In an expansive interview leading in to the 2022 season,McLachlan said:

• He was concerned about the personal toll onAFL senior coaches,who were under “extraordinary” pressures. Three senior coaches had marriage break-ups in 2020,while a number of recent ex-coaches - Rhyce Shaw,Dani Laidley,Mark Thompson and James Hird - have had significant mental health issues. McLachlan said he was “open about” his concern for the coaches. “I believe the pressure on the 18 senior coaches as significant or greater than anyone in the industry,” he said.
• Richmond had received substantial funding over the decade from 2012 - $13 million more than Collingwood and West Coast and close to that more than Geelong and Hawthorn - because they were struggling in 2012,with a lower membership,no finals for a decade and a “disenfranchised” fan base. “They were a club that needed our funding model to break even.” The powerful Tigers now receive zero in variable funding.
• Confirmed that he would continue as AFL CEO for this year,but would not be drawn on if and when his tenure would cease and did not have a date on when that call would be made. “I’ll be here this year,delivering the game and I’ve got stuff to do ... one day I’m sure I’ll wake up and say ‘it’s time.’ It’s not today,it’s not tomorrow.”
• Expressed confidence that 2022 would beclose to “a normal” season,and that there would be no interruptions to the games,which would go ahead. “Our expectation is that we’ll be playing every game,every week,as scheduled.”
• Confirmed that the pay deals for AFL men’s players and women players would be drawn from the same pot of money,but added that it was wrong to suggest that the men stood to lose money to the AFLW. “If your question is ’will the men take,or get less,to give to the women? I don’t believe that’s right. The pool will keep growing and everyone will continue to grow,in my view.”
• Confirmed that the Bulldogs would receive less money in variable funding than Melbourne despite the latter winning the flag,because the Dogs “they’ve been successful,making profits for a couple of years.”

He also said St Kilda had their financial act together,having been challenged by him four years ago - the Saints had received $17 million more than any other traditional club over the past decade.

“I think accountability for the subsided clubs is one of the key issues for us and for the subsidising clubs.

“I called it out four years ago,I thought St Kilda needed to be better and I think they are now and that’s a credit to their administration.”

He also said he would talk with Collingwood president Jeff Browne about the funding issue,Browne having savaged the AFL for its funding model that saw the Magpies receive $100 million less than the expansion teams and $50-plus million less than the Saints.

“I’m aware of his views. Jeff and I will be catching up soon.”

He could not say when the AFLW players could “make a full-time living” from the game. “The vision is for a 17-game season,when we get there we don’t know.”

McLachlan confirmed there was “momentum” anAugust starting date for the AFLW season,but this was not decided.

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