EDDIE McGuire has labelled Alastair Clarkson’s suggestion that Hawthorn’s three-peat was better than Collingwood’s four-peat as “laughable”.

Collingwood won four straight premierships between 1927-30, with the team known as “The Machine”.

But following Friday night’s loss to the Western Bulldogs, Clarkson said comparing the two triple-premiership outfits is largely a non-contest.

“We’ve marvelled at the achievement of our players over the last three years ... to win three in a row,” Clarkson said following the Hawks loss to the Bulldogs.

“They talk about Collingwood and four in a row. And it was a fantastic achievement, but honestly. They won two of those losing a preliminary final, Collingwood.”

McGuire took exception to the comments this morning, and said Clarkson “let himself down a bit”.

“It’s laughable,” he said.

“It’s been the record since 1930. Everyone has accepted it and everyone understands it.

“It is just ridiculous when people go that.

“I think we played seven in a row, Grand Finals, as well.”

The Collingwood president said the Hawthorn coach had tarnished the goodwill he had received for going into the Western Bulldogs’ rooms and shaking the hand of counterpart and former apprentice Luke Beveridge.

“When he bagged the umpies then had a crack at us, I thought ‘Oh mate. You’ve done such a beautiful thing going into the rooms to see the Bulldogs afterwards. Shake hands and just keep your head up mate’,” he said on Triple M.

“You wouldn’t want to think that in 50 years time — or whatever it is, nearly 100 years now — that you wouldn’t want anybody just looking at Alastair Clarkson and saying ‘Oh well, look at this, they had this or they had that or whatever the case may be’.

“Jock McHale is a legend of the game, (and) Gordon Coventry and Syd Coventry.

“If you want to line them up side-by-side on achievements, fair dinkum, they (The Machine) are miles ahead of what has happened in the last period of time.

“Let’s not be silly about it, OK?”