Eddie McGuire has refused to apologise to Caroline Wilson despite saying he understands how comments about the journalist could have been construed as encouraging domestic violence.
McGuire, North Melbourne chairman James Brayshaw and All Australian selector Danny Frawley are at the centre of a controversy after suggesting Wilson should be the only participant in next year's charity ice slide at the AFL's Freeze MND charity match.
McGuire said he would pledge $50,000 "if she stays under", before going on to describe Wilson as "like a black widow" spider.
But while McGuire said anything that encouraged domestic violence was unacceptable, he twice failed to apologise to the Fairfax Media journalist on Monday morning for the remarks.
"Anything at all that can be perceived to promulgate domestic violence is unacceptable," McGuire told Triple M's Hot Breakfast.
"Full stop. That's the big issue here.
"You can argue as much as you like about the tone and it will put it in context and the rest of it, but anything that is seen to promulgate or to support even in a light-hearted manner any sort of domestic violence, is unacceptable."
McGuire said the day was about having fun at AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan expense and at his expense.
"That was clearly banter, but on White Ribbon weekend we have to be vigilant about stamping out domestic violence," he said.
"It was all done in the spirit of the fun on the day and who would be next going down the slide," he added.
McGuire also denied reports that Ms McLachlan had told him he must apologise for the comments or stand down from his post.
"That is so far from the case," McGuire said.
Collingwood president Eddie McGuire takes part in the Big Freeze Ice Slide challenge fundraising event for Motor Neurone Disease (AAP) Source: AAP
"Not at all. Not at all."
Wilson told 3AW off-air that the joking between herself and 3AW colleagues was different because she was there and it stopped when one member of the team overstepped the line.
She also indicated on Monday morning she was offended by the comments and would like an apology from McGuire.
"On this one I think they crossed the line," she told 3AW.
"I didn't like the language and I think it's such a pity that they needed to default to such vicious language and I don't accept that it is playful banter."
Wilson suggested McGuire's anger and frustration may have come from a column she wrote which said he should consider creating a succession plan at the Magpies.
Plibersek, Hanson weigh in
Labor’s deputy leader Tanya Plibersek weighed into the controversy on Monday morning, saying it was wrong for “big strong footballers” to joke about drowning women.
“People who are used to hearing jokes about violence against women, don’t get disturbed when they hear jokes about violence against women,” she said.
“It is a very inappropriate thing to be laughing about.”
Pauline Hanson told Seven Network it was obvious Mr McGuire was joking.
“Some of these journalists, I’d drown half of them,” she said.
Ms Hanson, who is standing again for the Senate, said she had been subjected to similar comments over the years.
The AFL said on Sunday they had only become aware of the comments at the weekend.
"AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan tonight said he contacted club presidents Eddie McGuire and James Brayshaw late today regarding an on-air radio discussion they had been a part of before last week's round 12 Melbourne v Collingwood match at the MCG," an AFL statement issued on Sunday read.
"Mr McLachlan said the AFL had expressed the strong view to both club presidents, and All Australian selector Danny Frawley ... that although seeking to be light-hearted, the language and tenor of the wording could be seen to be supporting violent attitudes or actions against women, and was therefore clearly not appropriate."
Brayshaw said he would pledge money in reply to McGuire's comments.
Frawley apologised for his part in the conversation in which he said, 'I'll actually jump in and make sure she doesn't (surface) - I'll hold her under".
"Last Monday on radio I made a couple of insensitive and inappropriate remarks about Caroline Wilson," Frawley said on Fox Footy on Sunday night.
"Clearly it was a poor attempt at humour for which I sincerely apologise."
The Western Bulldogs-Geelong game on Saturday night supported the White Ribbon campaign to prevent violence by men against women.
