Collingwood board member Bridie O’Donnell has announced her resignation just four months after joining the club.
O’Donnell, who took the post in May, quit with immediate effect today.
It comes after O’Donnell, a national champion across three sports – cycling, rowing and triathlon – was heavily criticised for an Instagram post cheering on the Western Bulldogs during last weekend’s win over Port Adelaide.
The Magpies said O’Donnell had quit for professional reasons. She was last week appointed as an Area of Operation Controller in the COVID-19 Outbreak Response Team in the Department of Health and further clarified her reasons for leaving in a personal letter to fans attached to the statement sent out by Collingwood.
“It is with regret that the Collingwood board has accepted the resignation of ex officio director, Dr Bridie O’Donnell,” Collingwood president Mark Korda said in a statement.
“For professional reasons, that are explained below (in O’Donnell’s letter) and underline the outstanding qualities and expertise that saw Bridie appointed to the board, she has had to resign with immediate effect.
“The opportunity and duty before Bridie we understand and yet her departure is Collingwood’s loss.
“On behalf of the board I thank Bridie for her contribution to our club and wish her every success. Her thank you note to Collingwood members follows.”
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The evening before O’Donnell’s resignation, veteran AFL reporter Caroline Wilson was critical of her Instagram post on Nine’s Footy Classified.
“We know she was a Western Bulldogs supporter in previous years,” Wilson told Nine’s Footy Classified.
“She said ‘please please please not Port. Come on Doggies’ on Instagram… We know it was an embarrassing issue because there were voting rights issues for Bridie O’Donnell.”
Wilson put the matter to former Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, who also conceded that O’Donnell had made a mistake.
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“Oh, look, it’s ill-advised. You know my thoughts on Instagram and Twitter and things like that. Just don’t get on it,” McGuire said.
“Why would you put your head in the lion’s mouth and pull the tail again at the moment? It’s ill-advised.”
O’Donnell’s resignation will mean that a fourth board vacancy will open up at the election during the next annual general meeting in December.