Pridham had on Thursday questioned whether the AFL should issue McGuire with a "please explain", believing that McGuire had "basically said that GWS are cheating the salary cap" during a discussion on Triple M.

An irate McGuire hit back at Pridham on Friday morning.

"We do need to address some accusations that are completely false and defamatory actually," McGuire said on Triple M.

"[GWS] sent me the grab. It was the day before when we were speaking to Mark Geyer about the Eels.

"They've got it completely wrong. I expect them to come out and apologise."

A contrite Pridham accepted he had erred.

"My question re Eddie's salary cap comment was based on audio provided to me and noted I had not heard entire segment and still have not," Pridham tweeted.

"I now understand Eddies comment related to Parramatta. Withdraw comment and apologise unreservedly on that point."

McGuire also took exception to Pridham's assertion that the Swans had unanimously voted for GWS to enter the competition.

"There has been exception that I said Sydney voted against GWS," McGuire said..

"They're being cute. They ran an absolute orchestrated campaign to not get  GWS into the competition.

"Go back to your files and pull out the quotes from [former Sydney chairman Richard Colless] at the time, ring [AFL chairman] Mike Fitzpatrick, ring [ex-AFL CEO] Andrew Demetriou, ring anyone who was in the room during these debates in the lead-up to when it [Giants' entry into the AFL] was a fait accompli.

"And maybe they put their hand up then to approve, I can't remember.

"All I know is the most vehement opponent of GWS coming into the competition was the Sydney Swans."

Colless said in 2009 – three years before GWS entered the league – that "despite the Swans reaching the finals every season since 2003, interest in the AFL in Sydney had 'plateaued', which did not augur well for a second side to be established."

AFL chief Gillon McLachlan said on Friday that the league would not be reviewing GWS' academy rights this year.

"Things always have the potential to be reviewed ... the Riverina zone for the Giants is not being reviewed this year," McLachlan told ABC Radio.

"There is not anything new going on at our place this week as opposed to last week.

"Everyone needs to not panic and understand that we're getting talent out of zones we haven't had before.

"The thing's got a head of steam up this week that I think is just a bit emotive."

GWS are able to draft players from their zone at a 20 per cent discount. Those concessions apply to highly-rated teenage quartet Kobe Mutch, Zach Sproule, Will Setterfield and Harrison Macreadie, all of whom are eligible to be drafted this year.

With debate rife about the merits of the academy system, McGuire argued he was not opposed to the initiative.

"I have never, and nor do I think that should be the case [think the academy allowances should be stopped].

"I don't know enough of that. I want to see it open up, and let's see what happens there.

"Do I believe the AFL should continue financially supporting GWS? Absolutely. Have I always voted for the AFL to support the Sydney Swans in their darkest hours? Absolutely.

"Did I go up to Sydney and say to Richard Colless - play Collingwood one out on the bye weekend where you keep all the gate and get a good deal out of the NSW government? Absolutely."

He also denied that he had raised the issue this week because of the Giants' hot start to the season.

"I'm commenting on something that is going on. I'm not advocating for it.

"I'm all for fairness in football.

"I haven't arced up because GWS have started to win games.

"[AFL football operations manager] Mark Evans, Gill McLachlan, do your job, sort it out, and I don't want to have any more to say about this. We all know the situation. Run the place."