Once a showman . . .

No-one should be surprised by Eddie McGuire’s outburst over Mick Malthouse’s frank assessment of the Barcodes circa round 3, 2012. Eddie is, and has always been, first and foremost a showman. It’s the sizzle that excites McGuire, not the sausage.

 

Here at AussieRulesBlog Central, we haven’t managed to get past the adverts for McGuire’s eponymously-titled new TV vehicle. It’s clear that EMT takes a lowest common denominator approach — not unlike The Footy Show, a former McGuire vehicle — and isn’t interested in anything much other than sizzle.

 

Nathan Buckley, on the other hand, has his feet firmly planted on the ground, regardless of his FIGJAM reputation. No wonder then that he backed his predecessor's right to comment as he felt was appropriate.

 

And, of course, the ‘controversy’ was turned up to ‘High’ by that soul of sober reflection, The Age’s Caroline Wilson.

 

Did anyone really expect that Malthouse wouldn’t be asked his opinion of the 2012 Barcodes? More especially since he’s employed to provide insightful comments on football?

 

McGuire isn’t quite the shrinking violet that Jeff Kennett is, but they both generate far more column centimetres than they’re entitled to.

 

Storm? Meet teacup.