The AFL is eyeing a Tom Harley after announcing Greg Swann as the league’s new footy performance boss

After Brisbane Lions CEO Greg Swann was confirmed as the AFL’s new footy performance boss, the league’s final target in the leadership shake-up can be revealed.

The AFL is eyeing a Tom Harley-Greg Swann combination after it unveiled the Brisbane CEO as its new head of football performance.

Harley looms as the front runner for the vacant chief operating officer role, which would act as a new right-hand man to AFL CEO Andrew Dillon.

But he is also entrenched in Sydney with his family which could make a move to Docklands a tough call.

It would be the final piece of the league’s executive puzzle and could be decided as early as Wednesday.

The highly-respected Sydney Swans’ chief executive Harley is considered the leading contender for the vacant 2IC role at AFL HQ ahead of Fremantle’s Simon Garlick and Western Bulldogs chief Ameet Bains.

Harley’s appointment would be warmly welcomed by clubs after an outstanding administrative career in the Harbour City which followed his reign as captain at Geelong.

It comes after the AFL confirmed the Herald Sun’s report that Swann would take over as the new footy performance boss where he will look after game analysis, match review, player movement and laws of the game.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and Greg Swann. Picture: Michael Klein

Swann will work in partnership with Laura Kane, whose role was split in half on Thursday under a major shake-up of Dillon’s struggling executive team.

Dillon approached Swann two weeks ago believing his experience would be key in the league’s attempt to improve its operations after a turbulent 12 months.

It’s understood umpiring is at the top of Swann’s priority list following feedback from clubs to the league.

The AFL didn’t speak to any other contenders for the footy performance role.

Clubs have given Dillon strong feedback he needs to bolster his executive team after a difficult 12 months.

But a Harley – Swann combination would be a massive coup for the league as it attempts to improve several major issues including umpiring at the top of the priority list.

Swann’s departure at Brisbane sees Lions’ chief operating officer Sam Graham step up as the Lions CEO.

Swann has told the Lions he is joining the AFL. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

And the league is also eyeing Sydney CEO Tom Harley. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Swann and wife Leonie have family reasons for being keen to come back to Melbourne with their daughter about to give birth in coming months.

GWS chief executive David Matthews hailed Swann’s appointment and said if the league could secure another club CEO as its new chief operating officer it would be a coup for AFL House.

“It’s a great appointment. He has run big clubs, he’s run clubs outside of Victoria,” he told this masthead.

“That experience out of Victoria will be very helpful for clubs in NSW and Queensland. He has such vast knowledge and he’s a very easy person for clubs to deal with.

“Credit to Andrew Dillon for putting together a structure that looks like it will have two highly regarded club chief executives in the AFL. The AFL probably hasn’t had a structure like that ever. To get that expertise from a club point of view into the executive structure can only help.”

The 63-year-old, formerly a chief executive at Collingwood and Carlton, is ideally suited to the new role which takes in umpiring, MRO, player movement roles and communication with clubs.

Former football boss Laura Kane will continue the running of the AFL and AFLW competitions as well as taking in the mental health and concussion portfolios.

Swann took over the Lions in July 2014 and over a decade built the foundations as the club began to retain key players and recruited stars including Josh Dunkley, Lachie Neale and Charlie Cameron.

But a fresh challenge as Dillon stabilises the AFL’s football department would be the perfect way to finish his career in the AFL and give the league serious football clout.

The Herald Sun revealed in March that the league initially targeted MCC CEO Stuart Fox for the COO role.

Originally published as The AFL is eyeing a Tom Harley after announcing Greg Swann as the league’s new footy performance boss