McGuire was cited for breaching the AFL's racial vilification policy for his ''King Kong'' reference to Sydney Swans star Adam Goodes last week.

The on-air gaffe came just five days after McGuire apologised to Goodes following an incident at the MCG where a teenage girl called the dual Brownlow Medal winner an ''ape''.

McGuire was under pressure to keep his job before the Collingwood board stepped in and threw its support behind its boss.

The situation is similar to the one that embarrassed DiPierdomenico three years ago. The Hawthorn legend and AFL Hall of Famer said at a function in 2010 that Essendon and Port Adelaide champion Gavin Wanganeen was ''not too bad for an Abo''.

But DiPierdomenico was adamant racism wasn't a problem in the sport and said everyone would learn from McGuire's mistake.

''There's no racism in AFL. At the end of the day, Eddie said what he said, the young girl said what she said … Goodesy has been absolutely fantastic,'' DiPierdomenico said. ''It's been tough on everybody … when you work in the media and corporate, you say a lot of words and sometimes they just slip out.

''That's the way it is, you put your hand up and you learn from it. I've learnt so much from it for myself, but we move on.

''Eddie is wonderful, he's wonderful for the game, he's wonderful for Collingwood and the amount of work he does in the indigenous community and with charities is fantastic. If he stood there and said it and meant it, you'd have to look at it. But [he didn't].''

The 2007 Hall of Fame inductee completed a six-week program in 2010 visiting indigenous communities after his comment about Wanganeen.

DiPierdomenico was in Canberra for the AFL Hall of Fame dinner at Parliament House on Tuesday night and spent Wednesday with injured Greater Western Sydney ruckman Jonathon Patton.

The Giants are trying to lure Hawks superstar Lance Franklin to Sydney next season on a six-year deal reportedly worth $9 million.

DiPierdomenico spent his 240-game career at Hawthorn between 1975 and 1991, winning five premierships and a Brownlow Medal. He wants Franklin to stay loyal to Hawthorn and become a one-club player.

''Please stay at Hawthorn, Buddy,'' DiPierdomenico said. ''But today it's a business. If [Franklin joins the Giants] it will be great for the game, great for GWS and great for the area.

''He's a great kid … he brings excitement to the game when he goes near the ball. Everyone wants a superstar at GWS, but they've got superstars there [already].''

Patton, who is recovering from season-ending knee surgery, said he would love Franklin to join the Giants. ''I'd have a smile on my face if he came to the club. It would be important for us to get a marquee player,'' Patton said.