Andrew Dillon and Brad Scott step into key new roles in AFL revamp

Brad Scott will oversee rules and umpiring in his new job at AFL house. He reveals his plans for next year and how far he got with the Carlton coaching job.

Former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott has landed a new job at the AFL. Picture: Getty Images

New AFL football boss Brad Scott has made clear he plans no dramatic intervention into the game’s rules in his new role in the league’s revamped team.

The AFL on Thursday announced legal boss Andrew Dillon will be the executive general manager of football with Scott reporting to him on a portfolio including rules, umpiring and the match review.

Scott was the latest big name to be linked to Carlton’s vacant coaching position but made clear he never had “discussions” with the Blues about the role.

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He said one of his key tasks would be to talk to the long list of former AFL coaches not prepared to re-enter the game because of the immense demands of the job.

His brother Chris Scott said last year senior coaching was “not a very good job”, while John Longmire has urged the AFL to take seriously Don Pyke’s warning about the mental toll on coaches.

While his role is wide-ranging fans will be anxiously awaiting his impact on rules, with former footy boss Steve Hocking making clear he would have reduced the interchange again next year.

Brad Scott says the new stand rule needs time to bed down. Picture: Michael Klein

But Scott’s opening salvo will be music to the leave-the-game-alone traditionalists, suggesting the changes including the stand rule and reduced interchange needed time to take effect.

“Steve Hocking is going to leave a lasting legacy to the game. I think the game looks fantastic. Everyone would agree the standard of footy this year has been exceptional and my personal view is Steve Hocking has done a lot of the heavy lifting,” Scott said.

“He has instituted a lot of change, which probably needs some time to be consolidated before we look at further tweaks.

“I think there is a constant watch on the way the game looks and how we want to present the game. It has to be enjoyable to watch, it has to be engaging and I am probably more aware than most, the clubs have got a responsibility primarily to win. We have got to strike the balance between understanding what clubs and coaches want but the responsibility to game and what it looks like.”

Scott said he had missed coaching in the AFL more than he might have believed after moving on as North Melbourne coach, but had made clear he wanted to follow a new path as an AFL administrator.

“I think we are all grown up enough to understand football clubs will cast the net far and wide, but no, we never got to the point where we had discussions,” he said of Carlton’s interest.

Brad Scott decided not to pursue the Carlton coaching job.

Scott said he would make sure he spoke to those ex-coaches, including Ross Lyon and Pyke, who have declined senior coaching opportunities for various reasons including the scrutiny, working hours and stress.

“Look, I think there are some challenges. If we look at the last probably two or three years, there are a lot of coaches who have had opportunities to step back into the coaching landscape and have chosen not to. I would like to speak to all those coaches as to why,” he said.

“That is not an environment we want to create and a big part of this role will be talking to those 18 senior coaches about the challenges they face ... AFL footy is an incredibly rewarding business to be in, but for those coaches it’s a thankless task at times and our role is to support them.”

He is also open to considering a mid-season trade period if the AFL’s 18 clubs are keen to explore greater player movement.

“Yeah, I am open to giving clubs more flexibility, but ultimately the AFL is the keeper of the code, the AFL clubs are the ones who put the show on, so part of this role is to collaborate with them. And flexibility for clubs would help.”

AFL PICKS LEGAL EAGLE FOR TOP FOOTY JOB

The AFL has chosen Andrew Dillon as the league’s new football operations boss in a revamp that will also see Brad Scott handed a key football role next year.

The Herald Sun understands Dillon’s star turn as the acting AFL football boss after Steve Hocking departed has seen him chosen in the new role.

In a decision that will be officially announced by AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan on Thursday afternoon, former AFL legal boss Dillon will keep legal and integrity issues and add football to his portfolio.

He will be the league’s executive general manager of football in an all-encompassing role.

Scott will ignore Carlton’s overtures and instead take care of umpiring, the match review and game analysis.

Andrew Dillon has led the AFL’s football department since July.

Rising star Laura Kane will leave North Melbourne to take on an operations and competition management role that will also involve AFLW, VFLW and the VFL.

Dillon’s role will be significant, with Scott initially expected to take on the football operations role with some of the portfolio to be handed to AFL executive Rob Auld.

Instead McLachlan has tasked his key lieutenant Dillon with controlling football operations and the AFL’s integrity department

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan said the league was impressed with Scott’s emergence and had tasked him with a football role that includes rules, talent pathways and the AFL competition committee.

“Brad’s transition from coaching to administrator over the last 18 months has impressed everyone he has worked with, both within our organisation, across the 18 clubs and within community football in Victoria,” he said.

“Brad has first-hand experience in dealing with all aspects of AFL football, from coming through our talent pathway program, to premiership player, assistant coach, senior coach and most recently as an AFL administrator, and his leadership and resilience throughout is what has set him apart.”

Dillon has led the AFL’s football department since July, when Hocking was appointed as the Geelong CEO.

The last few months have continued to be incredibly challenging for our competition, both on field and off field, and Andrew has led the Football Department team brilliantly as we have navigated through these unprecedented circumstances,” McLachlan said.

“Andrew’s experience, expertise, and resilience, along with his industry relationships, paired with the other key appointments is a dynamic mix and he is best placed to lead this newly formed and diverse Football Operations team and spread the load in what has become an increasingly bigger role.”

Carlton has lost another prospect it had hoped to canvas for its senior coaching role.

Originally published as Andrew Dillon and Brad Scott step into key new roles in AFL revamp