AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.Credit:Getty Images
McLachlan confirmed that he planned to leave after the Gather Round,his time at the helm having been extended by Tasmania,the collective bargaining agreement with players and the Hawthorn inquiry (into alleged mistreatment of First Nations players and their partners). The AFL has made Tasmania’s entry to the league entirely conditional on having a new stadium in Hobart.
The Hawthorn inquiry,though,is tipped to drag on beyond McLachlan’s exit.
The full AFL Commission is interviewing leading candidates - senior AFL executives Andrew Dillon,Travis Auld and Kylie Rogers,plus Richmond chief executive Brendon Gale - for the CEO job over the next week.
“The (succession) process is rolling forward,” said McLachlan. “And it’s clearly informed by completing a couple of things I committed to for the chairman (Richard Goyder).”
Asked if settling the Tasmanian license was one of those commitments,McLachlan said:“Yeah,and there’s,the Hawthorn thing was clearly part of the extension and the CBA was what I also talked to.”
While there is much focus on concussion and social ills such as gambling,McLachlan suggested the greatest challenge for the AFL was in keeping people engaged in the game despite social shifts.