AFL 2022: Stay up to date with the all latest off-season news
From the Magpies backline through the ‘90s to a successful corporate career, is the time right for a Collingwood powerbroker to return to the club in the top job?
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Former Collingwood chief executive Mark Anderson remains firmly on Essendon’s radar as new CEO.
Anderson parted ways with the Magpies last week after five years in the job and could make a quick switch to one of the club’s biggest rivals.
Anderson’s experience and football acumen would strongly appeal to the Bombers after its last chief executive, Andrew Thorburn, lasted only one day in the job.
The man Thorburn replaced, Xavier Campbell, has been linked to the vacant Collingwood job but remains keen to head to France with his family.
TLA boss, and former Collingwood great, Craig Kelly could loom large for the Magpies after 26 years helping lead the giant management company.
Kelly’s signature would be a huge coup for president Jeff Browne amid industry speculation the Magpies already have a quality candidate lined-up.
Kelly’s son, Will, is on Collingwood’s list but the Magpies could dodge any issues by leaving his contract matters to football boss Graham Wright.
Wright faced the same situation when he was at Hawthorn and signed Ned Reeves to the Hawks’ list where his father, Justin, is chief executive.
Essendon has been through enormous change under new president David Barham in recent months as part of plans to shake up the club after 18 years without a finals win.
Already the club has appointed a new coach (Brad Scott), new football director (Andrew Welsh), new head of performance (Dan McPherson), head of development (Cam Roberts) after Barham replaced Paul Brasher in a shock move late last season.
But the club is thrilled with the early feedback from players about Scott’s direction for the next season including better fitness levels and more unity in the football department.
North Melbourne, which is the third club chasing a new chief executive, has called on the help of former Melbourne and Essendon CEO Peter Jackson to find a replacement for Ben Amarfio.
Jackson could stay in a position at the club to help oversee a transition period, as one of the most respected administrators in the game.
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Originally published as AFL 2022: Stay up to date with the all latest off-season news
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