time inside the AFL's Gold Coast hub with his son Joe shortly after he lost his mum.
“I spent a lot of time with my son Joe, and spent no time with my son Xander and my wife Carla who were back in Melbourne. You think, ‘Hang on, these are the things that matter,'" McGuire said.
“We came to work every day for our family. “We don’t regret that we weren’t there to drive them to school. That would be great in a perfect world where money falls off a tree.
The Collingwood president revealed he’d always promised his family he would quit breakfast radio once his sons had both finished school.
“Those closest to me have always known that I continued with breakfast radio while my boys were at school and now my youngest has finished it’s time too for me to finish up a wonderful 11 year run with a 4 am alarm,” McGuire said last week.
The Triple M Hot Breakfast has been losing audience share as of late.
The show is down 0.9 points to 5.8% in recent ratings but McGuire denies it is due to him and co-host Darcy's departure.
“They (Triple M) were keen to look at planning for the next five years, and we thought, ‘This is a good way to finish,'" McGuire told the Herald Sun.
“But, in my mind, it was probably since June I’ve known it would be the last year.”