FALAFELS were on the menu and tent embassies, Tattslotto and text messages on the agenda as old sparring partners Eddie McGuire and Kevin Sheedy went head-to-head in Sydney on Wednesday.

Combatants for many years dating back to Sheedy's long stint as coach of Essendon, the two came together at a Greater Western Sydney function in Sydney's CBD and clamoured for the spotlight.

McGuire was the last man to arrive at the meeting and as soon as he shook hands with Sheedy, the barbs were firing.

"Become a member. I'll join Collingwood if you join the Giants," Sheedy said.

"At Collingwood, we are giants, and we're looking forward to playing GWS," McGuire threw back.

Although well-placed jibes are familiar between the pair, there has been some added heat in recent weeks based around the Giants' rumoured bid to lure Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury to Blacktown in 2013.

McGuire vowed to set up a "tent embassy" outside its home ground and chase every GWS player if Pendlebury joins the club, while he has previously labelled Sydney's west the "land of the falafel".

Sheedy has responded by criticising elements of McGuire's presidency, including Collingwood's Grand Final defeat and the manner of Mick Malthouse's departure from the club.

The ongoing saga appeared to have driven Wednesday's made-for-television get-together, with plenty of smiles and handshakes between the two.

Sheedy cheekily produced a plate of falafels and offered them to McGuire during the press conference and the Collingwood president willingly obliged.

Asked if he had brought his tent to Sydney, McGuire said: "The tent embassy? Well, not today. Hopefully, it's a bit wet out there.

"Look I think something that sometimes gets lost in translation in the media is the sense of humour involved in footy.

"When Collingwood plays Carlton or Essendon, they're massive games.

"But we all sit next to each other, after the game you give your mate a Tattslotto ticket or you cop a barrage of text messages for the rest of the week and that's what it's all about.

"We want that to filter through to the new frontiers."

Wednesday's meeting was part of a big week for the sport in Sydney, which culminates in the NAB AFL Draft at Sydney Olympic Park on Thursday night.

AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou had a separate press conference earlier in the day to inspect the re-development of the Sydney Showgrounds, which will be GWS's home ground in 2012.

Demetriou had a somewhat sneaky response when he was asked about the war of words between McGuire and Sheedy.

"You'll hear a lot from Eddie, which is a good thing," he said.

"He's the master of diversion. He's obviously got something going on at Collingwood he doesn't want anyone to know about."

Quizzed about whether the banter between the duo was good for the AFL, Demetriou said: "Absolutely it is because Kevin and Eddie are their own people.

"And far be it from, just a sheer minnow, to try to tell those two what to do."

McGuire labelled Sheedy a "great friend" who he has "total respect" for considering what he has achieved in the game.

There were also some trademark digs, labelling the Giants' concessions "over-generous" and vowing to "destroy" the new club when they meet for the first time in round 17 next year.

Ultimately, however, McGuire said it was the right move for the AFL to expand into western Sydney.

"I genuinely believe that Greater Western Sydney have set up an infrastructure … to give themselves every opportunity," he said.

"Maybe the AFL have been a little over-generous with what they've got, but in the planning of what needs to happen, I think it's about right.

"If you lose a player along the way (to GWS), it hurts to the very core, but we have to fight on. They're the rules.

"It's far more important for GWS to be up and going in the next few years and then we can go back to an uncompromised draft."

Sheedy had one last barb, pointing out for the umpteenth time that Collingwood "stole" Nathan Buckley from the Brisbane Bears.

McGuire swiftly returned serve, saying "the problem is the bloke who stole him, (GWS general manager of football operations) Gubby Allan, is now working for you".

And McGuire had a final message for the Giants, who have 11 of the first 14 picks in Thursday night's draft.

"We'll get into each other, rivalries will build up, there's a bit of an edge going on at the moment because Kev's quite right, he is going to try to steal as many players as he can for his team.

"He's got some of the best in the business up here working for him.

"And, of course, tomorrow night's number one draft pick will be at Collingwood in three years' time."

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the AFL or the clubs