AFL news: Andrew Dillon meets with coaches as frustrations towards league HQ grow

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has moved to hash out growing angst towards league office with a number of coaches called into a Fitzroy pub on Monday night.

AFL boss Andrew Dillon has held court with his football team and four of the game’s most experienced coaches over a meal at a Fitzroy pub.

Dillon dined with coaches Brad Scott, Alastair Clarkson, Simon Goodwin and Chris Scott for over three hours on the second level room at the Builders Arms on Gertrude St, Fitzroy.

They were joined by the AFL’s football head Laura Kane and off-sider Josh Mahoney.

While the Monday night special at the inner north favourite was a $25 steak, the dinner party was tight lipped on exit about what was on the agenda.

Dillion annually calls the coaches together for a dinner catch up which usually involves all 18 senior coaches to discuss footy and Monday’s meeting was a smaller affair.

The Monday meeting as football clubs increasingly grow in frustration towards league HQ.

Coaches have continuously spoken of their annoyance at the limited soft cap and how it reduces the earning power of assistant coaches, while some clubs have pushed for senior coach wages to sit outside the soft cap.

Frustration has been pointed at the AFL for its handling of Lachie Schultz’s concussion last weekend, and the saga around Port Adelaide player Willie Rioli.

The four coaches at the dinner have combined to coach 1239 matches at Victorian clubs and shared seven premierships between them, with a vast experience at traditionally financially poor clubs (North Melbourne, Melbourne) and on-field powerhouses (Hawthorn, Geelong).

Dillon told Channel 7 on his way into the pub that he was keen to pick the minds of his experienced dinner guests.

“It’s good to be here with the coaches tonight to talk through all things footy, a bit of soft cap. Talk about the MRO and see what’s on the coaches’ mind,” Dillon told Channel 7.

“It’s great to sit down face to face and get a really good insight into what’s going on in the coaches’ minds and I’m sure there will be plenty of robust discussion.”

Originally published as AFL news: Andrew Dillon meets with coaches as frustrations towards league HQ grow