State on high alert: WA is OK without Eddie McGuire, says Premier

The State Government doesn’t need Eddie McGuire to help sell WA through the western derby, according to Premier Mark McGowan, reports The West Australian’s Mitchell Woodcock.

McGuire sparked another backlash yesterday ahead of calling his first derby this Saturday, suggesting on radio that he should have been in WA all week leading up to the match, which he is commentating for the first time in his more than two-decade career.

McGowan and Tourism Minister Paul Papalia shrugged off the Collingwood Football Club president’s remarks.

The Premier said the State could “take care of ourselves without advice from Eddie”.

“I am a big fan of Dennis Cometti and Basil (Zempilas) – both great commentators. They do a great job, are both nice guys,” he said.

“Eddie could learn a thing or two from them.”

McGuire believes his presence in WA could help bump up interstate interest for the West Coast-Fremantle clash.

“What Channel 7 and The West Australian should have done is flown me over this week and had me do my radio breakfast show from Perth and should have had me down at Bunker Bay and Margaret River, doing the wine tasting,” he told 6PR.

“Next week, I am going to Queensland, who are paying for Collingwood to go up there and will fill the Gabba.”

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