Collingwood president Eddie McGuire has launched an extraordinary offensive, declaring that the Magpies have "been thrown right under the bus" in recent reports about their illicit drug use.

While his club privately appears keen to move on from the matter, McGuire continued to stoke the fire the day after the Pies' 80-point thrashing at the hands of Sydney.

It was first reported on Thursday - just hours before the AFL season opener- that the Magpies had 11 players test positive during off-season hair tests for illicit drugs. Fairfax Media has reported that the Pies are in the top three in the league for positive hair tests. Players do not receive a strike for a positive test, but can be target tested as a result.

While Collingwood captain Scott Pendlebury said his side did not seem to be affected by the issue in the hours leading up to the SCG match, McGuire insisted that the Magpies had been dudded.