Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has described the scheduling of a rugby Test in Perth during the AFL finals as an act of treachery.

McGuire is angry that the Wallabies are scheduled to meet Argentina at Patersons Stadium on September 14.

That means Fremantle could potentially be scheduled to host Collingwood in the second week of the AFL finals series on Friday September 13, only six days after the Magpies play Port Adelaide in Saturday night’s elimination final at the MCG.

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“That is a perversion of the finals fixture,” McGuire said in his president’s address before Collingwood’s last-round clash with North Melbourne at the MCG on Sunday.

“I have a very, very, very (strong) burning anger – I’ve got to be careful what I say here – of an act of treachery by the West Australian Football Commission and the West Australian state government.”

Collingwood’s first final next Saturday comes after a six-day break.

Then if the Magpies beat Port, they’ll possibly face another six-day break and a trip to Perth to play Fremantle, if the Dockers lose to Geelong next weekend.

Fremantle would also have only a six-day break in that instance.

“Let me give the tip to the AFL to governance around the AFL. We won’t stand for this rubbish,” McGuire said.



“I ask for the AFL to plan 12 months ahead, for the AFL to work out that in September we might need some grounds.

“We won’t cop this going forward.”

Earlier this week WAFC chairman Frank Cooper said the AFL had known about the rugby union international for a year, according to the afl.com.au website.

McGuire says he assumes the West Australian government has told Fremantle and West Coast to “put up and shut up” on the basis of a threat not to fund the proposed new stadium in Perth.

“The football public that puts time and effort in to our game every year, for this club (Collingwood) and every other club that has been training since November should not have their chances of winning the premiership compromised because of this nonsense,” McGuire fumed.

He also queried the scheduling of Saturday’s Geelong-Fremantle qualifying final in Geelong.

“I don’t know why they’re playing down at Simonds Stadium,” McGuire said.

“I’ve heard all the reasons. I still don’t understand it.”

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