Eddie McGuire tells: 'I was on heavy-duty painkillers at the time'

Collingwood president Eddie McGuire says he was on painkillers when he made offensive comments about former professional Australian rules footballer Adam Goodes.

McGuire, 51, said in 2013 that Goodes should be used to promote the musical King Kong.

The comments came days after the player was racially abused by a Magpie’s fan.

‘I haven't really said this before, but I was on massive painkillers and crutches [for] an infection in my knee,’ McGuire told GQ magazine.

‘I was on heavy-duty painkillers, antibiotics and steroids.’

Despite apologising, Goodes told the television presenter he couldn’t be his friend.

‘He said he didn't know if he could be my friend again and that's his prerogative,’ McGuire said.

Adding, ‘I'd like to think that we would be, one day, and that I prove worthy to him.’

McGuire recently came under fire for violent 'joke' about football writer Caroline Wilson.