Jeff Kennett: Gillon McLachlan has a lot to do as AFL chief and he mustn’t fail

GILLON McLachlan takes over the AFL reins next week and, with crowds down and fans unhappy with costs and ticketing, he has a lot to do. See Jeff Kennett’s hit list.

Footy fans calling on new AFL chief Gillon McLachlan to make changes to the league now he has taken over. Footy fans with a wish list for the new AFL chief, Tim Maloney and son Lauchie 5, Michael Coley, Voula Bitsikas, Brian Clarke and Emily Watts. Picture: David Caird.

ANDREW Demetriou hands over the leadership of the AFL to Gillon McLachlan next week. But is Andrew passing on a golden or poisoned chalice?

There are a number of issues that urgently need to be addressed by the AFL before more damage is done within our code.

1. Affordability for families

I have long argued, wearing my hat as chairman of beyondblue, that AFL is an important ingredient in the lives of tens of thousands of individuals and their families.

Living football, talking football, going to the football is, for many, their relief from the things that from time to time cause individuals and families stress and anxiety.

Football gives many the chance to let off steam in a harmless way and going to matches has been the place where families have for decades congregated to have a good day out. Such outings are becoming less affordable. It is not just the cost of food and drinks at the grounds, now it is also the extra cost of ticketing.

Gillon McLachlan must reverse that escalation.

GLENN McFARLANE: 10 WAYS TO GET FANS BACK TO THE FOOTY

2. Confusing ticketing

The new ticketing system, mentioned above, is not only expensive — with many supporters having to pay more than their club membership to attend games — but it is also confusing.

The concept seems to have been one of those ideas lifted from the United States. But it defies 100 years of culture in Australia.

I have never been opposed to change, but change for change’s sake is often hard to justify and simplicity of availability is always a good policy for a client or a consumer.

Over to you, Gil!

3. Scheduling of games

This is still an experiment. Thursday night, Sunday evening and Monday night games all have issues related to them.

It is clear that in order to maximise the television licence fee every five years, the leadership of the AFL has relegated interests of those who go to games to behind those of the broadcasters.

And as a result, not for decades have attendances been so low.

The AFL has to make a tough decision. What is the balance between attendances at games and money in the bank through selling the media rights? It’s not easy, I know, but for me families at games must be the priority, or the code will change forever.

4. Equalisation

This is an attempt by the AFL to even up the competition by imposing a tax on the successful clubs to assist the poorer clubs financially.

But if you weaken the strong, the whole code will suffer. Twenty years ago Collingwood, Geelong and Hawthorn were in financial strife. They didn’t recover to become leaders on and off the field through equalisation, but through boards with good leaders in Eddie McGuire, Frank Costa and Ian Dicker.

5. The AFL administration

It has grown to the point that there are almost as many people employed by the commission as there are players employed by the clubs. That was not the intention of the clubs when they established the commission to oversee the administration of the game. It is an absurd situation.

The AFL, under new management, should review its own roles and operations and assist those clubs in need from the savings.

6. The Adelaide Oval

The agreement signed off by the AFL has condemned the Crows and Port to penury until the agreement is renegotiated on more favourable terms. For either club to play in front of a full house of 50,000 for, at most, a small return is not acceptable.

7. The AFL Commission

This is a body that has failed in its corporate responsibility over the past few years. More recently it has kept a lower profile than a snake’s addendum when leadership was required. It is a club where too often self-interest has overridden good governance.

Having selected the new CEO, they should depart, allow the selection of a new commission, one that will work with the new CEO to establish a new culture.

Don’t tell me you need continuity of the commission when introducing a new CEO. We change governments every few elections and it is time we had a new commission with some fresh air and new ideas.

Let me make it clear, we all want Gillon McLachlan to succeed. He must succeed in the interests of the code. But he is inheriting the job at a time when there are more serious issues facing the AFL than anything we have witnessed in recent times.

And that ignores the settlement of the Essendon supplement saga, which only in part will be beyond the AFL’s control.

Golden chalice or poisoned chalice? Only time will tell. In my opinion it is now time for members of the commission to step aside to allow a new group to get on with the job of rebuilding confidence in the administration of the game.

Have a good day.

Jeff Kennett is a former premier of Victoria and president of Hawthorn Football Club

Originally published as Jeff Kennett: Gillon McLachlan has a lot to do as AFL chief and he mustn’t fail