If Eddie McGuire and Collingwood were angry when Heritier Lumumba linked the Magpies with a racist culture then both would be blind with fury regarding Andrew Krakouer's comments.

"After all we've done for him," McGuire would be saying - and we can only hypothesize because just as he failed to address Lumumba's version of events two weeks ago the Collingwood president has again maintained his silence regarding Krakouer. Despite sitting behind his Triple M microphone on Monday for three hours.

It is well known within the club that McGuire has helped out Krakouer financially after he retired as a player. Less well known, but equally true according to the club, is that the president personally helped Lumumba's younger siblings with their schooling. In an interview with the Herald Sun at the weekend, McGuire said Collingwood's only concern was for "Heritier's short-term and long-term health".

But while neither Krakouer nor Lumumba have denied the support Collingwood has given them in the past - support many at the Magpies have subtly conveyed was sorely needed by the two often troubled individuals - surely that does not remove from them the right to introduce a conversation about racism.